Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-02-18
Copyright. ISca. b. ChAA scribners soma
CHAPTER XII.
Back to the Mountains.

isn't 1t shame to be disappointed
Ike this?" complained Dicksie, push
ing her hair impatiently back. Real
~, poor George is worked to death.
He was to be in at six o'clock, Mr.. Lee
said, and here it is 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."
Not since he left the mountains a
year ago."
mot since he left the mountains a
year ago."
Dicksie, sitting forward in her chair,
bent her eyes upon the fire. 1T is so
strange. l 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."
We'll, it's pretty near forever when
you are in love-" declared Dicksie, en-
ergetically. II know just how he
felt" she went on in a quieter tone.
He felt that all the disagreeable ex.
citement and talk We had here then
bore heaviest on you. He said if 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 1t, 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! a year goes
like an hour when you're in love,
doesn't it? George said he knew we
should hear from him within six
months-and George has never yet
been mistaken excepting when he said
should grow to like the railroad
business-and now 1t is a year and
no news from him" Dicksie sprang
from her chair. 81 am going to call
up Mr.. Rooney Lee and j.
my husband! l think Mr.. L,
trains shockingly every tin.
tries to get home like this on Sd ...
nights-now don't you? And b-ss -
ger trains ought to get out of the way,
anyway, when . division superinten'
dent Is trying b get home. What diff
ference does 1t make to a passenger
I'd like to know, whether he Is q few
hours less or longer in getting to Cali
tornia or Japan Or Manila or Hong
Kong or BuEzard1 Gulch, provided ht
Is safe-and you know there has mo-
bean an accident o. the division fol
year, Marion There's q step now
I'll bet that's GoGRgSi"
The door opened and 1t was George
."Oh, honey" cried Dicksie. softly
waving her arms e she stood An In
slant before she ran to him. Blu
haven't been A-Waitin' for you!"
TOO bad! and, Marion" he 81
claimed, turning without releasing hi
wife from his arms, how can l eve
make good for all this delay? Oh, ye'
I've had dinner. Never, for heaven
sake, wait dinner for me! But val
both Of you, till you hear the news!
Dicksie kept her hands on his shou
ders. You have heard from Whispe
ing Smith"
Il have"
81 knew it,"
wait till ! get It straight M
Bucks is here-I came in with him
his car. He has news of Whisperin
Smith. One Of our freight traffic me
in the Puget sound country, who b;
been in hospital in Victoria, learne
by the merest accident that GordC
Smith was lying in the same hospit
with typhoid fever"
Marion rose swiftly. Then Il
time has come, thank God, when C!
do something for him; and am goil
to him tonight"
Fine" cried McCloud. so am
and that is why I'm late"
Then | am going, too" exclaim
Dicksie, Solemnly.
DO you mean it?" asked her hi
band. Shall we let her, Marion? \
Bucks says l am to take his car a
take Barnhardt, and keep the C
there till can bring Gordon back. \
Bucks and his secretary will ride
night as far as Bear Dance with
and in the morning they join
Glover there" McCloud looked at
watch. IF you are both going, c
you be ready by Il o'clock for
China mail?"
I'VE can be ready in an hour"
clared Dicksie, throwing her arm b
around Marion's neck, cant
Marion?"
81 can be ready in 80 minutes"
"Then, by heaven" McClt
studied his watch.
What is it. George%
I'VE won't wait for the midni
train. We will take an engine,
special to Green River, overhaul
Coast Limited. and save whole ds