Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-25
Back to the Mountain,

Ing her hair 1mpadently back. Real
y. poor George 10 worked to death.
He was to be In at six o'clock, Mr.. Lee
said, and here It Ii ten, and all your
beautiful dinner spoiled. Marion, are
you keeping something from me?
Look me In the eye. Have you heard
from Gordon Smith,"
mo, Dicksie.'
mot since he left the mountains q
year ago?"
"Not since he left the mountains a
year ago."
Dicksie, sitting forward in her chair,
bent her eyes upon the fire. ut is SO
strange. I wonder where he is to-
night. How he loves you, Marion!
He told me everything when he said
good-by. He made me promise not to
tell then; but didn't promise to keep
1t forever"
Marion smiled. "a year isn't for.
ever. Dicksie."
"Well, It's pretty near forever when
you are in love-" declared Dicksie, en-
ergetically. II know Just how he
felt" she went on in quieter tone.
HE felt that all the disagreeable ex-
element and talk we had here then
bore heaviest on you. He said II he
stayed In Medicine Bend the news
papers never would cease talking and
people never would stop annoying you
and you know George did say they
were asking to have passenger trains
held here just so people could see
Whispering Smith. And, Marion, think
of it. he actually doesn't know yet
that George and are married! How
could we notify him without knowing
where he was? And he doesn't know
that trains are running up the Crawl
ing Stone valley. Mercy! year goes
like an hour when you're in love,
doesn't 1t? George said he knew we
should hear from him within six
George has never vet
been mistaken excepting when he said
I should grow to like the railroad
business-and now It is a year and
no news from him." Dicksfe sprang
from her chair. II am going to call
up Mr.. Rooney Lee and Just demand
my husband! think Mr.. Lee handles
trains shockinsly every time George
tries to get home like this on SATURDAY
don't you? And passsn.
ger trains ought to get out Of the way,
anyway, when division supsrinten-
dent is trying to get home. What diff
ference does it make to a passenger,
I'd like to know, whether he is few
hours less or longer in getting to Cali
fornia or japan or Manila or Hong
Kong or Buzzard's dulch, provided he
is safe-and you know there has not
been an accident on the division for
a year, Marion. There's a step now.
I'll bet that's George!"
The door opened and It was George.
"oh, honey!" cried Dicksie, softly,
waving her arms as she stood an in
slant before she ran to him. but
haven't I been a-waitin' for you!"
"Too bad! and, Marion" he ex-
Claimed. turning without releasing his
wife from his arms. "how can I ever
make good for all this delay? Oh, yes,
I've had dinner. Never, for heavens
sake. wait dinner for me! But wait,
both Of you, till you hear the news!"
Dicksie kept her hands ON his shout
ders. You have heard from Whisper
ing SMITH" /.
II have.' !,
II knew it's /
"Wait till I get II straight. Mr..
Bucks is here-1 came in with him in
his car. He has news of Whispering
Smith. One Of our freight traffic men
in the Puget sound country, who has
been in a hospital in Victoria, learned
by the merest accident that Gordon
Smith was lying in the same hospital
with typhoid fever"
Marion rose swiftly. "Then the
time has come, thank God, when can
do something for him; and am going
to him tonight"
"Finsl" cried McCloud. ESQ am I,
and that is why I'm late"
Then I am going. too" exclaimed
Dicksie, solemnly.
DO you mean it," asked her hus-
band. Shall We let her, Marionf Mr..
Bucks says I am to take his car and
take Barnhardt, and keep the car
there till can bring Gordon back. Mr..
Bucks and his secretary will ride to-
night as far as Bear Dance with us,
and in the morning they join Mr..
Glover there" McCloud looked at his
watch. III you are both going. can
you be ready by IL o'clock for the
China mail?"
I'VE can be ready In an hour" de-
clared Dicksie. throwing her arm half
around Marion's neck, cant We,
Marion?"
81 can be ready In 30 minutes"
"Then, by heaven" McCloud
studied his watch.
what IL 1t, 0eofge?"
I'VE won't wait for the miduisAt
train. We viii take an engine. run
special to Green River. overhaul the
Coast Limited, and ssre . whole day"
George. pack your suitcase quick.
dear: and you. too. Marion; suitrcases
are all We can take," cried Dicksie,
pushing her husband toward the bed,
room. .I'll telephone Rooney Lss for
an engine myself right away. Dear
me, It II kind Of nice, 70 ha able to
order up train when you want enc
In = hurry. isn't It, NaraoAf PafAaps
! shall come to like It II they ever
make George . vica-rresideats. +.
In half an hour they had 3oineA
u Ia