Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-05

legs" she said gloomily. and. beckon-
ing her stolid companion to follow. she
grunted farewell and went YEARLY up
the trail toward the reservation.
The two Indians paused on Il knoll
and looked away into the west. where
a dark cloud marked the horizon. An
ME stretched out lean arm and point
ed. and Frightened Fawn threw up her
hands and went wailing out of sight
They look like two old priestesses
performing some horrid rite" shud-
dered Hester as she locked the door
and went back to her father.
There is danger, Hester?' he asked
anxiously.
THE same sort that we always en-
counter at this season." the girl said
calmly. Remember. every season
since we have lived here we have fear
ed the grass fire. and so far it has new
er Gomez
at has never come so close before.
Alkali is only twenty miles away. and
the smoke is driving this way"
II know it. but it may shift" Hes
ter's voice betrayed n strained note
that her father was quick to catch.
what can we do. dear? Have you
made any preparations in case it does
Gomez he asked quickly.
oh. yes. dad! There isn't much we
can do. you know! I've had the hay
wagon bedded with blankets and sup
piled with food and water for a week
past. Every portable treasure is ready
| to be dropped in at the last moment.
] have nursed old Benny along so that
he will be able to pull the wagon when
the time comes. If 1t does"
The July day drew TO its sultry eno.
The sagebrush stretched to the hori-
zon. crisp gray-brown expanse of
dry heritage from which the sun had
drained every drop of moisture.
Hester Moore, standing in the door
way of the ranch house, scanned the
prairie from under the arch of her
bent hand The sun was setting, a
great ball of fire dropping below the
sky line.
Hester" came her fathers voice
from the house. Its getting cooler
isn't it, dear?'
Just a little. father" she said gen
tly. She went into a room where he
was stretched on n wicker couch be
fore an open window, his broken leg
propped stiffly on a pillow. She tool
down the sheet that hung before the
window and dipped it once more in &
pail of water, wrung it lightly and re
turned it to the window.
The injured man stirred beneath the
grateful GOODNESS. THAT feels good
Hester" he murmured. "If 1 hadn'
had the i'll luck to step into the gopher
, hole we might have had little ruI
iup into the hills for a spell, at leas
until this clustering weather is over"
Never mind. father. If you ~hadn'
broken your leg you know you would
not have taken vacation. Perhaps
you will get rested now" smiled Hes
ter, tanning him gently.
Perhaps. Where is Henderson"
HE went to look up the herd.
may as well tell you now, dad"-an'
Testers eyes clouded with anxiety
that the herd has been missing sine
= Monday, and Mr.. Henderson is afrai'
that Dixon and his gang have rustleI
them"
Mr.. Moore struggled to sit up. groan
ed and sank again upon his pillow
"Confound it all, Hester. why did
happen at this time, when am on m
back and can't stir step?"
because you are helpless, / suppose
If you had been as active as usual
; hardly think that Dixon would hav
dared to steal them"
What is that. Hester" Mr. Moor
shifted the air suspiciously and trie
to look through the screened door, bu
it was out of his range of vision.
Hester went to the door, looked on
and came hurriedly back. Fires q
7 Alkali," she said briefly. ''They seer
to be coming this way, but the win
is south and
There came rap at the kitchen Coo
Hester answered 1t, leaving her II
mark unfinished.
Two Indian women sat on the doc
a step, their blankets sagging from the
bent shoulders. Their black eyes wei
I mutely appealing.
T We'll Annie, hOw?" said Hestt
pleasantly.
Bread, meat, drink" uttered Ann
gutturally.
4 "Of course" Hester went to ii
a pantry and prepared several large SAM
witches for the two women. She pou
ed two great glasses Of lemonade ar
r carried the whole to the doorstep. III
women fell upon it ravenously. Whe
it had disappeared Annie lifted b.
eyes to those of the pretty white girl
- "Fortune?" she muttered.
"Again" laughed Hester. "Wb
7 Annie, you tell my fortune every tir
=. you come! The last time you promis'
me a husband and bag OF gold. al
/ haven't seen a sign of them yet"
ION the way" muttered Ann
=. snatching at Testers brown little hal
and scanning the palm closely. 81
- rides before the red wind. He brin
y peace apd plenty. The lost cattle COZ
home, and the maiden marries b
lover"
"Wnere are the other norses VI