Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-26

stand. But II had to give you
secret this instant that carried my
! life, shouldn't fear to do it-so much
for trusting you. Only this, too, az
to what say: Don't ever quote me
or let it appear that you any more
than know me. Can you manage
that? Really? Very good; you will
understand why in minute. The
man that is stirring up all this trouble
with your Cousin Lance and in this
whole country is your kind and good
natured neighbor, Mr.. Sinclair. | am
| prcjudiced against him; let lis admit
that on the start. and remember It in
estimating what | say. But Sinclair
Is the man who has turned your cors-
ms head. as we'll as made things In
other ways unpleasant for several OF
us. Sinclair--l tell you so you will
understand everything. more than
your cousin. Mr.. McCloud, or Marion
Sinclair understand-Sinclair Is
train-wrecker and a murderer That
makes you breathe hard, doesn't II?
hut 1t Ia so. Sinclair Is fairly ed,i-
Gated and highly Intelligent, capable
in every way. daring to the limit. and,
in way, fascinating; II is no wonder
lie has q following But his following
| Is divided into two classes: Tho
mon that know all the secrets. and the
men that dont-men like Rebstock
and Du Sang. and men like your cous-
in and a hundred or SO sports in Medi-
cine Bend, who sec only the glamour
Of Sinclair's pace. Your cousin sym
pathizes with Sinclair when he doesn't
actually side with him. All this has
helped to turn Sinclair's head, and
this is exactly the situation you and
| McCloud and and a lot of others are
mp against. They don't know all this.
hut know It. and now you know it.
Let INC tell you something that comes
close to home. You have q cowboy
on the ranch named Karg--he Is
called Flat Nose. karg was a railroad
! man. He is a cattle-thief, train
| robber, a murderer. and a spy. | should
not toll YOU this Il you were not game
to the last drop of your blood. But
| think | know You better than you
know yourself, though YOU never saw
mo until last night Karg is Sincair's
spy at your ranch and YOU must never
feel It or know it: but he is there to
keep your cousins sympathy with Sin
clair, and to lure your cousin his way.
And Karg will try to kill George Nc
Cloud every time he sets foot on this
''rhcn Mr.. McCiouId ought not to be
here. I don't want him to stay II he
Is in danger!" exclaimed Dicksie.
'But I do want him to come here
rs If it mattered nothing. and shall
try TO take care Of him. have q man
among your own men, a cowboy named
Wickwire who will be watching Karg,
and who is jus. as quick. and Karg.
not knowing he was watched, would
be taken unawares. If Wickwire goes
elsewhere TO work some one else will
take his place here. Karg is not on
tho ranch now; he Is up north, hunt
ing up some of your steers that were
run off last month by his own cronies.
Now do you think I am giving you
confldence?"
She looked at him steadily. "1f
can only deserve 1t ALL" In the dis
lance she heard the calling Of the men
shock Of what had been told her. the
strangeness OF the night and OF the
scene. left her calm Fear had given
way to responsibility and Dicksie
seemed to know herself
You have nothing whatever to do
to deserve It but keep your own coun-
sci. But listen moment lorger--for
this is what | have been leading up
TO- he said. Marion will get mes.
sage tomorrow, a message from Sin
clair asking her to come to see him
at his ranch-house before she goes
back. ! don't know what he wants
but she Is his wife. He has treated
her UNANIMOUSLY; that is why she will
not live with him and does not speak
of him. But you know how strange a
woman is-or perhaps you don't; she
doesn't always cease to care for man
when she ceases to trust him. am
not in Marion's confidence, Miss Dick.
sic She Is another mans wife. !
cannot tell how she feels toward him ,
know she has often tried to reclaim
him from his deviltry. She may try
uSdili, tIIdt is, she may, IOT one TtdSCu
or another. go TO him as he asks.
could not interfere, If l would.
have no right to If could, and ! will
not. Now this Is what I'm trying to
get up the courage to ask you. Should
you dare to go with her TO Sinclair S
ranch II she decides to 60 to him?"
Certainly should dare
| "Aftar all yOu know"
After all know-why not?"
Then IN case she does go and you
go with her. you will know nothing
whatever about anything. of course
unless you get the story from her
What ! fear Is that which possibly
may come Of their interview. He may
try TO kill her-don't be frightened
He will not succeed IL you can only
make sure he doesn't lead her away
on horseback from the ranch-house OF
get her alone In a room. She has few
friends. l respect and honor her be
cause she and l grew up as children
together In the same little town In
Wisconsin. l knew her folks. all OIL
them. and I've promised them-you
know-to have kind Of care OF her.
II think | know"
He looked selfconscious oven at hel
tone OF understanding. Il need mo-
try to deceive you; your instinct
| would ha DOor ~ II did not tell vol