Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-05-04
CHAPTER VIII.
GoADINGS.

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1t long remained a mystery on the
Loop how Cardross's sheep escaped.
IL might a been noticed, however,
liat kliraln did not press the point
with n fervor, and that Buck Bran
non was oddly silent on many occa-
slohs when sheep were mentioned. AS
for Jess, she frankly said that it served
the Loop right. If they We're going to
make a business Of holding sheep for
ransom they ought to have locks that
could not be picked and not sleep like
snakes in winter time.
Al which Martin kilrain had looked
rather sheepish himself. But if any
one thought that the restoration of his
sheep was going to make any differ
ehce in Cardross's relations with the
Loop, he was doomed to disillusion.
work on the dam across the Raccoon
river went steadily on.
1t was rumored on the Loop that
Earle Worthing had already taken le-
gal steps to protect himself, though of
this the youthful owner of the Loop
sand nothing even to his foreman.
In the mean time GUNNER had come.
and all day the plains lay under a
shlmmering heat that turned the grass
TO a golden brown, yellowing the ten
der green of the broom sage and dry
ing the earth to a fine dust that stirred
like smoke under the hoofs Of the
cattle and in the warm breezes that
swept out Of the cloudless skies. 1t
was the heyday for the gorgeous liz
ards and the horned toads, and for the
cicadae that strumr,ed their strident
music by the hour, adding to the
droWslness of the air.
And every night the heavy deWs and
the purple Sky. pulsing with it's warm.
4H~iiulneraDle stars, gave unWelCome
promise of the advent Of the rainless
season when streams ran dry in their
beds. and water became the most
precious Thing on the wide ranges.
In the already shrunken bed of the
owl creek, Worthing was every day
just then sinking ~hogsheads over
springs, that whatever happened he
might be prepared, for he knew the
law moved slowly. In his capable min
he was determined, should the worst
come to the worst, that he would take
the law into his own hands. He had
fairly warned Cardross.
Jess hllrain upon her pony in the
cool shadow of the overhanging bank
or the creek was watching several of
the men under the guidance of Buck
Brannon as they made excavations for
a h~ogshead.
Say, Buck" remarked Skull Will
liams. so called because of his receding
eyes and the smile that revealed his
even teeth, who gave you the tip there
was any water here? Are you goin'
plumb through the crust Of the earth
till you strikes hell?"
You are, Skull" said Buck, Sooner
or later. What's the difference Of a
year or so, more or less? Dig away"
Skull grinned.
Il hopes l meet Blass Cardross ahead
of me-" he grunted. "Sp'ilin' our rest
full Summer thisaway."
"Blass Cardross amt thinkin' of hell
just now" volunteered another, wiring
ing the sweat from his beaded brow.
They say he's gittin' married to a gal
MS sister has visitin' her from Sanan-
tony, rotten with money an ugly as
pison. Mebbe thatll be hell enough
for him"
Cut out the swears an the gossip,
Bill' commanded Buck with unwonted
sternness, his quick eye sweeping Jess
kilrain's face. This amt a quiltin'
bee"
Didn't know it was a prayer meet
IN, either" retorted Bill Grange, ag-
~grievedly. He had not for a long time
borne any good will to Buck Brannon.
An you's gittin' powerful careful of
Blass Cardross' reputation, Buck"
That's all right muttered Buck,
stabbed by the sharp pallor of the girls
face. Never you mind what I'm careful
of. You scratch gravel till you gifts
water! You know mOre'n as is good
for you bout Cardross' affairs, any
how.
Jess kilrain said no word. The mans
remarks had come upon her with star
thing revelation. More thar once re-
Gently she had waited in the Skunk
Hollow ravine in vain for Cardross'
coming, and when he had next come,
though his love for her had been all
the more ardent for it's denial, there
a been a reStleSSneSs about him
which a caused her to wonder.
And his u had not rung CON
v~incingly, even though she had be-
lieved them.
For many weeks Jess had not seen
Nance Cardross. Instinctively she had
come 10 feel that Nance's friendship
would not stretch to welcome her as
Blass Cardross' wife, and the element
of secrecy in her love imposed upon
her by Cardross more and more irked
nature and habit to be open about
everything.
She fingered a little longer by the
men at their work, perfectly aware of
Bucks sensitive regard for her feel
ings, but according him no shade Of
recognition for it. More than once,
however,, her eyes centered upon his
stalwart young body and winning face,
turned hastily aside as his own glance
lifted to hers.
In her heart Jess admired Buck and
was graceful to him.
L tnlnk LII flde on, Buck n said,
after a time, and ever for so slight a
singing of him out for special con-
sheraton the warm color leaped to
the young fellows face and his eyes
glowed. II hope you strike water
soon"
He stepped back nearer to her. plac-
ing his lland upon her pony's neck.
There was ar d satisfaction to him
in touching her pony.
"Why dtIn't YOU ride down the creek
bed?" he asked, 'it's mighty hot up
there on the plains"
Jess nodded. He noticed that her
cheeks hai not yet regained their
wonted hike; that her eyes were
and troubled.
81 guess I will" she said. $50 long"
1t was ve.y little. Jess meant it for
even less. lsut she had been ruled by
his advice. Something almost soft
had been in her tanner. Buck re-
turned to hi, men, his veins tingling.
Another and different sensation
would have been his could he have
seen Jess Kilrain when the winding of
the creek had we'll hidden her from
those she had just left. A sudden
despondency settled upon her.