The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 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
had 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 go for the blow
up. amt altogether hankerin' after
the honor you done 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-
BILE"
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
between the row Of silent cabins.
There would have been no need for
secrecy had all within been asleep: but
Jess k1lrain, waiting she scarcely knew
why, heard Bucks footballs as he
passed the house. More than 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
hear even the shrill creaking Of the
overhead wheel on the barn door as Ii
ran along its groove when Buck opened
1t.
That some of the boys were carry
ing out some plan devised in their con-
ference with Worthing was obvious.
What 1t was exactly Jess could not
guess, but the previous sight she had
had of Oranges hurried flight toward
the Raccoon River ranch gave her q
clue. That action had been meant to
forestall the result of this other action.
and 1t could imply only danger and risk
TO these others. So Jess reasoned in
those few moments that she stood by
her window irresolute.
A moment more and she had swung
her body through the window and
dropped to the ground. Running for
ward, she halted in the obscurity of
the mess-house wall, the barn lot ly-
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 east an indeterminate gray
darkness was now visible, as though
the sultry night was cooling there into
its ashes. Jess knew it was the APP
proach of dawn. In it's vague lifting
OF the nights gloom she could see the
two men upon their horses. They were
riding slowly, 1t might have seemed
carefully, though the watching girl
gave no thought to that. She ran out
into the road after them, hailing them
softly.
Jess Kilrain, by all the jumpin' dew
U.s." cried Perry Green. and Buck. too.
drew in his horse. I'll be damned IL
she didn't come nigh to maxim me
drap these purity skyrockets!"
Jess did not beat about the bush.
Are you calm on Blass Cardross?"
she asked. curtly, her sharp glances
sweeping from their faces to the OBJ
1ects they carried so carefully. cause
II you are, Buck an Perry, you won't
be handin' him no valentine. He'll be
expectin' you"
She could catch the swift look Of
suspicion in Buck Brannon's face. 81
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 hisn. an I amt
warned him, though another has.
give you that straight goods for fair
play an love Of the Loop, an didn't
know who you was when I come out
here neither"
But what In That is, what in the
name Of smothered milk" burst out
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."
said Green after a time. IF Jess amt
maxim no mistake we'd be maxim one
to so out there an be seen. I'm GEM to
wake up Martin Ki1rain an let him
know bout this" He faced the girl.
You're wonder, Jess; blamed II you
ANTI"
There amt nothin' wonderful in be-
in kept awake by the heat" said Jess,
6sn,.e 81
metic. Some follts"-and she raised her
indignant eyes to Buck Brannon-
can't 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 back
Wait here till see Kilrain."
sFne CONTINUED next weekly