The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-05-11
CHAPTER XIII.
BEFORE THE DAWN.

1t was not yet dawn when Buck
Brannon stirred from his slumber and
reused Perry Green, who that night
lad shared his cabin. They lost no
time IN getting into their clothes and
out of the house.
I'll get the horses, Perry volun-
teered Buck. You kin so for the blow
up. I amt altogether hanserin' after
the honor you one me-"
"~Shucks!" exclaimed the other.
Dandermite's innocent, Buck, till you
hit her; then she hits back. Git the
horses an I'll be with you in three
shakes of one of them sleeps tails
what's at the bottom of all this trou-
ble."
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 he row of silent cabins.
There would have been no need for
secrecy had all within been asleep; but
Jess k1lraln, waiting she scarcely knew
why, heard Bucks footballs as he
passed the house. More han that, she
heard 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 reaking Of the
overhead wheel on the barn door as it
ran along its groove when Buck opened
it.
mai sumo VI tHe BOYS We're carry
ing out some plan devised in their con-
terence with Worthing was obvious.
what 1t was exactly Jess could not
guess, but the previous sight she had
mad of Oranges hurried flight toward
the Hsaccoon River ranch gave her a
clue. Ihat action a been meant to
forestall the result of this other action.
and 1t could imply only danger and risk
70 these others. So Jess reasoned in
those few moments that she stood by
her window irresolute.
a more and she had swung
nef BODY through the window and
dropped to the ground. Running for
ward, n halted in the obscurity of
the mess-fouse wall, the Darn lot w.
ing just beyond.
Leaning there, she heard the coming
horses and the subdued voices of the
men: The gate clicked back into place
as they rode out, keeping on towards
the east.
In that cas- an indeterminate gray
darkness was now visible. as though
the sultry night was cooling there into
Its ashes. Jess knew it was the an
preach of dawn. In it's vague lifting
of The nights gloom she could see the
two men upon their horses. They were
riding slowly, it might have seemed
carefully, though the watching girl
gave no thought to that. She ran out
n the road after them, mailing them
softly.
Jess Kilrain, by all the jumpin' dew
lis" cried Perry Green, and Buck, too.
drew in his horse. "Ili be damned IL
she didn't come nigh to maxim me
drap these purity skyrocketsi"
Jess did not beat about the bush.
Are you calm or Blass Cardross ~
she asked. curtly, her sharp glances
sweeping from their faces to the OBJ
jects they carried so carefully. ."Cause
il you are, Buck an Perry, you won't
! he han6in him No VALENTINE ITa,Ii -
expectin' you"
She could catch the swift look OF
suspicion in Buck Brannon's face II
come to tell you that you was ridin'
into danger. Buck Brannon," she said
proudly. '"Tain't nothin' to me what
you mean to do to his'n, an / amt
warned him, though another has. I
give you that straight goods for fair
play an love of the Loop, an I didn't
know who you was when / come out
here neither"
But what in That is, what in the
name of snothered milk burst out
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 81
lence.
Tricks turned, Buck. I'm thinkin.' .
said Green after a time. IF Jess amt
maxim no mistake we'd be maxim one
TO go out there IN be seen. I'm goin' to
wake up Martin Kiirain an let him
know bout this" He faced the girl.
You're q wonder. Jess; blamed if you
ANTI
There amt nothin' wonderful In be-
in kept awake by the heat said Jess,
.an' I 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
tim five"
Green got down from his saddle, plac-
ing by the sid 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 I git back
Wait here till I see Kilrairl."
CONTINUED next weekly