Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-17
Copyrisht. IN, By chas. scrinnefs Sous.
CHAPTER III.
DickSie.

Dtcksie.
The wreckers, drifting In the blaze
OF the sun across the broad alkan val
ley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire
behind them. No breath of wind
stirred 1t. With the stiffness Of a sig
nal column 1t rose, thin and black,
and high in the air spread motionless,
ike a huge umbrella, above Smoky
creek. Reed Young had gone with an
engine to wire for re.enforcements, and
McCloud, active among the trackmen
until the confagration spent itself,
had retired to the shade OF the hill.
Reclining against rock with his
legs crossed. he had clasped his hands
behind his head and sat looking at the
iron writhing in the dying heat Of the
fire. The sound of boots aroused him.
and looking below he saw horse
woman refining up near his men at the
wreck. She rode an American horse,
thin and rangy, and the experienced
way In which she checked him drew
him back almost to his launches. But
McCloud's eyes were fixed on the slen-
der figure OF the rider Her boot
flashed in the stirrup while she spoke
to the nearest man, and her horse
stretched his neck and nosed the
brown alkali-grass that spread thinly
along the road.
To McCloud she was something like
an apparition. He sat spellbound I'M
til the trackman indiscreetly nointed
him out, and the eyes Of the visitor,
turning his way, caught him with his
hands on the rock in an attitude open
ly curious. She turned Immediately
away, but McCloud rose and started
down the hill. The horses head was
pulled up, and there were signs of de-
parture. He quickened his steps.
Once he saw, or thought he saw, the
riders head SO turned that her eyes
might have commanded one approach
Ing from his quarter; yet he could
catch no further glimpse Of her face.
"A second surprise awaited him. Just
as she seemed about to ride away, she
dropped lightly from the horse to the
ground. and he saw how confident In
figure she was. AS she began to try
her saddle.girths, McCloud attempted
a greeting. She could not ignore his
hat, held rather high above his head
as he approached, but she gave him
the slightest nod in return-one that
made no attempt to explain why she
was there or where she had come
from.
Pardon me-" ventured McCloud,
have YOU lost your way?"
He was Immediately conscious that
he had said the wrong thing. The
expression Of her eyes implied that
it was foolish to suppose she was lost,
but she only answered: IT saw the
smoke and feared the bridge was on
fire."
Something in her voice made him
almost sorry he had INTERVIEWED: II
she stood in need OF help of any sort
1t was not apparent, and her gaze was
confusing.
Il presume Mr.. Sinclair is here?"
she said, presently.
Il am sorry to say he is not"
He usually has charge Of the
wrecks. think. What a dreadful
fret" she murmured, looking down the
track. WAS it a passenger wreck?"
She turned abruptly on McCloud to
ask the question. Her eyes were
brown, too, he saw, and doubt as.
sailed him. Was she pretty?
only a freight wreck" he an.
swered.
Il thought II there were passengers
hurt could send help from the ranch.
Were you the CONDUCTOR"
Fortunately not"
And no one was hurt?"
"only tramp. We are burning the
wreck to clear the track"
From the divide it looked like a
mountain on fire. I'm sorry Mr.. Sim
clair is not here"
why. indeed, yes, so am l."
Because know him. You are one
of his men, presume"
mot exactly; but is there anything
can do"
ooh. thank you, nothing, except that
the pretty bay colt he sent over to US
has sprung his shoulder
He will be sorry to hear it. I'm
sure"
But we are doing everything pos.
sible for him. He is going to make q
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, II she knew Sinclair and lived in
the mountains, but that she would
sometime find out he was not con-
ductcr. 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 Dieksie Dun.
ming Of the great Crawling Stone
ranch, most widely known Of all the
mountain ranches. While his stupidity
in not guessing her identity before
overwhelmed him, he resolved to ex.
haust the last effort to win her inter.
ost.
Il don't know Just when shall see
Mr.. Sinclair" he answered, gravely,
but he shall certainly have your
message"
A doubt seemed to 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 q little. Il
think you are, mistaken, aren't your"
ut Il pogRihlA am. hn% q ~ 4.