Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-12-24

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"You don't know whether l should
or not"
81 know l should do much better II
you would go back and run the rail-
road few minutes"
"The RAILROAD be hanged. am for
dinner"
But will get dinner for you"
you need not. / can get it for my.
SELF"
You are perfectly absurd, and If
we stand here disDuting, Marion won't
have anything to eat"
They went into the kitchen disput-
ing about what should be cooked. At
the end of an hour they had two fires
going-one in the stove and one in
Dicksies cheeks. By that time it had
been decided to have a luncheon in
stead of a dinner. Dicksie attempted
some soup, and McCloud found strip
of bacon, and after he had cooked 1t,
Dicksie, with her riding-skirt pinned
up and her sleeves delightfully."- rolled
back, began frying eggs. When Marion,
unable longer to withstand the excite
ment, appeared, the engineer, flushed
with endeavor, was making toast.
The three sat down at table togeth-
or. They found they had forgotten
the coffee, but Marion was not allowed
to move from her chair. When the
coffee was made ready the bacon had
been eaten and more had to be fried.
McCloud proved able for any part Of
the program, and when they rose It
was four o'clock and too late, Nc
Cloud declared, to go back to the Of
fee that afternoon.
Marion and Ocksie, after time, at
tempted jointly to get rid Of him, but
they found they could not, so the
three talked about Whispering Smith.
When the women tried to discourage
McCloud by talking hats he played the
wheezy piano, and when Dicksie spoke
about going home he declared he
would ride home with her. But Dick,
sic had no mind that he should, and
when he asked to know why, without
realizing what a flush fingered in his
face, she said only, no; if she had
reasons she would give none. McCloud
persisted, because under the flush
about his eyes was the resolve that he
would take one long ride that evening
in any event. He had made up his
mind for that ride-a longer one than
/ he had ever taken before, or expected
ever to take again-and would not be
baked.
Dicksie, insisting upon going home
went so far as to have her horse
brought from the stable. To her sur
prise, a horse for McCloud came ovel
with it. Quiet to the verge of solem
nifty, but with McCloud following
Dicksie walked with admirable firm
ness out of the shop to the curb. Nc
Cloud gave her rein to her, and witt
a smile stood waiting to help hel
mount
She was drawing on her second
glove. You are not going with me.
You'll let me ride the same road
won't you-even If 1 can't keep up?"
Dicksie looked at his mount. 81
would be difficult to keep up, with tina
horse"
Would you ride away from me jus
because you have a better horse?"
mo, not just because have a bet
ter horse"
He looked steadily at her withou
speaking.
"Why must you ride home with m,
when l don't want you to-" she asked
reproachfully. Fear had come upol
. her and she did not know what sh,
was saying. She saw only the expires
sion of his eyes and looked away, bu
she knew that his eyes followed her
The sun had set. The deserted stree
lay in the white half-light of a mour
tain evening, and the days radianc
. was dying in the sky. In lower tone
he spoke again, and she turned deadl
white.
I've wanted so long to say this
, Dicksie, that l might as well be dea
> as to try to keep it back any longer
That's why | want to ride home wit
you if you are going to let me-" H
l turned to stroke her horses head
Dicksie stood seemingly helpless. NJ
Cloud slipped his finger inc his waist
coat pocket and held somctt,irg out 4
his hand. This she'll pin fell frol
:. your hair that night you were at cam
d by the bridge-do you remember?
s. couldn't bear to give it back"
Dicksie's eyes opened wide. "Lt
v me see it. l don't think that is mine
|. Great heaven! Have been carr,
e. ing Marion Sinclair's pin for
t. month";" exclaimed McCloud. We'll,
e won't lose any time In returning it [
her, at any rate"
= Where are you going?" Dicksie
t. voice was faint.
/: I'm going to give Marion her pin
q DO nothing Of the sort! Con
is here! Give it to me"
is "Dicksie, dare you tell me, after
d shock like that, it really is your pin
"Oh, l don't know whose pin 1t Isl
u "Why, what is the mattsr?"
= give me the PIN" she put h,
II hands unsteadily up under her ha
. "Here for heavens sake ~ vou mn