Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-09-01


the upper road from the hills.
All her brave plans, terror-stricken
at the sound of the hoof-beats, fled
from her utterly. She was stunned
by the suddenness of the crisis. She
had meant to stop McCloud and speak
to him, but before she could summon
her courage a TALL slender man on
horseback dashed past within a few
feet of her. She could almost have
touched him as he flew by, and a
horse less steady than Jim would have
SHE'D under her. Dicksie caught her
breath. She did not know this man
she had seen only his eyes, oddly
bright in the twilight as he passed
but he was not of the ranch. He must
have come from the hill road, she con-
Guided, down which she herself had
just ridden He was somewhere from
the north, for he sat his horse like a
statue and rode like the wind.
But the encounter nerved her to her
resolve. Some leaden moments
passed, and McCloud, galloping at a
far milder pace toward the fork of the
roads, checked his speed as he ap.
preached. He saw woman on horse
back waiting in his path.
"Mr. McCloud!"
miss Dunning!"
81 could not forgive myself If
waited too long to warn you that
threats have been made against your
life Not of the kind you heard to-
day. My cousin is not murderer,
and never could be, / am sure, in spite
of his talk; but was frightened at the
thought that if anything dreadful
should happen his name would be
brought into it. There are enemies
of yours in this country to be feared,
and it is against these that 1 warn
you. Goodnight"
Surely you won't ride away with
out giving me chance to thank you!"
exclaimed McCloud. Dicksie checked
her horse. 81 owe you double debt
anxious to assure you that we desire
nothing that will injure your interests
in any way in crossing your lands"
'1 know nothing about those mat
tiers, because my cousin manages
everything. 1t is growing late and
you have a good way to go, so good
night"
But you will allow me to ride back
to the house with you?"
"Oh, no, indeed, thank you!"
1T will soon be dark and you are
alone"
mo, no! am quite safe and have
only short ride. 1t is you who have
far to CO." and she spoke again to
Jim, who started briskly.
''Miss Dunning, won't you listen juet
q moment? Please don't run away"
McCloud was trying to come up with
her. won't you hear me moment?
/ have suffered some little humiliation
to-day; should really rather be shot
up than have more put on me. | am
a man and you are woman, and 1t Is
already dark. Isn't it for me to see
you safely to the house? Won't you
at least pretend 1 can act as an escort
and let me go with you? should make
a poor figure trying to catch you on
horseback"
Dicksie nodded naively. with that
horse"
with any horse-I know that" said
McCloud, keeping at her side.
"But l can't let you ride back with
me-" declared Dicksie, urging Jim and
looking directly at McCloud for the
first time. "How could 1 explain?"
LET me explain. 1 am famous for
,,cr0d MoNIoud cn11rriuO
too.
"And will you tell me what should
be doing while you were explaining?"
she asked.
Perhaps getting ready q first aid
for the injured"
81 feel as if / ought to run away"
declared Dicksie, since she had clearly
decided not to. 'It will have to be a
compromise, 1 suppose. You must not
ride farther than the first gate, and
let us take this trail instead of the
road. Now make your horse go as
fast as you can and I'll keep up"
But McCloud's horse, though not
wonder, went too fast to suit his rider,
who divided his efforts between check
ing him and keeping up the converse
ton When McCloud dismounted to
open Dicksie's gate, and stood in the
twilight with his hat in his hand and
his bride over his arm, he was telling
a story about Marion Sinclair, and
Dicksie in the saddle, tapping her
knee with her bridle-rein, was looking
down and past him as If the light upon
his face were too bright. Before she
would start away she made him re-
mount, and he said good-by only after
half a promise from her that she
would show him sometime a trail to
the top of Bridger's Peak, with view
of the Peace river on the east and the
whole Mission range and the park
country on the north. Then she rode
away at an amazing run, nodding back
at he sat still holding his hat above