Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-06-15


up his position beneath the cool shade
and waited.
Anne lifted a shamed face. HAS he
gone. Neal?" she asked meekly.
NO; he's down there waiting. Per-
haps he'll get tired after awhile and
go back to his pasture"
Cant you End branch for me to
sit on?" inquired Anne from her posi-
tioI, Supported by Meals willing arm.
I'm afraid not. but you can take
this pace-there, stand so-leaning
against the trunk and brace your feet
here. Hold tight to this little branch
on either side"
where a.e you going to stay?"
asked Anne uneasily. "I've driven you
from the only safe position. only-you
see-l Couldn't She paused help
lessly.
"Of course you couldn't" returned
Neal easily. II shall take a lower
stand-no danger-he can't touch me.
Somebody'll be after him presently. It's
growing late. Too bad we missed our
row on the river"
A half hour passed In silence. Anne
leaned YEARLY against the tree trunk.
her eyes fixed on the river below. Neal,
most intentionally astride of slen-
der branch that bent dangerously un-
der his weight, sincerely wished that
1t would not be Nathan Fuller who
came to their rescue. That bucolic
youths contempt for "city fellers" ran
kled I'm the bosom Of one who had been
at the front in college athletics, who
had spent a vacation on a Wyoming
ranch and learned TO ride a bucking
broncho.
II suppose we couldn't make any one
hear even if we called ever so loud"
suggested Anne obviously. lift Mr..
Fuller were only around he might
know what to do" She voiced the
thought half consciously and flushed at
Meals snort Of contempt.
"Mr Fuller. even though he has gen.
erations of stock raising ancestors be-
hind him, cannot change maddened
bull into a lamb and lead him away
by blue ribbon. Unless the animals
attention is attracted elsewhere or he
is captured by strategy don't see how
either of us can get away" Neal
paused and seemed to debate some
question within himself. He looked
down ut the bull.
"What We're you going to say?"
questioned Anne.
"Merely that l might drop down on
the beasts back and thus get him
away from your vicinity-that might
give you an opportunity to seek as
sistance from Mr.. Fuller-and at the
same time relieve you Of my compan-
ionship." Meals voice was bitter as
he voiced this sentiment.
"You couldn't do that-you might be
killed. protested Anne. ignoring his
sarcasm.
At that instant something happened.
The bull lifted an ugly black head.
rolled malicious red eye and hun
grily nipped at the dropping willow
branch where Neal sat- The flexible
limb dipped down. down. and sudden
ly Neal lost his grip Of small twigs
and slid quickly down the slippery
branch, landing squarely astride of
the animals broad back.
Instinctively his hands grasped the
smooth little horns before the frighten-
ed beast dropped his head and swung
around. AS the willow branch whip
ped upward Neal heard Anne's desper-
ately frightened cry:
meal. Neal Nealv' Then he was
away on his mad ride. They mounted
rise of ground. and she closed her
eyes and prayed
When she opened them again she
did not look at the field. She turned
her gaze down to the river. where a
boat fioated close under the willows.
In the boat were Nathan Fuller and a
very pretty girl. The girl was speak
ing, half sobbing. then Nathan's
voice in reply: II can't help it, Lucy
She as good as asked me to take her
tonight. It's just city folks ways.
You know l don't care about any one
but your
IF you take that girl tonight
shan't speak to you again. flashed
Lucy tearfully. "She wants to marry
you. I know she does
Anne's face was scarlet with morti-
fcation. Her silly gratitude toward
Nathan Fuller because he had saved
her life had nearly turned Lucy's ro-
nance into tragedy. Anne leaned
forward and spoke:
"Mr. FulIerw When they had turned
startled faces upward she told her
story. and as Nathan FASTENED ashore
in quest of Neal she added to the girl
who stared at her resentfully: "You
see, / am engaged to Mr.. Burton. /
am doubly anxious for his welfare"
Lucy smiled understandingly and
helped Anne down from her perch In
the tree just as Nathan returned with
Neal, who limped slightly.
Declining Nathan's offer to row them
home. they stood by the rivers brink
until the two in the boat had Gisap-
peared around the bend. Then Neal
turned to Anne, standing with down
cast eyes and nervously plucking
| hands.
"Anne," he said quietly, II shall
never again ask you to marry me-"
II don't blame you-I'm such an ar