The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-10-21

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Dlcksie raised her eyes. 81 wanted
to ask you whether you would sell US
some graiu sacks. Mr.. McCloud, TO
use at the river. II you could spare
them?"
Sacks? Why, Of course. all you
want! But how did you ever get here7
In all this water, and two lone
womenl You have been in danger to-
night. Indeed you have--don't tell mel
And you are both wet; know Il. Your
feet must be wet. Come to the fire.
o Bill" he called to Dancing, what's
the matter with your wood? Let us
have a fire, won't you?-one worth
while: and build another In front Of
my tent. / can't believe you have
ridden here all the way from the
ranch, two OF you alone!" exclaimed
McCloud, Fastening boxes up TO the
fire for seats.
Marion laughed. "Dlcksie can go
anywherei l couldn't have ridden from
the house to the barns alone"
Then tell me how you could do it,"
demanded McCloud, devouring Dicksie
with his eyes.
Dicksie looked at the fire. Il know
all the roads pretty we'll We did get
lost once" she confessed in q low
voice, but we got out again"
"The roads are all under water,
though"
what time is II. please?"
McCloud looked at his watch. Two
minutes past -"
Dicksie started. past II, Oh. this
is dreadful We must start right
back, Marion. I had no idea we had
been Ave hours coming Ave miles"
McCloud looked at her. n II still
unable to comprehend what she had
accomplished in crossing the flooded
bottoms. Her eyes fell back to the
fire what a blazel" she mumured
as the driftwood snapped and roared.
Its fine for tonight. isn't ~"
Il know you both must have been
in the water" he insisted. leaning for
ward in front of Dicksie to feel Mari
on's skirt.
I'm not wetl" declared Marion.
drawing back.
Nonsense, you are wet as rati
Tell me-" he asked. looking at Dlcksie.
about your trouble up az the bend. I
know something about H. Are the men
there tonight? Given up. have theyf
Too badl Do open your Jackets and
try TO dry yourselves. both Of you. and
I'll take look ut the river"
Suppose only say suppose-you
first take a look at me-" The voice
came from behind the group at the
fire. and the three turned together.
by heaven. Gordon Smith" ex-
claimed McCloud. Where did you
come from?"
Whispering Smith stood in the gloom
in patience. Where do look as II
had come fromg Why don't you ask
me whether I'm wetl And won't you
Introduce me-but this is Miss Dick.
sic Cunning. am sure"
Marion with laughter FASTENED the
introduction.
"And you are wet. OF course" said
McCloud. feeling Smiths shoulder.
NO. only soaked. have fallen into
the river two OF three times. and tho
last time a big rhinoceros OF yours
down the grade. a section foreman
named Klein, was obliging enough TO
pull me out. Oh. no. | Was not look
ing for you" he ran on. answering
McCloud's question; mot when he
pulled me out was just looking
for farm or a ladder or something.
Klein. for n man named Small. Is tho
biggest Dutchman / ever saw. Tell
me. Klein asked. after he had quit
dragging me out-he's a Hanoverian
where dId you get your pull. And
how about your height? Did your
grandfather serve as a grenadier under
old Frederick William and was he kid
naped7' Dill, don't feed my horse for
while. And Klein tried TO light a
cigar had Just taken from my pocket
and given hlm-fsncy! the Germans
are a remarkable people-and sat down
TO tell me his history. when some
friend down the line began bawling
through a megaphone. and all that
poor Klein had time TO say was that
he had had no supper. nor dinner, nor
yet breakfast. and would be obliged
for some by the boat he forwarded mo
In" And. in closing. Whispering
Smith looked cheerfully around at
Marion. at McCloud. and last and
longest OF all at Dicksie Dunning.
"Dii you come from across the
riverr' asked Dicksie, adjusting her
wet skirt meekly over her knees.
"You are soaking wet" observed
Whispering Smith. Across the riv-
err" ne echoed. We'll. hardly, my
dear Miss Dunningl Every bridge ia
out down the valley except the rail.
road bridge and there are few things
| don't tackle; one is the Crawling
Stone on tear. No. this was across
little break in this man McCioud's
track. came, to be frank. from the
Dunnins ranch to look up two women
who rode away from there at seven
o'clock tonight. and l 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 wa left"