Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-12-21
a Dac. -ef Of
the Frontier
Bv FREDERICK CLARKE.


A fairer picture Burt Dawson fam
cied he had never seen, and for q
minute or two he paused, screened BY
the Ieafy verdure. A girl. tall. fair.
Ere she took it up to carry it to the
house, two hundred yards distant. she
stood looking into the face Of the ra-
diant sunset. = LII
Her eye frightened as young Daw.
son stepped into view.
81 start on my mission in the morn
ing" he said. 1T will seem lonely
jaunt, more Of wilderness than ever
after the beautiful days have passed
in this haven Of rest"
my uncle has told me-" said Eloise,
and paused there and faint film
seemed to dim those beautiful eyes
and q CULVER crossed her face. HE
fears you are taking q dangerous risk,
and l."
Again she paused. Her glance
dropped as Burt approached nearer.
He had taken her shapely hand.
..And your he animated gently, and
his tones carried q tremulOus thrill.
Il hope have not brought you
trouble" she said wistfully. II wish
that you would not undertake this per-
ilous mission" Her hands began to
remble. and she placed them plead
ingly upon hts arm. The tears came
into her eyes.
His arm crept about her as she
lifted her glance. She could not help
but read the earnest lovelight in his
honest eyes.
Don't CO." she whispered. "Oh, for
my Sake-let me go! l dare not"
In amazement Burt felt her tear
herself from his clasp. saw her dart
towards the house like a hunted.
frightened bird. Then he gave quick
start. Weaving his way in and out OF
the dense underbrush, he made out a
skulking form.
Burt had been sent by the engineer.
ing firm employing him to inspect
the district In conjunction with
new irrigation and railroad project.
He had arrived at the border town
Of Fifield. Okla. one week previous.
It was necessary for him to make in.
quiries there before he prosecuted his
journey. He had been directed to Mr..
Treherne, the uncle of ElOise, who
was acquainted through the entire
section. He had found him to be q
former itinerant preacher, but now
living some miles from town and en-.
gagged in a small cooperage business.
He and his niece led the truly simple
life. Burt had become their well
come guest; the days had drifted on
pleasantly.
One evening, however, Burt had q
foretaste of the people he was des-
tined to meet if he continued on his
Journey. Another uncle of Eloise,
named John Rivers, accompanied by
one jeff Wadhams, came down from
"the bad lands" Rivers was vOluble
in his, demand that his niece should
spend part of her time at his home
over the border. Burt even surmised
that it was jeff Wadhams who was urg
ing him to this. The eyes Of the des-
perado told that he sought Eloise as
life partner. Very clearly Mr.. Ire
herne told his brother-in-law that his
demand would not be granted.
At eleven o'clock that night Burt
was aroused from his sleep. 1t was
Treherne, who told him to get up and
dress. Their he led him out through
the house into the stout log workshop
over the river, where he did his rude
cOOperage tasks.
Eloise was there. She stood at the
one window Of the place with rifle
in her hand. looking every inch an in
trepid daughter of the frontier. In
some amazement Burt glanced out.
Mounted on horses, armed, some of
them bearing torches, were twenty
men. JEFF Wadhams was their leader.
"What do you want here" demand.
ed Mr.. Treherne, going to the window,
and JEFF came forward.
1--WE want a man calling himself
Dawson and an engineer" he re-
sponded. I'VE have information that
he is q spy, disguised detective, and
we are going to string him up. This
isn't your business, Treherne. Deliv.
er him up
II want time to consider" spoke Mr..
Treherne, and his face was grim, and
Eloise kept watch and ward at the
window.
'Mr. Dawson" said Treherne, there
is just one way to escape, but you
must do what say and act quickly.
shall barrel you up, with a hammer
and chisel, drop you into the river
and you will float away while these
men are wasting their time here
"And leave Eloise to be carried
away by that ruffian outsider" cried
Burt. 81 will die fighting, first !"
The old man was silent. He studied
the face Of his guest keenly.
"You love herr" he asked.
more than my own life !" responded
Burt fervently.
'Then"-slowly, solemnly
her your wife. Those ruffians then
dare not modest her."
A barefooted Dride-how strange
The hasty marriage ceremony-hou
thrilling! And then, at the insistency
Of those two who now had a claim up
on him, Burt consented to be Thar.