The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-08-27

to ask you Wneuner you WOulu sell us
some grain sacks, Mr.. McCloud, to
use at the river, if you could spare
them?"
Sacks? Why, of course, all you
want! But how did you ever get here?
In all this water, and two lone
women! You have been in danger to-
night Indeed you have-dont tell me!
And you are both wet; I know it. Your
feet must be wet. Come to the fire.
o Bill" he called to Dancing, whats
the matter with your wood? Let us
have a fire, won't you?-one worth
while; and build another in front of
my tent 1 can't believe you have
ridden here all the way from the
ranch, two of you alone!" exclaimed
McCloud, Fastening boxes up to the
fire for seats.
Marion laughed. "Dicksie can go
anywhere! couldn't have ridden from
the house to the barns alone"
Then tell me how you could do it?"
demanded McCloud, devouring Dicksie
with his eyes.
Dicksie looked at the fire. 81 know
all the roads pretty well. We did get
lost once" she confessed in low
voice, "but we got out again."
"The roads are all under water,
though"
what time is it, please?"
McCloud looked at his watch. 1.-TWO
minutes past r."
Dicksie started. past 70? oh, this
is dreadful! We must start right
back Marion. / had no idea we had
been five hours coming five miles"
McCloud looked at her, as II still
unable to comprehend what she had
accomplished in crossing the flooded
bottoms. Her eyes fell back to the
fire. what blaze!" she mumured
as the driftwood snapped and roared.
Its fine for tonight, isn't it?"
Il know you both must have been
in the water" he insisted, leaning for
ward in front of Dicksie to feel Mari
on's skirt.
I'm not wet" declared Marion,
drawing back.
Nonsense, you are wet as a rat!
Tell me-" he asked, looking at Dicksie,
about your trouble up at the bend. l
know something about it. Are the men
there tonight? Given up, have they?
Too bad! Do open your jackets and
try to dry yourselves, both Of you, and
III take look at the river"
Suppose only say suppose-you
first take a look at me-" The voice
came from behind the group at the
fire, and the three turned together.
by heaven, Gordon Smith" ex-
claimed McCloud Where did you
come FROM"
Whispering Smith stood in the gloomI
in patience. where do l look as if l
had come from? Why don't you ask
me whether I'm wet? And won't you
introduce me-but this is Miss Dick
sic Dunning, 1 am sure"
Marion with laughter fastened the
introduction.
And you are wet, of course" said
McCloud, feeling Smiths shoulder.
mo, only soaked. / have fallen into
the river two or three times, and the
last time a big rhinoceros of yours
down the grade, section foreman
named Klein, was obliging enough to
pull me out. Oh, no! / was not look
ing for you," he ran on, answering
McClouds question; mot when he
pulled me out. | was just looking
for farm or ladder or something.
Klein, for man named Small, is the
biggest Dutchman l ever saw. Tell
me, Klein | asked, after he had quit
dragging me out-he's a Hanoverian
where did you get your pull? And
how about your height? Did your
grandfather serve as a grenadier under
old Frederick William and was he kid
naped?' Bill, don't feed my horse for
a while. And Klein tried to light a
cigar had just taken from my pocket
and given hinl-fancy! the Germans
are remarkable people-and sat down
to tell me his history, when some
friend down the line began bawling
through a megaphone, and all that
poor Klein had time to say was that
he had had no supper, nor dinner, nor
yet breakfast, and would be obliged
for e>by the boat he forwarded me
in" And, in closing, Whispering
Smith looked cheerfully around at
Marion, at McCloud, and last and
longest Of all at Dicksie Dunning.
did you come from across the
river?" asked Dicksie, adjusting her
wet skirt meekly over her knees.
You are soaking wet" observed
Whispering Smith. Across the riv-
err" he echoed. "Well, hardly, my
dear Miss Dunning! Every bridge is
out down the valley except the rail-
road bridge and there are few things
don't tackle; one is the Crawling
Stone on a tear. No, this was across
little break in this man McCloud's
track. l CAME, to be frank, from the
Dunning ranch to look up two women
who rode away from there at seven
o'clock tonight, and 1 want to say
that they gave me the ride of my life"