Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-12-09
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANDRE BOWLES



everybody. Murray Sinclair, although
he had sold his ranch on the Crawling
Stone and was concentrating his hold
ings on the Frenchman, was every
where in evidence. He was the first
at point of danger and the last to
ride away from the slipping acres
where the muddy flood undercut; but
no defiance seemed to disturb the
Crawling Stone, which kept alarming
ly at work
Above the alfalfa lands on the long
bench north of the house the river, in
changing it's course many years earli-
err, had left depression known as
Mud lake. 1t had become separated
from the main channel of the Crawling
Stone by high, narrow barrier in the
form of a bench deposited by the re-
ceding waters of some earlier flood,
and added to by sandstorms sweeping
among the willows that overspread it.
Without an effective head or definite
system of work the efforts of the men
at the Stone ranch were of no more
consequence than if they had spent
their time in waving blankets at the
river. Twenty men riding in together
to tell Lance Dunning that the river
was washing out the tree claims above
Mud lake made no perceptible differ
ence in the event. Dicksie, though an
inexperienced girl, saw with helpless
clearness the fntility of it all
Terror seized Dicksie. She tele-
phoned in her distress for Marion,
begging her to come up before they
should all be swept away; and Marion,
turning the shop over to Katie Dan
cling, got into the ranch-wagon that
Dicksie had sent and started for the
Crawling Stone.
At noon Marion arrived. The ranch
house was deserted, and the men were
all at the river. Puss stuck her head
out of the kitchen window, and Dick
sic ran out and threw herself into
Marion'S arms. Late news from the
front had been the worst; the cutting
above Mud lake had weakened the last
barrier that held off the river, and
every available man was fighting the
current at that point.
Marion heard it all while eating a
luncheon. Dicksie, beset with anxiety,
could not stay in the house. The man
that had driven Marion over, saddled
horses in the afternoon and the two
women rode up above Mud lake, now
become through rainfall and seepage
from the river a long, shallow lagoon.
For an hour they watched the shovel.
ing and carrying of sandb and
rode toward the river to the very edge
of the disappearing willows, where
the bank was melting away before the
undercut OF the resislless current.
They rode away with a common feel
ing-a conviction that the fight was a
losing one, and that another day would
see the ruin complete
"Dicksie," exclaimed Marion-they
were riding to the house as she spoke
I'LL tell you what we can dol" She
hesitated a moment. Il will tell you
what we can do! Are you plucky?"
Dicksie looked at Marion pathet-
ically.
IF you are plucky enough to do it,
we can keep the river off yet. l have
an idea. will go, but you must come
along"
Marion, what do you mean? Don't
you think I would go anywhere to
save the ranch? | should like to know
where you dare go in this country
that | dare mott"
Then ride with me over to the rail
road camp by the new bridge. We will
ask Mr.. McCloud to bring some of his
men over. He can stop the river; he
knows how"
Dicksie caught her breath oh
Marion! that would do no good, even
l could do it. Why, the railroad has
been all swept away in the lower val
ley"
How do you know"
$50 every one says"
who is every one?"
cousin Lance, Mr.. Sinclair-all the
men. | heard that week ago."
''Dicksie, don't believe it, You don't
know these railroad men. They under
you know, don't. If you will go with
| me we can get help. feel just as
sure that those men can control the
river as l do that am looking at you
that is, if anybody can. The question
| is do you want to make the effort?'
They talked until they left the
horses and entered the house. WheT
| they sat down, Dicksie put her hands
/, to her face. "Oh, wish you had sale
nothing about it! How can I go tt
| him and ask for help now--after Cous
| in Lance has gone into court about the
line and everything? And of course
my name is in it ALL"
"Dicksie. don't raise specters tha
have nothing to- do with the case.
we go to him and ask him for help hi
will give 1t to us if he can; If h,
can't. what harm is done? He ha.
been up and down the river for thre,
weeks, and he has an army of mer
camped over by the bridge. / know