The Bottineau courant., 1909-08-13
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Between GirIhood and Womanhood.
About nine o'clock that night Puss
ushered McCloud in from the river.
Dicksie came running downstairs to
meet him. Your cousin insisted I
should come up to the house for some
SUPPER" said McCloud, dryly. II
could have taken camp fare with
the men. Gordon stayed there with
him."
Dicksie held his hat in her hand,
and her eyes were bright in the fire.
light. Puss must have thought the
two made handsome couple, for she
fingered, as she started for the kitch-
en-, to look back.
"Puss," exclaimed her mistress, FRY
a chicken right away! A big one,
Puss! Mr.. McCloud is very hungry, l
know. And be quick, do! Oh, how is
the river, Mr.. McCloud?"
Behaving like a lamb. It hasn' t
fallen much, but the pressure seems
to be off the bank, If you know what
| that means?"
"You must be magician! Things
changed the minute you camel"
"The last doctor usually gets credit
for the cure, you know" 80.
'"Oh, 1 know all about that. Don't
you want to freshen up? Should you
mind coming right to my room? Mari
on is in hers" explained Dicksie, "and
I am never sure of Cousin Lance'st
he has so many boots"
When she had disposed of McCloud
she flew to the kitchen. Puss was
starting after a chicken. "Take a
lantern, Puss!" whispered Dicksie, ve-
hemently. ''
mo, indeed; dis niger dom need
no lantern TO- chickens, Miss Dicksie." j"
But get good one, Puss, and make
haste, do! Mr.. McCloud must be
starved! Where is the baking DOW.
der? I'll get the biscuits started"
Puss turned fiercely. "Now look-a
heah, yo' can't make biscuits! Yo'
jes' go Sc down wifi dat young
gen'm'n! Jes' lemme lone, ef yo'
please! Dis amt de frs time l
killed chickens, Miss Dicksie, an
made biscuits. Jes' clair out an se'
down! Place r. young ladies is in de
parlor! or Puss can cook supper
fr one man yet-ef she has to-"
| "Oh, yes, Puss. certainly, know, of
course; only, get nice chicken!" and
with the parting admonition Dicksie,
smoothing her hair wildly, hastened
back to the living room.
But the harm was done. Puss, more
excited than her mistress, lost her
head when she got to the chicken-yard,
and with sufficiently bad results. When
Dicksie ran out few moments after
ward for glass Of water for Nc.
Cloud, Puss was calmly wiping her
hands, and in the sink lay the culver
ing form Of young Caesar. Dicksie
caught her favorite up by the legs and
suppressed a cry. There could be no
mistake. She cast burning look on
Puss. It would do no good to storm
now. Dicksie only wrung her hands
and returned to McCloud.
He rose in the happiest mood. He
could not see what a torment Dicksie
was in, and took the water without
asking himself why 1t trembled in her
hand. Her restrained manner did not
worry him, for he felt that his fight at
the river was won, and the prospect
OF fried chicken composed him. Even
the long hour before Puss, calm and
inviting in white cap and apron, ap-
peared to announce supper, passed
like a dream. When Dicksie rose to
lead the way to the dining room, Nc.
Cloud walked on air; the high color
about her eyes intoxicated him. Not
till half the fried chicken, with many
compliments from McCloud, had disap.
peared and the plate had gone out for
the second dozen biscuits did he notice
Dicksie's abstraction.
I'm sure you need worry no longer
about the water" he observed, reas.
suringly. II think the worst of the
danger is past"
| Dicksie looked at the tablecloth
with wide-open eyes. II feel sure that
It is. I am no longer worrying about
that"
It's nothing / can do or leave un.
done, is it?" asked McCloud, laughing
q little as he implied in his tone that
she must be worrying about some
thing.
Dicksie made a gesture Of alarm
"Oh, no, no: nothing!"
9 TITS pretty good plan not to
worry about anything"
!! do you think sO?"
Why, we all thought 70 last night.
Heavens! !" McCloud drew back in hid
chair. = never offered you . piece Of
chicken! What have been thinl
ing OFT"