Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-05-11
CHAPTER XIII.
BEFORE THE DAWN.

WAS not yet dawn when Buck
stirred from his slumber and
reused Perry Green, who that night
had shared his cabin. They lost no
time in getting into their clothes and
out of the house.
III get the horses, Perry" volun-
teered Buck. You kin go for the blow
up. l amt altogether hankerin' after
the honor you done me-"
'~Shucks!" exclaimed the other.
,Dandermlte's innocent, Buck, till you
MT her; then she hits back. Git the
horSes an III be with you in three
snakes of one of them sheep's tails
bic" NAN 0oo-
You amt never said a truer word,
Perry" rejoined Buck, as he turned
toward the barns, walking without any
great attempt at secrecy down the lane
etWeen the row Of silent cabins.
Ihere would have been no need for
secrecy had all within been asleep; but
Jess kilrain, waiting she scarcely knew
why heard Bucks footballs as he
passed the house. More than that she
neard the clap made by a loose board
IN the lot fence as he climbed over and
sprang to the ground inside. She could
near even the shrill creaking of the
overhead wheel on the barn door as it
ran along its groove when Buck opened
ina some of the boys were carry
ing Il some plan devised in their CON
ference with Worthing was obvious.
what 1t was exactly Jess could NOT
guess, out the previous sight She had
iad or Oranges hurried flight toward
ne lsaGcoon Rover ranch gave her a
clue. That action had beer meant to
forestall the result of this other action.
n 1t could imply only danger and risk
10 tHeSe others. So Jess reasoned in
those few moments that she stood nv
her window irresolute.
A momen more and she had SWINE.
ner BODY through the window and
to the ground. Running for
ward, she halted in the obscuritv of
the mess-house wall, the barn LOT w.
ing just beyond.
Leanlng there, she heard the coming
horses n the subdued voices of tho
men; The gate clicked back into plac
as they rode out, keeping on towards
the east.
In that east an indeterminate .rav
was now visible, as though
the sultry night was cooling there into
1ts ashes. Jess knew it was the an
proach of dawn. In it's vague lifting
OIL the nights gloom she could see the
Two men upon their horses. Thew were
riding slowly, it might have seemed
caTefully' though h watching girl
ihouSiI W Via she ran orr
into the road after them. hailing them
softly. 4'tAis eheiA
Jess kilrain, by all the jumpin' dew
1ls!' cried Perry Green, and Buck foo
drew IN his horse. I'll be damned r.
she didn't come nigh to maxim me
ofap these purity skyrockets!"
Jess dld not beat about the bush,
n asked. curtly. her sharp glances
sweeping from their faces to the OBJ
5ects they carried so carefully. ."Callse
II you are, Buck an Perry, YOU won't
pc handin' him no valentine. He'll be
eXpectin' you.' VIC
She could catch the swift look OF
SUSPICION IN Buck Brannon's face. II
come 20 ten you that you was ridin'
into danger. Buck Brannon," she said
proudly. faint nothin' to me what
you mean to do to his'n, an I amt
warned him, though another has. I
give 0 that straight goods for fail
play an love of the Loop, an I didn't
know who you was when 1 come out
here neither"
name of smothered milk burst ont
Perry Green, does all this mean, Jess?
Who's gone to who tellin' what? An,
what does you know bout it?"
She told them then. and they sat
there pondering her information in ST.
lence.
Tricks turned. Buck, I'm thinkin.r
said Green after a time. IF Jess amt
maxim no mistake we'd be maxim one
to go out there an be seen. I'm goin' I'd
wake up Martin Kilrain an iet him
know bout this" He faced the girl.
You're a wonder. Jess; blamed II YOU
ANTI"
There amt nothin' wonderful In be-
in kept awake by the heat" said Jess.
an, ! was always fairly good at 'rith-
metic. Some folks'-and she raised her
indignant eyes to Buck Brannon-
cant never make two an two add four
'thout countin' on their fingers an git
tin five"
Green got down from his saddle, plac-
ing by the side of the orchard fence the
parcel he had held.
Gimme yours, Buck" he suggested,
"or you an Jess may be maxim sky.
rockets Of yourselves fore / git hack.
Wait here till I see Kilrain."
CONTINUED next weekly