Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-05

working for months WIN Lance Duh
ming over the line and McCloud mad
been called frequently into consulta-
t,on n adjust the surveys 70 obiec
,,ons raised by Diclisie's cousin to the
crossing OF the ranch lands. Even
when the proceedings had been closed
n strong current of discomfort set
,rom the managing head of the Stone
ranch. Rumors Of Lance Dunnings
dissatisfaction often reached the rail
road people. Vague talk of an exten.
sive irrigation scheme planned by Sin
clair for tho Crawling Stone valley
crept into the newspapers, and II was
generally understood that Lance Dun
ming had expressed himself favorably
to the enterprise.
rlcltsle gave slight heed TO matters
as weighty as these She spent much
OF her time on horseback. with Jim
under the saddle; and in Medicine
Bend. where she rode with frequency,
Marion's shop became her favorite
abiding place. D'cksia ordered hats
until Marlons conscience rose and she
practically refused 70 supply any
more. But the spirited controversy
on this point as on many others
Dicksie's hauShtiness and Marion's re-
straint, quite Unmovcd by any show Of
displeasure-cnded always in drawing
che two closer TO each other.
One March afternoon. coming home
from Medicine Bend. she saw at some
distance before her party Of men on
horseback She was riding trail
leading from the pass road that fol
lowed the hills, and the party was
coming up the bridge road from the
lower ranch. Dicksie had good eyes,
and something unusual in the riding
Of the men was soon apparent to her.
Losing n-d regaining sight of them at
diffeiln. turns in the trail, she made
out, Is she rode among the trees, that
they were cowboys Of het own ranch
and riding, under evident excitement,
about strange horseman. She rec
ognized in the escort Stormy Gorrian.
the ferocious foreman of the ranch
and Denson and jim Baugh, two Of
the most reckless Of the men. These
three carried rifles sluag across their
pommels and in from. Of them rode
the stranger.
Fragments OF the eakfasttable
talk OF the morning came back to
Dicksies mind. The railroad graders
were in the valley below the ranch.
and she had heard her cousin say
good deal on 2 point she cared little
about. as to where the railroad should
cross the Stone ranch. Approaching
the fork of the two roads toward
which she and the cowboys were rid
ing, she checked he. horse in the
shade of a cottonwood tree. and as
the party rode Up the draw she saw
the horsemau under surveillance 1t
was George McCloud
Unluckly, as shs caugh a glimpse
Of him she was consciou- that he was
looking at her. She bent forward to
hide momentary confusion, spoke
brisRly to her horse. and rode out Of
sight. AT Marons she had carefully
avoided him Her precipitancy at their
last meeting had seemed, on reflec.
ton, unfortunate. She felt that she
must have appeared TO him shockingly
rude. and there was in her recalling of
the scene an unconfessed impression
that she had been to blame. Often
when Marion spoke of him. which she
did without the slightest reserve and
with no reference as to whether Dick
sic liked it or not. 1t had been in Dick
sizes mind to bring up the subject OF
the dsagreeable scene, hoping that
Marion would suggest a way for ma
king some kind Of embarrassing
amends. But such opportunities had
Slipped away unimproved, and here
was the now railroad superintendent,
whom their blun neighbor Sinclair
never referred TO other than as the
college guy, being brought apparently
as a prisoner 10 the Stone ranch
Busted with her thoughts. Dicksie
rode slowly along the upper trails
until a long detour brought her around
the corrals and in at the back Of the
house. Throwing her lines 10 the
ground, she alighted and through the
back porch door made her way unob-
served to her room. From the office
across the big hall she heard mems
voices In dispute. and she slipped into
the dining room, where she could hear
and might see without being seen.
The office was filed with cowboys.
Lance Dunning, standing with a cigar
IN his hand and one leg thrown over
corner Of the table, was facing Nc
Cloud. who stood before him with his
hand on chair Lance WAS sDea ing
as Dicksie looked into the room, and
In curt tones: My men We're acting
under my orders"
You have no right TO give such or.
ders,' McCloud said, distinctly, nor
to detain me, nor to obstruct our free
have agreed to convey to us under our
survey"
Damn your survey, | never had
plat OF any such survey. | don't
recognize any such survey. And If
your right-of'way men had ever said a
word about crossing the creek above
the hume l never would have given
you a right of way at all"
There were never but two lines
run below tho creek; after you raised
objection l ran them both, and both
were above the fume."
Wen. you can't put a grade there.
! ana some OF my neighbors are going
10 dam up that basin, and the irriga-
tion laws will protect our rights"
i certainly can't put grade in be-