Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-16
CHAPTER Xxx.
The launh of a Wnrnan

Within an hour, Marion, workins
over a hat in the trimming room. was
startled to hear the cottage door omen
and to see Dicksie quie unconcernedl-
walk in. To Marion's exclamation o,
surprise she returned only laugh. e.
have changed my mind dear. M,
going to stay all night"
Marion kissed her approvinpIy.
/ Really, you are getting so sensible
shant know you, Dicksie In fact
believe this is the most sensible thing
/ you were ever guilty Of"
Glad you think So" returned Dick
sic. dryly, unpinning her hat; Ger
tainly hope it is. Mr.. McCloud per.
suaded me 1t wasn't right for me to
ride homo alone, and knew better
than he what danger there was for
! him in riding home with me--so here
| am, He Is coming over tor supper,
! too in few minutes"
When McCloud arrived he brought
with him a porterhouse steak. and
| Marion was again driven from the
! kitchen. At the end of an hour, Dick.
sic. engrossed over the broler, was
putting the finishing touches to the
steak. and McCloud. more engrossed,
was watching her, when a difident
and surprised-looiing person appeared
in the kitchen doorway and put his
hand undoubtedly on the casing While
he stood, Dicksie turned abruptly to
McCloud.
"Oh. by the way. have forgotten
something. Will you do me a ravor?'
Certainly, Do you want money or
pass?"
no, not money" said Dicksie, litt-
ing the steak on her FORK, though
you might give me a pass"
But should hate 10 have you 20
away anywhere"
II don't want to 20 anywhere. but
never lad a pass. and l think it would
be kind Of nice to have one just 20
keep. Dom ycu?"
why, yes; you might put it in the
bank and have it drawing interest"
This steak is-Do they give inter
est on passes?"
We'll, a good deal Of interest is felt
in them-on this division at least.
What is the favor"
Yes, what IS it, How can I think?
Oh, know II they don't put Jim in
box stall tonight he will Kill some Of
the horses over there VIII you tele-
phone the stables?"
Won't you give me the number and
let me telephone?" asked q voice be-
! hind them. They turned In astonish.
ment and saw Whispering Smith. Il
am surprised" he added calmly, TO
see man of your intelligence,
George, trying to broil a steak with
| the lower door of your stove wide
| open Close the lower door and cut
out the draft through the fire. Don't
stare, George; put bacl. the broiler.
snd haven't you made a radical mis-
take TO start with" he asked, step
| ping between the confused couple.
Are .ou not trying TO broil roast Of
beof?'
"Whoie did YOU come from de-
manded McCloud. as Marion came in
! from the dining room.
Don't search me the very first
thing" protested Whispering Smith.
But we've been frightened to death
here for "a hours Are YOU really alive
and unhurt? This young lady rode in
20 miles this morning and came TO tha
office in tears 10 get news OF YOU
Smith looked mildly at Dicksie. Did
you shed 4 tear for me? should like
10 have seen just one, Where did
come from? ! reported in wild over
the telephone ten minutes ago Didn't
Marion tell you? She is SO forgetful.
That is what causes wrecks, Marion.
| have been in the saddle since three
o'clock this morning. thank you, and
have had nothing for five days but
raw steer g2rAished with sunshine"
The four sat down TO supper, and
| Whispering Smith began to talk. He
| told the story of the chase 10 the
Cache the defiance from Rebstock
and the tardy appearance OF the men
! he wanted. "Du Sang meant 70 shoot
his way through us and make a dash
for it, There really was nothing else
for him to do. Banks and Kennedy
were up above. even if he could have
ridden ont through the upper canyon.
which Is very doubtful with all tho
water now. After little talk back
and forth. Du Sang drew. and Of
course then It Was every man for him.
self. He was hit twice and he died
Sunday night but the ether two wert
not seriously hurt. What can YOU doi
Is either Kill or get killed with those
elbows. and. of course, | talked plain
IS 10 Du Sang He had butchered
man al Mission Springs just the night
before, and deserved hanging dozer
times over. He meant from tho start
he told me afterward, to Get me. Oh
Miss Duunine. may have some more
coffee? Haven't | an agreeable part
OF the railroad business, don't you
think? shouldn't have pushed il
here tonight, but ] saw the lights
when rode by awhile ago; they
looked so good couldn't resist
McCloud leaned forward. You cal
It pushing in. do YOU, Gordon? DC
you know what this young lady did
this morning? One OF her cowboys
came down from the Cache early with
the word that you had been killed in
the fight by DIV Sang. He said he saw
you drop from your saddle TO the
ground with Du Sang shooting al you
She ordered up her horse, without
word. and rode 20 miles in an hour
and q half to find out hero what VIZ