The Red Cloud chief., 1921-07-28
By IRVING BACHELLER


cry. It's all over now. I'm going to
cut these ropes"
II was as II she had known and
loved him always. She was RE n
young mother with her first child.
Tenderly she wiped his tears away
with her blond, silken hair. She cut
his bonds and he rose and stood be-
fore her. Her face changed like
magic.
"Oh what a fool I've beeni" she
exclaimed.
"Why so7" he asked.
81 cried and kissed you and we
never have been introduced to each
other"
She covered her eyes with her hair
and with bent head went out OF the
door.
"I'll never forget that kiss as long
as live" said the boy as he followed
her. "Tn never forget your help or
your crying either"
"Go away from mel won't speak
to you," she said. "Go back to your
work. Ill"stay here and keep watch"
The boy returned to his task point
ing up the inside walls but his mind
and heart were out In the sunlight
talking with BIN. Once he looked out
OF the door and saw her leaning
against the neck Of the pony. her fdce
hidden In his name. When the sun
was low she came to the door and
said:
"You had better stop now and 60
home"
She looked down at the ground and
added:
"Please, please, don't tell on me-"
"Of course not" he answered. "But
I hope you won't be afraid Of me any
more"
She looked up at him with a little
smile. "DO you think I'm afraid Of
you?" she asked as IL II were too alb
surd to he thought Of. She unhltched
and mounted her pony but did not 60.
81 do wish you could raise q mus
tache," she said, looking wlstfully into
his face ~ can't bear to see you
look so terribly young; you get worse
and worse every time I see you. I
want you to be regular man right
| quick"
He wondered what he ought to say
and presently stammered: "I-i-in-
tend to. I guess I'm more Of q man
than anybody would think to look at
me"
you're too young to ever fall in
love. reckon"
mo. I'm not" he answered with de-
cision.
Have you got razorT she asked.
"No."
"I reckon II would be a powerful
help. You put soap on your lip and
NOW II of with a razor. My father
says II makes the grass grow"
There was a moment Of silence dur
ing which she brushed the name of
her pony. Then she asked timidly
"Do you like yellow hair?"
"Yes, II 1t looks like yours"
"If you dong mind I'll put a mus
tache on you just-just to look a,
every time think OF you."
"When ! think Of you put violets
In your hair" he said.
He took step toward her as hi
spoke and as he did so she started
her pony. A little way Off she checked
him and said:
"I'm sorry. There are no violet.
now"
She rode away slowly waving he
hand and singing with the Joy Of ,
bird In the sprlngtime.
That evening when Harry was help
ing Samson with the horses he said |:
I'm going to tell you secret.
wish you wouldn't say anything abou
It."
Samson stood pulling the hair OIL
of his card and looking very stern a
he listened while Harry told Of tn
assault upon him and how BIN ha
arrived and driven the rowdies ava
c with her gun but he said not wor
y of her demonstration OF tender syn
u pathy. To him, that had clothed tn
I; whole adventure with a kind {
j. sanctity so that he could not bear
i have II talked about.
v Samson's eyes glowed with ange
u They searched the face OF the bo
$. His voice was deep and solemn whe
~ he said:
% This is serious matter. Why d
you wish to keep It secret?"
IL The boy blushed. For moment
III knew not what to say. Then
IS spoke: ut amt me so much-it
her" he managed to say. "Sf
W wouldn't want 1t to be talked abo'
Of and don't either"
r. Samson began to understand "She
nr quite a girl, guess" he said though
ed fully. "She must have the nerve Of
*. mani declare she must"
nd "Yes-sir.ee! They'd "a got hurt
'r. they hadn't gone away, that's sure
ey said Harry.
he "We'n look out for them after thii
10 Samson rejoined. "The first time
ng meet that man McNoll he'll have
settle with me and he'll pay cash
ng the nall"