Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-19

ask for dopuiy inited States
marshal's commission. When he got 1t
he started for Williams Cache after
Williams In a buckboard-think Of IT,
Dicksie--and didn't they laugh ct him!
He did not even know the trails, and
Imagine riding 200 miles in buck
board to arrest man In the noun
tains! He was gone six weeks, and
came back with williams body
strapped to the blackboard behind
him. He never told the story all he
said when be handed In his commits
sion and went back to his work was
that the man was killed in a fair fight.
Hate him! No wonder they hate him
the Williams Cache gang and all
their friends on the range! Your cous-
in thinks 1t policy to placate that elc-
ment, hoping that they won't steal
your cattle IL you are friendly with
them. know nothing about that, but
l do know something about Whisper
ing Smith. II will be bad day for
Williams Cache when they start him
up again. But what has that to do
with your trouble? He will not eat
you up II you so to the camp, Dicksie.
You are just raising boglcs"
They had moved to the front porch
and Marion was sitting In the rocking
chair. Dickse stood with her back
against one OF the pillars and looked
at her. AS Marion finished Dicksie
turned and. with her hand on her fore
: head. looked in wrotchcdness Of mind
out on tho valley. As far, in many d..
rections, as the eye could reach the
waters spread yellow in the flood Of
sunshine across the lowlands. There
was moment of silence. Dcksie
turned her back on the alarming sight.
Marion, I can't do IT,.
"Oh, yes. you can If you want to,
Dicksie!" Diclssie looked at her with
fearless eyes. 1T Is only a question
of being plucky enough insisted
Marion.
PLUCK has nothing to do with it,"
exclaimed D!cksie, in fiery tones. II
should like to know why you are al
ways talking about my not having
courage. This isn't question of cour.
age. How can go to a man that
talked TO as ! talked to him in your
house and ask for help? How can
go to him after my cousin has threat
ened to kill him. and gone into court
to prevent his coming on our land
Shouldn't look beautiful asking help
from him.
Marion rocked with perfect com.
posture. mo. dear, you would not
look beautiful asking help, but you
would look sensible 1t is so easy &C
be beautiful and so hard to be sen
sible."
You are just as horrid as you car
be, Marion Sinclair"
Il know that, too. dear. All
wanted to say Is that you would look
very sensible just now in asking helI
from Mr.. McCloud."
x don't care-l won't do 1t. will
never do It. not II every foot Of the
ranch tumbles into the river. / hope
II will. Nobody cares anything abou
me. have no friends but thieves ane
outlaws"
"Dicksie!" Marion rose.
That Is what you said"
Il did not. l am your friend. How
dare you call me names?" demanded
Marion, taking the petulant girl in he
arms. Don't you think care any
thing about you? There are people
in this country that you have neve
seen who know you and love you al
most as much as I do. Don't let an,
silly pride prevent your being sensible
dear" Dicks!e burst into tears. Mar
ion drew her over to the settee, am
she had her cry out. When it wa
over they changed the subject Dcksi
went to her room. 1t was a long time
before she came down again, but Mari
on rocked in patience; she was re
solved TO let Dicksie fight 1t out her
self.
When Dicksie came down, Marion
stood at ,he foot of the stairs. Thu
young mistress Of Crawling Ston'
ranch descended step by step yer.
slowly. Marion" she said. simply. "
will go with YOU