The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-20

moment suspect her of so unfemlnlne
a proceeding. The moment the herders
saw the blunder they had committed
they skunk away. leaving Madge stand
ING on the veranda. Tucker sitting on
his horse below
Those fellows have spoiled every
thing" he said.
Their motives were good was the
reply.
Nevertheless they have put a bar
rier between you and me that cannot
be removed"
"No barrier was required.
II left you because | had been
pledged to another before ! met you
| have returned free from that pledge
and all might have been well had these
men not interfered.
With this he turned his horses head
and rode away without looking back
Going TO his ranch. he bethought him
self what to do Should he sell out
and 20 home? No; he had been
placed in an uncnviable position. and
had condemned him.
He turned his attention to his ranch,
devOting himself to it exclusively.
Neighboring ranchmen. hearing of the
outrage that had been put upon hlm,
went to his ranch house and welcomed
him back When he met any OF the
herders who had interered between
him and Madge Hardesty the herder
apolOgiZed for the mistake that had
been made, and in some cases they
sought him out for the purpose No
one but himself knew that he had re-
turned from the east to ask Madge to
be his wife. Nevertheless the prevail
ing sentiment among those about nm
was that he had been badly treated.
And they, bein, people of extremes,
were as prone to favor him as they
had been before to condemn him un-
heard.
The next winter was hard one.
An early blizzard occasioned the loss
Of a great many animals. 1t came sud
denly and caught the stock grazing at
distance from shelter, and, unprotect-
ed. they We're ffE2zs9 BY hundreds; y ss. A
the first sign Of danger Tucker sum
mQped his hcrders for the purpose of
getting his animals under shelter. But
Madge was in his mind. He knew that
she had few assistants and would be
liable to severe loss. Sending his
men out to drive in his stock, he rode
toward Madge's ranch.
Reaching her house. he learned that
she had ridden forth with but two
herders, all there were In her employ.
to save her property. Following the
tracks in the snow over the bleak,
rolling ground-he could see nothing
distant through the dense flakes-he at
last reached a point where he heard
voices Riding on. he presently came
upon man driving a flock of sheep to
shelter
"Whcre's your mistress?" asked
Tucker
"Over there" replied the man, point
ing, and Tucker, following the tracks,
soon came upon the other herder with
another flock of sheep Tucker re-
peated the question as to Madges
Whereabouts and was told that she
had gone off after some stray ewes
and lambs. Fixing his eyes upon the
tracks, Tucker started anew
Meanwhile the mercury had been
rapidly sinking and now stood far be-
low zero, while the wind was blow
ing a gale. Troubled as to Madges
safety, Tucker hurried on He could
not see fifty yards ahead of him for
the snow, but the tracks were an in
fallible guide
Suddenly he came upon Madge's
horse standing shivering in the biz
zard. fuckers heart sank within him
He believed Madge was near and fear
ed the worst. Not far distant he came
upon heap of something covered
with snow Throwing himself from
his horse, he brushed the white cover
in= from the pile and came upon
Madge and half dozen lambs az ly-
ing in hcap Most of tho lambs " re
frozen stiff MaGse was asleep hes de
hem
Tucker era sped her and. shakia. her.
raised Ter She opened her eyes. He
lad tn Ken tho Pc aHti0n to biin: a
Task til l!.m and poured liquor iato
her mcHth Then, forcing her to walk
the few steps to his horse. he tla ed
her in the saddle. wrapped his ., err
coat about her Tor additional pro' ec-
tion against III" wind and started for
the ranch house. But he had not . ne
far before she showed signs of dr5vsi.
ness, and. climbing up behind hey. he
rode in that fashion both support ing
her and guiding the horse.
The snow was hy this time deep. and
the tracks had lcyn ohliterated Tprk
er had no guide except the contour of
the country. Fortunately he struck a
crc"';. ed this gave him his direction
The wh.rlir- flakes were confusing
hut he pushed on. and III last, seeing
through the snow barn that he knew
was near the ranc'l house. he criel for
help. In another MOI Ncnt a rpSrue
~ =