The Tupelo journal., 1909-08-27
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANDRE BOKIfS
CooYFIGHv 80 6Y CMN ScfN5MTR5 SnNS

you, Gordon Smiths brother had never
seer the man in his life until he
walked up and shot him dead. Oh, this
was a peaceful country a few years
ago! Gordon Smith was right-of-way
man in the mountains then. He buried
his brother, and asked the officers
what they were going to do about get
ing the murderer. They laughed at
him. He made no protest, except to
ask for a deputy United States
marshal's commission. Whenlhe got it
he started for Williams Cache after
Williams in a buckboard-think of it.
Dicksie-and didn't they laugh at him!
He did not even know the trails, and
imagine riding 200 miles in a buck
board to arrest a 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 he 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 it policy to placate that ele-
ment, hoping that they won't steal
your cattle if you are friendly with
them. l know nothing about that, but
l do know something about Whisper
ing Smith. 1t will be a bad day for
Williams Cache when they start him
up again. But what has that to do
with your trouble? He will not eat
o up if you go to the camp, Dicksie.
You are just raising bogies."
They had moved to the front porch
and Marion was sitting in the rocking
chair. Dicksie stood with her back
against n of the pillars and looked
at her. AS Marion finished Dicksie
turned and, with her hand on her fore
head, looked in wretchedness of mind
out on the valley. AS far, in many di-
rections, as the eye could reach the
waters spread yellow in the flood of
sunshine across the lowlands. There
was a moment of silence. Dicksie
turned her back on the alarming sight.
Marion. l can't do it,"
ooh, yes, you a if you want to,
Dicksie!" Dicksie looked at her with
fearless eyes. ut is only a question
of being plucky enough" insisted
Marion.
"Pluck has nothing to do with it,"
exclaimed Dicksie, in fiery tones. 81
should like to know why you are al
ways talking about my not having
courage! This isn't a question of cour-
age. How a l go to a man that l
talked to as I 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 I 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 to
be beautiful and so hard to be sen
sible."
you are just as horrid as you can
be, Marion Sinclair!"
81 know that, too, dear. All l
wanted to say is that you would look
very sensible just now in asking help
from Mr.. McCloud."
Il don't care-I won't do it. l will
never do it, not if every foot of the
ranch tumbles into the river. I hope
it will! Nobody cares anything about
me. / have no friends but thieves and
outlaws"
"Dicksie!" Marion rose.
"That is what you said"
II did not. / am your friend. How
dare you call me names?" demanded
Marion, taking the petulant girl in her
arms. Don't you think I care any
thing about you? There are people
in this country that you have never
een who know you and love you al
most as much as I do. Don't let any
silly pride prevent your being sensible,
dear" Dicksie burst into tears. Mar
ion drew her over to the settee, and
DIG udu uCI ely OuI. WHEN II was
over they changed the subject. Dicksie
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 it out her
self.
When Dicksie came down, Marion
stood at the foot of the stairs. The
young mistress Of Crawling Stone
ranch descended step by step very
slowly. Marion" she said, simply, II
will go with you"