Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-01-06

i l cAGlu1IAS al llOllk W ulu Oul
what's scared him."
"All right. Where are you: Can
you find my hand?"
Cant II! retorted Wilfred. cIasping
it in a tight grasp.
"Gracious, how wet we are!" she
painted. land blown about, and frozen"
"And scolded," he added plaintively.
"But, Wilfred. 1t never entered my
mind that l was the little girl. Would
I have brought up the subject if I had
known the truth? would.
That's why 1 felt you took advantage.
A MAI ought to bring up the subject
himself. ever if l am a girl out west
and'-
"But Lahoma'-
"And not another word do | want
you to say about it. Ever-at least, to-
night. Please, Wilfred. so l can think
about it. I'll hold the horse-you so
and find out what's the matter.
Besides, you said-you know YOU
said. when we were strolling-that-
that I didn't understand such matters.
And that you'd tell me when it was
time
cts time now. Lahoma-time for
you to be somebody's sweetheart-and
you said-you know you said, when we
were strolling-that I'd fill the bill for
you"
But l brought up the subject my
GOLF and 7 mann fo c1ocn 81 ,;rJ4 .1~.l
off, for it's a man subject Oh, how
trembly this horse isl"
"But, Lahoma!!"
well, what is it?"
II just wanted to say your name"
He started away. "It sounds good to
me-"
Eyes, 1t stands for Oklahoma"
at stands for much more than that!"
he called.
eyes," she persisted in misunder-
standing him, something big and
grand"
mot SO big" lie cried, now at some
distance, but what there's room for
more than Brick and Bill in the cove!"
If she answered the wind drowned
her words. With extended arms he
CROPPED along the trail with exceeding
caution. Suddenly his foot touched an
object which, on examination, proved
to be a human body, q gaping wound
in its breast.
"Found anything?" called Lahoma,
her voice shivering.
He rose quickly and almost stumbled
over another object. 1t was a second
body, stiffened in death.
"Ill be there in a minute" he called,
his voice grave and steady. After a
brief pause he added: i've found one
Of the horses. It's dead"
"Oh, OH! she exclaimed. They've
driven it to death!"
Wilfred had found a bullet hole be-
hind it's ear, but he said nothing.
Suddenly the horse held by Lahoma
gave a plunge, broke away and went
galloping back yer the trail they had
traversed, pursued by Lahoma's cry of
dismay. II couldn't hold him!" she
gasped. HE lifted me clear off the
ground!'
Wilfred was also dismayed, but he
preserved an accent Of calm as he felt
his way toward her, uttering encour-
agement for which their condition Of
fered no foundation. But his forced
cheerfulness suddenly changed to real
co~ngratulation when his extended hand
struck against an upright wheel.
"Lahoma, here's the ~stagecoach. It's
standing just as we saw it last, except
for the horses"
The stagecoach!" she marveled, COM
ing toward him. "Oh, Wilfred! l see
now what's happened. One Of the
horses dropped dead, and Red Kimball
and his men jumped on the other three.
But l wonder what became Of the
driver?"
"Get inside!" he ordered. THANK
God, we've found something that we
can get inside Of! That'l shelter us
till morning anyway, and then we can
determine what's to be done"
Once in the coach they were safe
from the wind, and there was no help
for the discomfort Of soaking garments,
but Wilfred lighted a reserve lantern
and placed it in a corner, while thick
leather cushions and stage blankets Of
fered some prospect of rest.
AS no plans could be formed until
morning revealed their real plight, they
agreed that all conversation should be
foregone in order to recuperate from
the hardships of the day for the trials
Of tomorrow. and Lahoma soon fell
asleep.
CHAPTER XVI.
HWiIl VOL marry me- n