Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-05

lois OF MIN. she Iac00 MIN now with
criminal consciousness that she
knew too much. The weight Of the
dreadful secret weighed on her, and
her responsibility in the issue Of the
day ahead did not help to make her
greeting an easy one. One thing only
was fixed in her mind and reflected
In the tension Of her lips and her
eyes: The resolve to keep at every
cost the promise she had given. For
Dicksie had fallen under the spell of
a man even more compelling than Sim
clair, and felt strangely bounden to
what she had said.
Sinclair. however. had spirit enough
to smooth quite away every embarrass.
ment. Bachelors quarters" he ex.
planned roughly and pleasantly, as he
led the two women toward the house.
"Cowmen make poor housekeepers,
but you must feel at home" And
when Dicksie, looking at his Indian
rugs on the floors, the walls, and the
couches, said she thought he had little
to apologize for, Sinclair looked graft
Ned and took OF his hat again. "Just
a moment" he said, standing at the
side of the door. 1--WE never been
able to get Marion over here before.
so It happens that a woman's foot has
never entered the new house. want
to watch one Of you cross the thresh-
old for the first Tina"
Dicksie, moving ahead, retreated
with a laugh. "You first, then.
Marion"
mo, Dicksie, you"
Never! you first" So Marion.
quite red and wretchedly ill at ease.
walked into the ranchhouse first.
Sinclair shone nowhere better than
as host. When he had placed his
guests comfortably in the living room
he told them the story of the building
Of the house. Then he made q cicerone
OF himself, and explained, with run
ming comments, each feature of his
plan rs he showed how it had been
carried out through the various rooms.
Surprised at the attractiveness of
things, Dicksie found herself making
mental notes for her own use, and be-
gan asking questions. Sinclair was
superb in answering, but the danger
of admirins things became at once ap-
parent, for when Dicksie exclaimed
over handsome bearskin, rich dark
brown grizzly skin of unusual size, Sin.
clair told the story Of the killing.
barred his tremendous forearm to
show where the polished claws had
ripped him, and, disregarding Dicksie's
protests. insisted on sending the skin
over to Crawling Stone ranch as
souvenir Of her visit.
Il live great deal alone over here"
he said, waving Dicksie's continued re-
fusal magnifcently aside as he moved
into the next room. I've got a few
good dogs. and hunt Just enough to
keep my hand in with a ride" Dicksie
Quailed little at the smile that went
with the words. "The men, at least
the kind I mix with, don't care for
grizzly skins, and to enjoy anything
you've got to have sympathetic com
pany-don't you know that?" he asked.
looking admiringly at Dicksie. "I've
got another skin for you-a silver-tip."
he added. in deep. gentle tones, ad-
dressing Marion. ut has fine head.
as fine as I ever saw in the Smithson.
ian. 1t is down at Medicine Bend now.
being dressed and mounted. By the
way, I've forgotten to ask you. Miss
Dicksie, about the high water. How
did you get through at the ranch?"
Dicksie. sitting ON the piano bench.
looked up with resolution. "Bravely!"
she exclaimed. "Mr. McCloud came to
our rescue with bags and mattresses
and 100 men. and he has put in re-
vetment 1000 feet long. oh, we are
regular river experts at our house
nov! Had you any trouble here. Mr..
sinclair?'
NO, the Frenchman behaves pretty
well in the rock. We had 40 feet OF
water here one day, though; 40 feet,
that's right. McCloud. yes; able fell
low, guess, too, though he and
don't hit 1t on" Sinclair sat back In
his chair, and as he spoke he spoke
masnanimously. 'He doesn't like me,
but that is no fault Of his; railroad
men. and good ones, too. sometimes
get started wrong with one another.
Well. I'm glad he took care OF you.
Try thst piano, Miss Dicksie. will you?
] don't know much about pianos, but
that ought to be . good one. would
wheel the player over ffo1 yTooa, but
any one that plays as beautifully az
you do ought not to be allowed to use
q player. Marion, want to talk few
minutes with you, may I? Do you mind
going out under the cottonwood7'
Dicksie's heart jumped. Don't be
gone long. Marion" she exclaimed. I'M:
pulsively. "for You know, Mr.. Sinclair.
We must get back by two o'clock
And Dicksie, pale with apprehension,
looked at them both. Marion. quite
composed. nodded reassuringly and
followed Sinclair out u doors into the
sunshine. IS ~ 356455
For few minutes Dicksia fingered
wildly on the piano at some half-for.
gotten. air.y and In . fever Of excite
aent walked. out on ths nprch TO ~