Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-24

nEe nat DiaZe she mumureO
as the driftwood snapped and roared
IT'S 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 vet" declared Marion.
drawing back
Nonsense. you are wet as a ratl
Tell me, he asked. looking at Dicksie.
about your trouble up at the bend. I
know something about H. Are the men
there tonight? Given up. have they ?
Too bad! DO open your jackets and
try 20 dry yourselves. both OF you. and
III take a look az the river"
Suppose only say suppose-you
first take a look az me" The voice
came from behind the group at the
IRE. and the three turned together.
by heaven. Gordon SMITH" ex-
claimed McCloud Where did you
come from2"
Whispering Smith stood ia the gloom
IN patience. Where do I look as II I
had come from2 why don't YOU ask
me whether I'm wet2 And won't YOU
introduce me-but this is Miss Dick.
sic Dunning. 7 am sure"
Marion with laughter FASTENED the
introduction.
And you are wet. OF course said
McCloud. feeling Smiths shoulder.
NO, 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 70
pull me out On. no. I vas not look.
Ing for you ne ran on. answering
hcCloud's question; mot when he
pulled me out was just looking
for farm or a ladder or something.
Klein, for = man named Small. Is the
biggest Dutchman 7 ever saw. Tell
me, Klein, asked. after ne had Quit
dragging me out-he'E a Hanoverlsn
where did you get your pun2 And
how about your height Did your
grandfather serve as a Erenadier under
old Frederick William and was he kid
napedT BIZ. don't feed my horse for
while. And Klein tried 20 light a
cigar / had just taken from my pocket
and given him-fancy! the Germans
are remarkable people-and sat down
10 tell me his history. when some
friend down the line began bawlinE
through a megaphone. and ali that
poor Klein had time 10 say was that
he had had no supper. nor dinner. nor
yet breakfast, and would be Obliged
for some BY the boat be forwarded me
in." Ard. In closing. Whispering
Smith looked cheerfully around az
Marion. az McCloud. and last and
longest Of all AZ Dicksie DunninE.
Did you come from across the
river?" asked Dicksie adjusting her
wet skirt meekly over her knees.
You are soaking wet" observed
Whispering Smith. Across the riv-
er?' he echoed. Well hardly. my
dear Miss Cunning, Every bridge IS
out down the valley except the rail
road bridge and there are a few things
i don't tackle; one is the Crawling
Stone on tear. 40. this was across
little break In this man McCloud' S
track I came. Go be- frank from the
Dunning ranch 20 look mp two women
who rode away from there az seven
o'clock tonight. and want to say
that they gave me the ride OF my life. q"
and Whispering Smith looked ali
around the circle and back again and
smiled.
Dicksie spoke In amazement. How
cid YOU know we rode away? You
were not Sc the ranch when we left. 4"
ooh, don't ask HIM" cried Marion
He knows everything" explained
McClcud.
Whispering Smith turned 10 Dicksie
I was interested In knowing that they
got safely TO their destination-what-
ever II might be. which was none of
my business. I happened to see a
man that had seen them start. that
was all. You don't understand? Well,
II you want il in plain English. made
IL my business 20 see man who made
Z his business to see them. It's all
very simple. but these people like 20
make a mystery of Il. Good women
are scarcer than riches. and more 20
be priced than fine gold-in my judg-
ment-so I rode after them"
Marion put her hand for a moment
on his coat sleeve; he looked at Dick
sic with another laugh and spoke 20
her because he dared not look toward
Marion. Going back tonight. do you
say? You never are?"
Dicksie answered quite in earnest:
"Oh, but we are. We musti"
Why did you come, then? It's
taken half the night TO get here. and
will take a night and half at least TO
get back"
I'VE 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"
Il see. But we may as well 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.
wrrfs -