Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-18
The Argus Daily Story
At Slanting Pass-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau.

Henderson IL he rode unwarned
through the canyon that night Then
a swift blush flushed her cheek and
left her deadly pale again. She re-
membered that Dick would not ride
through the canyon that night and
probably never again, because he
would cease coming TO Sugar Creek
ranch There was momentary relief
in the thought of his freedom from
danger, but then she realized that he
must be warned. II Harrison did not
get" his enemy tonight, he would to-
morrow night or at the first opportunl-
ty. Somebody must warn Dick not TO so
near Slanting pass because OF the muir
derous intention of Harry Harrison.
Who could warn Dick except her
selfr
Quietly Marjorie's gray shadow de-
tached itself from the rocky back
ground Of Slanting pass, and she walk
ed cautiously toward the entrance,
pausing there to glance around the
open plain before she followed the
trail along Sugar creek to her home.
The journey she had to make at night
teen miles to the Q. K ranch, and she
must go there II she wanted to catch
Dick Henderson and warn him.
1t was easy to slip away from the
house after the early supper, for Mar
jories father was in Bison City and
her stepmother was entertaining a Wis
itor from Cheyenne. and the girls alb
sence would not be noticed for several
hours as she spent much time in her
own room.
She saddIed her own pony and led
him silently to little grove OF cot
tonwoods beyond the corral. There
she slipped OF her riding skirt and be-
came a slim boyish figure In corduroy
breeches tucked into high boots. A
handkerchief was knotted about her
throat, and q broad brimmed hat was
pulled down over her hair, quite con-
cealing it. In the semidarkness Of the
twilight grove she looked like a boy,
but her cheeks burned with modest
shame at her masquerade costume.
Marjorie waited until darkness had
fallen completely, and then because
she was a timid little thing and her
heart kept pounding away at every
Nocturnal sound that smote the air she
tried to bolster her courage by think
ing of Dick Fenderson-what a big,
splendid fellow he was and how, IL It
were not for her warning, he might be
/ stricken down and never open his dark
eyes again, those dark eyes that had
! looked love at her only last night.
| Now, it was not only the darkness
that terrified Marjorie's heart and
caused it to fiutter wildly. Somehow
the very thought of Dick Henderson
sent her into a delicious chaos OF I'M
certainty. Only one thought hammer
ed through her brain-she wished she
had not sent Dick away.
The sure footed pony had found the
trail to Slanting pass and was thud-
ding along at an even gait. Now they
had entered the black gloom of the en-
trance, and the intelligent animal pick
ed his way carefully and noiselessly
down into the canyons depths. al
though Marjorie knew that IL Harri-
son was lying In wait for Dick she
was running great risk in riding
through there. A bullet intended for
Henderson might blot her own life, but
she did not care. 1t would save Dick
her Dick There, she admitted 1t TO
herself now, he would always be hers
whether one or both Of them died
Suddenly a sound ahead smote her
heart to stop beating. 1t was the noise
OF a horses hoofs picking its way eau
tiously among the rocks. IL must be
Harrison.
"Who are yOu?" demanded Marjorie
in as deep tones as she could assume.
There was no answer, but she could
hear the rider approaching and pres
entity she knew that they must be close
together for her pony refused to go
on.
who are you?" she repeated in her
natural voice this time.
Marjorie. what are you doing here"
demanded Dick Fenderson's blessed
voice. His hands CROPPED out and
found her trembling little ones trying
to stay the raining tears.
"What is it. little girl?" he asked ten
derby.
Marjorie told him between relieved
bODS ana ne paltcu ntT SuOuiucI III
way that was entirely too brotherly
to be in accord with Marjorle's enIight-
ened state of mind
You did this for me to save my
life?" he asked in amaZemcnt. why,
Marjorie, dear. you know you are as
timid as n rabbit You are scared to
death of the dark-why. what
do come away before that Harrison
shoots you" urged Marjorie hastily.
Don't worry about Harry Harrison.
dear" returned Dick easily. The sher-
ir collared him this afternoon. and
he's on his way TO Arizona now. He's
wanted for a shooting down there.
was riding over to Sugar Creek to tell
yOu that | believe I'll 20 back east
My fathers health is breaking down.
and he needs Inc to run that dairy farm
Of his. I never thought that / should
owe you my life-for that Is what II
comes to- You are the bravest girl in
the world What can I ever do
"StOp-talking so much-like-like
brother" sObbed Marjorie.