The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-13
CHAPTER. mi.-continued.

y But we are doing everything pos
4sible for him. He is going to make a
perfectly lovely horse.'
And whom may say the message
Is from?" Though disconnected, Nc
Cloud was regaining his wits. He felt
perfectly certain there was no dan
ger, 1t she knew Sinclair and lived in
the mountains, but that she would
sometime find out he was not con-
ductor. When he asked his question
she appeared slightly surprised and
answered easily: "Mr. Sinclair will
know 1t is from Dicksie Dunning."
McCloud knew her then. Every
one knew Dicksie Dunning in the
high country. This was Dicksie Dun
ming of the great Crawling Stone
sranch, most widely known of all the
smountain ranches. While his stupidity
in not guessing her identity before
overwhelmed him, he resolved to ex-
Shaust the last effort to win her inter-
cost. y
Il don't know just when l shall see
sMr. Sinclair" he answered, gravely,
but he shall certainly have your
fmessage" :,
"A "a doubt seemed, ito steal over Dick
sic at the change in McCloud's man
ner. "Oh, pardon mel thought you
were working for the company"
you are quite right, am; but Mr..
Sinclair is not.''
/, Her, eyebrows. rose a little. II
think you are mistaken, aren't. you?""
1T is possible / am; but If he is
working for the company, it is pretty
certain that am not" he continued,
heaping justification on her. How
ever, that will not prevent my deliv.
ering the message. BY the way, may
ask which shoulder?"
."Shoulder!''
Which shoulder is sprung
".Oh, of course! The right shoulder.
and it is sprung pretty badly, too,
Cousin Lance says, How very stupid
OF, me to ride over here for freight
wreck"
McCloud felt Inundated at having
nothing better worth while to offer.
'It was a very bad one," he .ventured.
But not Of the; kind can be Of any
help at, I fear
McCloud smiled. 1--WE are certainly
short of help
,e.aBteksier, ,brou ghty. her :shorse,s head
around. She felt again of the girth
as she replied: Not such as I can
sssuppB.. I'm afraid' And with the
words she stepped away, as if:prepar-
ing to mount
y McCloud intervered. II hope you
won't go away without resting your
horse. The sun is SO hot. Mayn't I
offer you some sort of refreshment? 2"
Dicksie Dunning thought not.
The sun is very warm" persisted
McCloud. =
Dicksie smoothed her gauntlet in
1.-THE assured manner natural to her.
.'I am pretty well used to it,"
4 But McCloud held on. Several cars
sof fruit were destroyed in the wreck.
u can offer you any quantity of grapes
crates Of them are spelling over
there-and pears
Thank you, am just from lunch
t,eon." .s
"And / have cooled water in the car.
hope you won't refuse that, SO far
%out In the desert"
Dickste laughed little. do you
call this far? I don't; and don't
call this desert by any means. Thank
you ever so much for the water, but
I'm notsin. thesleast thirsty"
1T was kind yof you aeven to think
of extending help. / wish you would
let Fine send some fruit over to your
ranch. It is only spelling here.
g Dieksie sstroked the Geek Of her
horse. 1T is about Is miles to the
ranch house. :" -
Il don't call that far"
.'Oh, It isn't" she returned, hastily,
protesting not to notice the look that
went with the words, except for per.
ishable things!" Then, as II acknowl.
edging her disadvantage, she added,
swinging her bride rein around: 81
Am under obligations for the offer, just
the same" 81 IS.
"At least, won't you let your horse
drink" McCloud threw the force OF
san appeal into his words, and Dicksie
stopped her preparations and ap.
beared to waver. e
Jim 10 pretty thirsty, / suppose.
dave you plenty Of water?"
"A tendef FULL Had better lead
him down while you wait up on the
hill in the shaded "a
if Cant I ride hfm DOWN.;
ut would be pretty rough riding.
ID oh. Jim goes anywhere. she said,
with her attractive indifference to sit.
!. aiations II you don't mind helping
|. mesmDuxs,n +
with pleasure
S sh9 stood waiting for his hand and
McCl4dd sto0d, not knowing inst what
60 do. She danced g him expectant
nv. The sun grew intensely hot.
You win have to show me how
be stammered at last.
Don't you know? - Z si s:s
He mentally cursed the technical
se1eation that left him helpless At