Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-14
CHAPTER NNNvIl.
Dieksie's Ride

When Lance Cunning entered The
room ten minutes later Diczsie stood
a the telephone. but the ten minutes
Of that interval had made quite an-
other creature OF his cousin The
wires were down and mo- one from any
quarter gave response to her frantic
rmelnr Through the receiver she
could hear only the sweep OF The rain
and the harsh crackle OF The wind.
Sometimes praying. sometimes fainting
and sometimes despairing. she stood
ciiuging 20 the instrument. RINGING
. and pounding upon 90 like one fren-
zied. Lance looked az her In amaze
ment Why God almighty. Dicksie.
what's The natter"
Te called twice 20 her before She
turned. and her words almost stunned
him. Why did YOU not detaiu Sin.
clair here tonight Why did you not
arrest h.mP"
Lancc's som5rcro raked heavily 10
one side OF his face. and one end OF
his mustache running up much higher
on the other did not begin 10 express
his astonishmc mt. Arrest him? Ar
rest Sinclair? Dicksie. are you crazy2
Why the devil should I arrest Sin
clair? DO you suppose I am going to
mix up in a fight like thise DO you
think want 10 get killed? The level
headed man in this country. just at
present. is the man who can keep out
OF trouble, and the man who succeeds.
let me tell you. has got more than
plenty TO do"
Lance, getting no answer but a
fierce. searching gaze from Dicksie's
wild eyes, laid his hand on q chair.
lighted cigar. and sat down before
the fire. Dicksie dropped the tele-
phone receiver, put her hand to her
girdle. and looked at him. When she
spoke her tone was singing. You
know that man Is going TO Medicine
Bend TO Kill his Wife"
Lance took the cigar from his mouth
and returned her look. Il know no
such thing" he growled. CURLY.
And to kin George McCloud. IL he
can"
He stared without reply.
You heard him say so" persisted
Dicksie, vehemently.
Lance crossed his legs and threw
back the brim OF his hat. "McCIoud is
nobody's fool He will look out for
himself"
These fendish wires 10 Medicine
Bend are down. Why hasn't this line
been repaired" she cried, wringing
her hands There is no way TO give
warning TO any one that he Is coming
and you have let him co."
Lance whITled i'm his chair Dam
nation! Could / keep him from go
ing?"
You did not want 70: you are keep
ing out of trouble What do you care
whom he kills tonight"
You've gone crazy. Dicksle Your
imagination has upset your reason.
Whether he kills anybody tonight OF
not it's too late now to make a row
about It," exclaimed Lance, throwing
his cigar sngrily away He won't
kill US"
And you expect me TO sit by and
fold my hands while that wretch sheds
more blood, do you?"
1T can't be helped"
j say IL can be helped, / can help
1T will help it--as you could have
done II you had wanted to. / will
ride to Medicine Bend tonight and
help It."
Lance jumped TO his feet. with
string OF oaths. Wei, this is the lin
i'll" He pointed his finger at her.
'Dicksie Cunning. you won't stir out
Of this house tonight"
Her face hardened. How dare you
speak in that way 10 me? Who are
you, that you order me what to do.
where TO stay: Am ] your cowboy. to
be defiled with your curses2"
He looked at her in amazement. She
was only IS; he would still face her
down. "I1l tell you who I am. /
am master here. and you will do as ]
tell you. You will ride TO Medicine
Benz tonight. will you2" He struck
the table with his clinched fist. do
you hear me- ! say, by God. not a
horse shall leave this ranch Ia this