The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-09-17

lost once" she confessed In a low
voice, "but we got out again."
THE roads are all under water.
though"
What time is it, please?"
McCloud looked at his watch. 1.-TWO
minutes past -"
Dicksie started. Past 10? Oh, this
is dreadful! We must start right
back, Marion. l had no idea we had
been five hours coming five miles,"
McClcud looked at her, as if still
unable to comprehend what she had
accomplished in crossing the flooded
bottoms. Her eyes fell back to the
fire. What a blaze!" she mumured
as the driftwood snapped and reared.
Its fine for tonight, isn't it,"
Il know you both must have been
in the water" he insisted, leaning for
ward in front of Dicksie to feel Mari
on's skirt.
I'm not wet!" declared Marion,
drawing back.
Nonsense, you are wet as a rat!
Tell me-" he asked, looking at Dicksie,
about your trouble up at the bend. 1
know something about it. Are the men
there tonight? Given up, have they?
Too bad! Do open your Jackets and
try to dry yourselves, both of you, and
Ill take n look at the river
Suppose only say suppose-you
first take a look at me-" The voice
came from behind the group at the
fire. and the three turned together.
by heaven, Gordon Smith," ex.
claimed McCloud. Where did you
come FROM"
Whispering Smith stood in the gloom
in patience. Where do 1 look as If I
had come from? Why don't you ask
me whether I'm wet? And won't you
introduce me-but this is Miss Dick
sic Dunning, I am sure"
Marion with laughter fastened the
introduction.
And YOU are wet, of course" said
McCloud. feeling Smiths shoulder.
mo. only soaked. I have fallen into
the river two or three times, and the
last time a big %rhinoceros of yours
down the grade, a section foreman
named Klein, was obliging enough to
pull me out. Oh, no! l was not look
ing for you,' he ran on, answering
McCloud's question; mot when he
pulled me out. | was just looking
for a farm or a ladder or something.
Klein, for a man named Small, is the
me, Klein,' | asked, after he had quit
dragging me out-he's a Hanoyerian
where did you get your pull? And
how about your height? Did your
grandfather serve as a grenadier under
old Frederick William and was he kid
mapped" Bill, don't feed my horse for
a while. And Klein tried to light a
cigar had just taken from my pocket
and given him-fancy! the Germans
are a remarkable people-and sat down
to tell me his history, when some
friend down the line began bawling
through a megaphone, and all that
poor Klein had time to say was that
he had had no supper, nor dinner, nor
yet breakfast, and would be Obliged
for some by the boat he forwarded me
in" And, in closing, Whispering
Smith looked cheerfuliy around at
Marion. at McCloud, and last and
longest of all ut Dicksie Dunning.
Did you come from across the
river?" asked Dicksie, adjusting he,
wet skirt meekly over her knees.
"You are soaking wet" observed
Whispering Smith. ACROSS the riv
err" he echoed. well, hardly, my
dear Miss Dunning! Every bridge is
out down the valley except the rail
road bridge and there are a few things
| don't tackle; one is the Crawling
Stone on a tear. No, this was across
a little break in this man McCloud's
track. / came, to be frank, from the
Dunning ranch to look up two women
who rode away from there at sever
o'clock tonight, and / want to say
that they gave me the ride of my life,'
and Whispering Smith looked al
around the circle and back again anC
smiled.
Dicksie spoke in amazement. "Hov
Gid you know we rode away? You
were not at the ranch when we left
oh, don't ask hint" cried Marion
"He knows everything" explained
McCloud.
Whispering Smith turned to Dicksie
Il was interested in knowing that the,
got safely to their destination-what
ever it might be, which was none o
my business. happened to see {
man that had seen them start, tina
was all. You don't understand? Well
if you want it in plain English, I made
it my business to see a man who made
1t his business to see them. It's al
very simple, but these people like tt
make a mystery Of it. Good wome1
are scarcer than riches, and more tt
be priced than fine gold-in my judg
menl-so | rode after them"
II LLL L HM.