Gilpin observer., 1909-08-12

more than 1 ought to. He came along
and turned her head. You need fear
nothing for yourself in going with her,
and nothing for her II you can cover
just those two points-can you re-
member? Not to let her go away with
him on horseback, and not to leave
her where she will be alone with him
in the house?"
Il can and will. 1 think as much
OF Marion as you do. / am proud to
be able to do something for you. How
little | have known you! 1 thought
you were everything l didn't want to
know"
It's nothing" he returned easily,
except that Sinclair has stirred I'D
your cousin and the ranchers as we'll
as the Williams Cache gang, and that
makes talk about me. | have to do
what 1 can to make this a peaceable
country to live in. The railroad wants
decent people here and doesn't want
the other kind, and it falls on me, un-
fortunately, to keep the other kind
moving. l don't like it, but we can
none of us do quite what we please in
making living. Let me tell you this
he turned to fix his eyes seriously
on hers: Believe anything you hear
of me except that 1 have ever taken
human life willingly or save in dis
charge of my duty. But this kind of
work makes my own life an uncertain
ty, as you can see. l do almost liter
ally carry my life in my hand, for If
my hand is not quicker every time
than a mans eye, l am done for then
and there"
1T is dreadful to think Of"
Not exactly that, but it is some
thing 1 can't afford to forget"
What would become of the lives
of the friends you protect if you were
killed."
You say you care for Marion Sim
clair. 1 should like to think If any
thing should happen to me you
wouldn't forget herr"
Il never will"
He smiled. Then 1 put her In
charge of the man closest to me.
George McCloud, and the woman she
thinks the most of in the world-ex-
cept her mother. What is this, are
they back? Yonder they come"
Cloud said, answering their questions
as he approached with Lance Dunning.
THE current is really swinging away,
but the bank is caving in where it
was undermined last night" He
stopped before Dicksie. Il am trying
to get your cousin to go to the house
and go to bed. l am going to stay
all night, but there is no necessity
for his staying"
Damn it, McCloud, it's not right"
protested Lance. taking off his hat
and wiping his forehead. You need
the sleep more than 1 do. l say he IL
the one to go to bed tonight" con-
tinued Lance, putting it up to Whis-
pering Smith. And l insist, by the
Almighty, that you two take him back
to the house with you now!"
Whispering Smith raised his hand.
IF this is merely family quarrel
about who shall go to bed. let us COM
promise. You two stay up all night
and let me go to bed
Lance, however, was obdurate.
1T seems to be a family character
istic of the Cummings to have their
own way" ventured McCloud, after
some further dispute IF you will
have it so. Mr.. Dunning, you may
stand watch tonight and l will go to
the house,
Riding back with McCloud, Dicksie
and Whispering Smith discussed the
flood. McCloud disclaimed credit for
the Improvement in the situation. ''If
the current had held against us as it
did yesterday. nothing / could have
done would have turned It," he said.
Honesty is the best policy, of
course" observed Whispering Smith.
Il like to see a modest man-and you
want to remind him of all this when
he sends in his BILL" he suggested,
speaking to Dicksie in the dark. But"
he added, turning to McCloud, admit
ting that you are right, don't take the
trouble to advertise your view of 1t
around here. 1t would be only decent
strategy for us in the valley just now
to take little of the credit due to the
wind"
(TO RE CONTINIrEnN