Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-02

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-
er7" he echoed. well. hardly. my
dear Miss Dunning! Every bridge Is
ont down the valley except the rail-
road bridge and there are few things
I don't tackle: one is the Crawling
Stone on tear. No, this was across
. little break IN this man McClouds
track. I came, to be frank. from the
Dunning ranch to look up two women
who rode away from there at seven
o'clock tonight, and want to say
that they gave me the ride Of my life,"
and Whispering Smith looked all
around the circle and back again and
smiled.
Dicksie spoke In amazement. "How
did you know We rode away? You
were not at the ranch when we left"
! "Oh, don't ask him!" cried Marion.
sic knows everything" explained
AcOlcud.
Whispering Smith turned TO Dicksie.
II was interested in knowing that they
got safely TO their destination-what-
ever 1t might be. which was none of
my business. happened to see q
man that had seen them start, that
was all. You don't understand? Well,
II you want It In plain English. I made
1t my business to see a man who made
It his business to see them. It's all
very simple. but these people like to
make a mystery Of 1t. Good women
are scarcer than riches, and more to
be priced than fine gold-in my judg-
ment-so rode after them"
Marion put her hand for a moment
on his coat sleeve; he looked at Dick
sic with another laugh and spoke to
her because he dared not look toward
Marion. "Going, back tonight, do you
say? You never are!"
Dicksie answered quite IN earnest:
~Oh, but We are. We mustl''
why did you come, then? It's
taken half the night TO get here, and
will take q night and half at least 10
get back"
I'VE came to ask Mr.. McCloud for
some grain acks-you know, they
have nothing to work with at the
ranch" said Marion: land he said we
might have some and we are to send
for them In the morning."
II see. But we may as well talk
plainly" Smith looked at Dicksie.
you are ns brave and as game as q
girl can be, know, OF you couldn't
have done thia Sacks full OF sand,
with the boys 1T the ranch to handle
them, would do no more good to-mor-
row at the bend than bladders. The
river is flowing into SQuaw lake above
there now. A hundred men that know
the game might check things yet II
they're there by daylight. Nobody
else, and nothing else on Gods earth
can"
There was silence before the fire.
McCloud broke st. II can put the 100
men there at daylight, Gordon, II Miss
Dumping and her cousin want them"
said McClould.
Marion sprang to her feet. ooh,
will you do'that. Mr.. McCloud?"
McCloud looked at Dicksie. TT they
are wanted"
Dieksie tried to look at the FIRE. ave
have hardly deserved help from Mr..
McC1oud at the ranch. she said at.
last.
He put out his hand. II must object.
The first wreck I ever had on this di.
vfcfon Misc n,,ppspp -odo on v,,iyoo -,
offer help. Isn't that true? Why, I
would walk 100 miles to return the
offer to her. Perhaps your cousin
would object" he suggested, turning
to Dicksie; "but no. think we can
manage that. Now what are we going
to do? You two can't go back to.
night, that is certain"
I'VE must"
j. ''Then you will have to go in boats"
said Whispering Smith.
But the hill road?"
AThere is FIVE feet of water across It
in half q dozen places. l swan my
horse through, SO ought to know"
1T is all back-water, Of. course, Miss
Dunning." explained McCloud. mot
dangerous"
But moist" suggested Whispering
Smith, Especially in the dark
McCloud looked at Marion. "Then
let's be sensible" he said. "You and
Miss Dunning can have my tent"
rs this where you stay?". asked
Dicksie.
-Four Of us sleep In the cots, when
we can, and an indefinite number lie
on the ground when it rains"
Which Is your bed?"
Il usually sleep there" He pointed
to the one on the right.
Il thought 80. It has the blanket
folded back 80 neatly. Just as II there
were sheets under It. I'll bet there
aren't3any.'
"Ddsyou think this is summer re.
sortf Knisely, my assistant, sleeps
there, but Of course we:are never both
In bed at the same time: he's down
the river tonight. It's q sort Of con.
tinucus performance, you know" Nc.
Cloud looked at Dicksie. "Take on
your coat. won't you. please!"
Whispering Smith was trying TO
drag g chest from the foot Of the cot.
and Marion stood Watching. What
are you trying to DOT"
Get this over to tho table for Z
seat }
silly mani Why don't you move the
table?',
sUcksie wss taking on her coat.
How inviting It all is!" she smiled.