Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-09-22

could find your way alone"
But 1 can co." interposed Marion,
rising.
mot at all; you can not go!" an
nounced Dicksie. ST can protect both
Mr. McCloud and myself. If he should
arrive down there under the wing of
two women he would never hear the
last of it. l am mistress here still, l
think; and l sha'n't be leaving home,
you know, to make the trip"
McCloud looked at Marion. 81
never worry over what can't be
helped-though it is dollars to
cents that those fellows don't need
me down there any more than cat
needs two tails. And how will you
get back?" he asked, turning to Dick
sic.
81 will ride backi" returned Dicksie,
loftily. But you may, if you like,
help me get my horse up"
"Are you sure you can find your
way back?" persisted McCloud.
Dicksie looked at him in surprise.
Find my way back?" she echoed,
softly. 81 could not lose it. l 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 a trail or without.
I've ridden every horse that has ever
come on the Crawling Stone ranch. l
could ride when l 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 a 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
it?" he exclaimed, coming up to her
after opening gate in the dark.
Where are your"
"This way" laughed Dicksie. Look
out for the trail here. Give me your
hand and let your horse have his head.
If he slips, drop off quick on this
side" McCloud caught her hand.
the horses stepping cautiously. ''All
right now,' said Dicksie; you may let
co." But McCloud kept his hoIs Sc up
close and chung to the warm hand.
1.-The camp is just around the hill, !"
murmured Dicksie, trying to pull
away. But of course if you would
like to ride in holding my hand you
may!"
mo-" 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? l 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 to
alight. She was conscious of her color
and her eyes were now unduly bright.
Moreover, whispering Smiths glance
rested so 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 McC1oud.
Don't abuse the wind" McCloud was
saying. Its our best friend tonight,
Mr.. Dunning. 1t is blowing the wa
ter off-shore. Where is the troubles?
For answer Dunning led McCloud of
toward the bend, and Dicksie was left
alone with Whispering Smith.
He made a seat for her on the wind
ward side of the big fire. When she
had seated herself she looked up in
great contentment to ask If 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 a part of her mental
store. She saw that he seemed pre-
occupied, and sought to draw him out
of his abstraction.
/ 81 am so glad you and Mr.. McCioud
are getting acquainted with Cousin
! Lance" she said. "And do you MIND
my giving you a confidence, Mr.
Smith? Lance has been so unreason
able about this matter of the rail
roads coming up the valley and pow
wowing so much with lawyers and
ranchers that he has been forgetting
about everything at home. He is Sc
much older than 1 am that he ought tt
! be the sensible one of the family, dom
you think SO? 1t frightens me to have
him losing at cards and drinking.
am afraid he will get into some shoot
ing affair. I don't understand what
has come over him, and I worry about
it. I believe you could influence him
If you knew him."