The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-07-04
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] McCloud looked at Marion. 4 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 a cat needs two tails. And
( how viii you get baek?" he asked, turn
/ ing TO Dicksie.
II will ride backr' 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 McCIoud.
/ DiCksie looked at him in surprise.
/ Find my way back?" she echoed, soft
] Iy. Il could not lose it, I can ride
over any part of this country at noon
or at midnight, asleep or awake, with
| a saddle or without, with a bride or
without, with a trail or without. I've
/ ridden every horse that has ever come
| on the Crawling Stone ranch. I could
| ride when I was 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 frequent
/ iy 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 path again
/ or not. It's great. isn't it?" he ex-
/ claimed, coming up to her after open
/ ing gate in the dark. Where are
yOu?'
This way" laughed Dicksje. 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. They rode
/ for moment in silence, the horses
/ stepping cautiously. "All right now"
/ said Dicksie; you may let 60" But
/ McClOud kept his horse up close and
chung TO the warm hand. THE camp
/ is just around the hill" murmured
/ Dicksie, trying 70 pull away. But of
/ course, If you would like to ride in
holding my hand you mayr'
/ No said McCIoud, of course not
NOT for worldsl But, Miss Dicksie.
couldn't we ride back to the house and
ride around the other way into camp?
1 think the other way into the camp
/ say, around by the railroad bridge
would be pTettieT, don't yOu?"
/ 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
/ alght. She was conscious Of her color
and here eyes were now unduly bright.
/ Moreover, Whispering Smiths glance
rested so calmly on both McCloud's
face and her own that Dfcksie felt as
If ha (,
everything that had happened since
they left the house
Lance was talking TO McCloud. Don't
abuse the wind" McClOud was saying.
It's our best friend tonight Mr. Dun
ming. 1t is blowing the water off-shore.
| Where is the trouble?" For answer
Dunning led McCloud off 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 I'D 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 part of her mental store. She
saw that he seemed preoccupied, and
sought to draw him out of his abstrac-
ton.
Il am so glad you and Mr.. McCloud
are getting acquainted with Cousin
Lance" she said. And do you mind
my giving you a confidence, Mr.. Smith ?
Lance has been so unreasonable about
this matter of the railroads coming up
the valley and pOw-wOwing so much
with lawyers and ranchers that he has
been forgetting about everything at
home. He is so much older than 1 am
that he ought TO be the sensible one
Of the family, don't you think so? It
frightens me to have him losing at
cards and drinking. I am afraid he viii
get into some shooting affair I don {
understand what has come over him.
and l worry about it. 1 believe you could
influence him if you knew him"
What makes you think that?" asked
Whispering Smith, but his eyes were on
the fire.
Because these men he spends his
time with in town-the men who fight
and shoot so much-are afraid of you.
Don't laugh at me. 1 know it is quite
true in spite of their talk. was afraid
of you myself until"
| Until"
But I think it is because I don't
understand things that 1 am so afraid.
am not naturally a coward. I'm sure
I could not be afraid of you if I under
stood things better. And there is Marion.
She puzzles me. She viii never speak
of her husband don't know why And
II don't know why Mr.. McCIoud is so
hard on Mr.. SinClair-AIr. Sinclair seems
SO kind and goodnatured.'
! Whispering Smith looked from the fire
into Dicksie's eyes What should YOU
say if I gave you a confidence"
She opened her heart to his searching
gaze. Would you trust me with con-
fdenCe2"
He answered without hesitation. You
| shall see Now, I have many things I
can't talk about. YOU understand But
If I had TO give you a secret this in
slant that carried my life I shouldn I
fear TO DO it--SO much for trusting YOU.
Only this, too, as to what I say: Don't
ever quote me or let il appear that YOU
any more than know me. Can you mag
inc that? Really? Very good, you VIII
understand why in a minute The man
that is stirring up all this trouble with
your Cousin Lance and in this whole
country is your kind and good-natured
neighbor, Mr.. Sinclair. am prejudiced
against him; let us admit that on the
start, and remember IL in estimating
what I say. But Sinclair is the man