Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-03
you know. to MAXI the trlp!-

cents that those fellows don't need
me down there any more than q cat
needs two tails. And how will YOU
set backl" he asked. turning to Dick
| sic.
[ II win ride baclsl" returned Dicksie,
lofuH. "But you may. II you like,
help me get my horse up"
"Are you sure you can find your
way back!" persisted McCloud.
Dicksie looked 1t him in surprise.
Find my way back7" she echoed,
SOFTLY II could not lose 1t. can
ride over any part Of this country at
noon or at midnight, asleep or awake,
with saddle or without, with bride
or without, with . trail or without.
I've ridden every horse that has ever
come ON the Crawling Stone ranch. /
could ride when I was three years old.
Find my way back?"
The messenger had gone when the
two rode from the house. The sky
was heavily overcast, and the wind
blew such gale from the south and
west that one could hardly hear what
the other said. McCloud could not
have ridden from the house to the
barn in the utter darkness, but his
horse followed Dicksie's. She halted
frequently on the trail for him to
come up with her, and after they had
crossed the alfalfa fields McCloud did
not care whether they ever found the
path again or not. Its great. isn't
IT." he exclaimed, coming up to her
after opening gate in the dark.
Where are you?"
This way" laughed Dicksie. Look
out for the trail here Give me your
hand and let your horse have his head.
II he slips, drop of quick on this
side" McCloud caught her hand
They rode for moment in silence
the horses stepping cautiously. "All
right now" said Dicksie; you may let
CO." But McCloud kept his horse up
close and chung TO the warm hand
THE camp is just around the hill, u
murmured Dicksie, trying to pull
away. But Of course if you would
like to ride in holding my hand YOU
may!"
NO." said McCloud, "of course not
not for worlds! But, Miss Dicksie
couldn't we ride back to the house
and ride around the other way into
camp? think the other way into the
camp-say. around by the railroad
bridge-would be prettier, don't your
For answer she touched Jim lightly
with her lines and his spring released
her hand very effectively. AS she did
so the trail turned, and the campfire
whipped IN the high wind, blazed be
fore them
Whispering Smith and Lance Dun
ming were sitting together as the two
galloped up, Smith helped Dicksie tc
alight. She was conscious of her color
and her eyes were now unduly bright
Moreover, Whispering Smiths glance
rested 30 calmly on both McCloud's
face and her own that Dicksie felt as
If he saw quite through her and knew
everything that had happened since
they left the house.
Lance was talking to McCloud
Don't abuse the wind" McCloud was
saying. ITS our best friend tonight
Mr.. Dunning. It. is blowing the wa
ter off-shore. Where is the trouble 2
For answer Dunning led McCloud of
toward the bend. and Dfcksie was lef
alone with Whispering Smith.
He made seat for her on the wind
ward side Of the big IRE. When she
had seated herself she looked up ir
great contentment to ask II he was
not going to sit down beside her. The
brown coat, the high black hat, and
the big eyes Of Whispering Smith had
already become part Of her menta
store. She saw that he seemed pro
occupied, and sought to draw him ou1
Of his abstraction.
II am 30 glad you and Mr.. McCloud
are getting acquainted with Cousin
Lance" she said. "And do you mind
my giving you confidence Mr.
Smith? Lance has been so unreason.
able about this matter of the rail.
roads coming up the valley and pow.
wowine so much with lawyers and
ranchers that he has been forgetting
about everything at home. He is SO
much older than am that he ought to
be the sensible one OF the family, don't
you think so? 1t frightens me to have
him losing at cards and drinking. ]
am afraid he will get into some shoot.
ing affair. don't understand what
has come over him, and l worry about
it. believe you could influence him
II you knew him"
What makes you think that ~
asked Whispering Smith, but his eyes
were on the fire.
Because these men he spends his
time with in town-the men who fight
and shoot so much-are afraid of you.
Don't laugh at me. I know it is quite
true In spite Of their talk. was
afraid OF you myself until"
"Until-"
"But I think it Is because l don't
understand things that am SO afraid.
I am not naturally a coward. I'm sure
could not be afraid of you II un-
derstood things better. And there is
Marion. She puzzles me. She will
never speak of her husband-r don't
know why. And don't know why Mr..
McCloud is so hard on Mr.. Sinclair
Mr.. Sinclair seems so kind and good
natured."
(To be Continued.)