The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-09-24
CHAPTER xvul.-continued.

Marion put her hand for a moment
on his coat sleeve; he looked at Dick
sic with another laugh and spoke to
her because he dared not look toward
Marion. Going back tonight, do you
say? You never are?"
Dicksie answered quite in earnest:
ooh, but we are. We must!"
"Why did you come, then? It's
taken half the night to get here, and
will take a night and a half at least to
get back"
eve came to ask Mr.. McCloud for
some grain sacks-you know, they
have nothing to work with at the
ranch" said Marion; "and he said we
might have some and we are to send
for them in the morning"
81 see. But we may as we'll talk
plainly" Smith looked at Dicksie.
"You are as brave and as game as a
girl can be, l know, or you couldn't
have done this. Sacks full of sand,
with the boys at the ranch to handle
them, would do no more good to-mor-
row at the bend than bladders. The
river is flowing into Squaw lake above
there low. A hundred men that know
the game might check things yet if
they're there by daylight. Nobody
else, and nothing else on Gods earth
can" .r.
There was silence before the fire.
McCloud broke it: Il can put the 100
men there at daylight, Gordon, if Miss
iDunrjng and her cousin want them"
said McClould.
Marion sprang to her feet. ooh,
will you do that, Mr.. McCloud?"
McCloud looked at Dicksie. IF they
are wanted"
Dicksie tried to look at the fire. "We
have hardly deserved help from Mr..
EMcCloud at the ranch," she said at
last.
The first wreck l ever had on this di-
vision Miss Dunning rode 20 miles to
offer help. Isn't that true? Why, l
would walk 100 miles to return the
offer to her. Perhaps your cousin
would object" he suggested, turning
to Dicksie; but no, I think we can
manage that. Now what are we going
to do? You two can't go back to-
night, that is certain"
1--WE must"
"Then you will have to go in boats"
said Whispering Smith.
"But the hill road?"
"There is five feet Of water across it
in half a dozen places. l swan my
horse through, so l ought to know"
ut is all back-water, of course, Miss
Dunning," explained McCloud. mot
dangerous"
"But moist" suggested Whispering
Smith, especially in the dark"
McCloud looked at Marion. "Then
let's be sensible" he said. "You and
Miss Dunning can have my tent"
"Is this where you stay?" asked
Dicksie.
-Four of us sleep in the cots, when
we can, and an indefinite number lie
on the ground when it rains"
(Which is your bed?"
81 usually sleep there" He pointed
to the one on the right.
i thought SO. IL has ne DldukeL
folded back 20 neatly, just as if there
were sheets under it. I'll bet there
aren't any"
"Do you think this is a summer re.
sort? Knisely, my assistant. sleeps
there, but of course we are neve both
In bed at the same time; he's down
the river tonight. It's a sort of con.
tinuous performance, you know" Nc.
Cloud looked at Dicksie. Take OF
your coat, won't you, p~lease?"
Whispering Smith was trying to
drag a chest from the foot Of the cot,
and Marion stood watching. What
are you trying to do?"
"Get this over to the table for q
seat"
""silly man! why don't you move the
table?"
Dicksie was taking of her coat.
.'Howv inviting it all Isl" she smiled.
sAnd this is where you stay?'