Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-05-24
CHAPTER Xxx.
AN UNHEARD DECLARATION.

ny.
AN UNHEARD DECLARATION.
Buck BrannOn had crossed that ford
earlier in the morning, going on an
errand for Kilrain, and he was not rel
fishing a repetition of the feat. Neither
could he have thought of it ahead,
would he horse. 1t had been hard
swimming and perilous foothold and
little enough leeway to safety.
1t was not long before the girl from
her elevated post saw him coming now
through the opposite woods along the
o to the ford.
She was surprised that any one
could have made the ford that day, and
a very real -uneasiness made itself felt
in her as she watched Bucks nearer
approach. Just where the road shelved
into the turbid ater he paused, and,
raising his eyes, saw her.
a quick pleasure flashed into Burk's
eyes, though instantly he reminded
himself that she could have known Of
his coming or expected to see him
there. Then he gave his attention to
his reluctant horse.
rs it safe. Buck?" called Jess.
oh! l reckon SO. l got over this
mornin' all right"
Buck putting him with spurs and quirt
once more at the risk. A risk it was,
he knew.
There's a big log comm down."
called out Jess. wait till it goes by,
Buck"
The log swirled by, eddied and
caught among the hanging roots and
vines beneath the bluff upon which
Jess sat.
Il wouldn't stay on that bank, JESS"
urged Buck. Its badly scooped cut,
an the bank is crumblin' somethin'
fierce higher up the river"
On the words he carried his horse
plunging and floundering into the cur
rent. heading the frightened animal
Well up stream lest he be swept below
the ford and down the river. Jess saw
his danger then, and her heart stood
still.
Despite his best endeavors the horse
lost Roadway in the rapid current.
Then for a time he seemed to be
holding his own, but it vas the prog
ress Of the treadmill. If he should be
swept beyond the ford where the banks
always precipitous, were now actual
ly cut under the force Of the water, the
chance for horse and rider would be
slender, indeed.
And that seemed about to happen,
for the current eddying i n shore was
swirling them down at an angle that
would miss the shelving ford.
In the helplessness Of her terror
JESS SIodIleO. buI BUCK knew his
danger, too, and realized that, unaided,
h horse would not make his escape.
Jess held her breath as she watched.
Uncoiling his snake lariat from the
horn Of his saddle, Buck took a few
hasty but we'll considered swirls, and
sent the rope flying outward and up
ward toward the stump of a cotton
wood about whose base the moose set
tied and drew taut as he wound the
lariat by a deft twist around the sad
die horn just in the when the
battling horse was borne beyond the
ford.
Urging the animal forward once
more, Buck drew in the slight slack Of
n rope inch by inch, and in a mo-
ment more stood in safety on the slo-
ping bottom, his horse spent and shiy-
ering.
So tense had been the strain on Jess
that he reaction left her faint, and she
Buck call to her. He stood coiling his
lariat, and blowing his horse, hidden
from sight Of the girl by the higher
bank upon which she was.
Jess" he called again, come away
from that bank. 'Tain't safe there"
In that moment Jess wished he
would ride on homeward and leave her
alone. She did not want him to see
h weakness that was upon her and
which h could not q by effort
Of her will.
Instead Of going on. Buck, leaving
his horse to wait for him. clambered up
n bank and drew near her.
In her nervousness Jess released her
knee from the pommel and slipped to
the ground. Her face was still very
white. and her hand on the rein trem-
bled as she led her pony forward a few
PAGES.
Why. Jess" Buck cried. did it
friohfon yn,I cO1 aTx.,o vo,k ~--t
danger 'cept for the horse. I could ha'
He had not seen her thus alone since
that memorable day on the dam. The
evidence Of her distress about him; the
nearness of her body to him, pictures
proof rubber; the appealing expression
IN her eyes-an appeal Of which Jess
herself was unconscious-the remote
ness OF them both from all others
these things sent the love Of her rush.
ing to Bucks heart.
Jess" he asked suddenly very
grave, why did you say what you did
to Worthing that night? Tell me-"
She looked him fairly in the ewes.
very pallid, very still.
vas the truth"
1T wasn't the TRUTH"
she persisted. TT was 1 n my mind. l
reckon God Almighty would call it so.
An all you done. you done for me-"
I'm q man." he said, his voice muf-
fled. "'Iwarn't al done for you. Jess
Instinctively the girl drew back, sud-
den fear in her dark eyes-fear not
alone Of him. and. therefore. the more
battling to Buck.
Quickly his voice rang out in sharp,
alarmed command, and he sprang for
ward. seizing with one hand the girl
and with the other the startled pony.
For GODS sake. comet" he cried.