The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-05-04
CHAPTER VIII.
GOADINGS.

- icAAS itsIiilIGtt IL mystery on InC
LOOP now CardroSss sheep escaped
IT might ave been noticed, however
that hilrain did not press the point
with m ~fervor. and that Buck Bran
non was oddly silent on many occa-
SONS when sheep Were mentioned. AS
Tor Jess. she frankly said that it served
the Loop right. If they were going to
make a business Of holding sheep for
ransom they ought to nave locks tina
could not be picked and not sleep like
snakes in winter time.
AT which Martin kilrain had looked
rather s~heepish himself. But if any
one thought that the restoration of his
sheep was going to make any differ
ence in Cardross's relations with the
Loop, ne was doomed to disillusion.
work on the dam across the Raccoon
river went steadily on.
1t was rulnored on the Loop that
Earle Worthing had already taken le-
sal steps to protect himself, though of
TINS the youthful owner of the Loop
SAID nothing even to his foreman.
IN the mean time summer had come,
and all day he plains lay under a
shl1nmerlng heat that turned the grass
TO a golden brown, following the ten
der green of he broom sage and dry
ing the earth to q fine dust that stirred
X smoke under the hoofs of the
cattle ana 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
clcadae that strumr,ed their strident
music by the hour, adding to the
drowsiness of the air.
And every night the heavy dews and
the purple sky, pulsing with its warm,
-anulnerable stars, gave unwelcome
promise of the advent of the ~rainIess
season when streams ran dry in their
beds ana 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 h~ogsheads over
springs, that whatever happened he
might be prepared, for he knew the
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
OF the creek was watching several of
the men under the guidance Of Buck
Brannon as they made excavations for
a hogshead.
Say, Buck" remarked Skull Will
mans, 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
" W ldl ) Tie ulllSTGnce OF a
year or so, more or less? Dig away,
Skull grinned.
i hopes l meet Blass Cardross ahead
Of me" he grunted. "Sp'ilin' our rest
ful summer thisaway.'
"Blass Cardross amt thinkin of hell
gust now" volunteered another, wiring
ing the sweat from his beaded brow.
They say he's gittin' married to a gal
his sister has visitin' her from Sanan-
tony, rotten with money an ugly as
plson. Mebbe thatll be hell enough
for him.
Cut out the swears an the gossip.
Bit 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,
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
remark had come upon her with star
ting revelation. More than once re-
Gently she had waited in the Skunk
Hollow rayine in vain for Cardross'
and when he had next come,
though his love for her la Deer ali
the more ardent for it's denial, there |
had been a restlessness about him
which had caused her to wonder.
And his excuses had not rung con-
vincingly, even though she had be-
lieved them.
For many weeks Jess had not seen
C~ardross. Insttnctively she had
to feel that Nance's friendship
would not stretch to welcome her as
Blass C~ardross' wife, and the element
Of secrecy in her love imposed upon
her by Cardross moro 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 yes centered upon his
young body and winning face,
turned hastily aside as his own glance
to hers.
In her heart Jess admired Buck and
was grateful to him.
II think I'll ride on, Buck" she said.
after a time, and even for so slight a
Of him out for special con-
the warn! color leaped TO
he young fellows face and his eyes
I hope you strike water
soon"
He stepped back nearer to her, plac-
his hand upon her pony's neck.
There was an odd satisfaction to him
n touching her pony.
Why don't you ride down the creek
he asked. its mighty hot up
on the plains" !,
Jess nodded. He noticed that her
cheeks had not yet regained their
wonted hue; that her ayes Were
strained and troubled.
Il guess I WILL" h said. $50 long"
1t was very little. Jess meant it FOR
even less. But she had been ruled by
his advice. Something almost soft
had been in her manner Buck re-
turned to his men, his veins tingling..
Another n different sensation |
would have been his could he have /,
seen Jess Kilrain when the winding of