Evening star., 1936-03-01
THIS WEEK
Thunder on the Plains

looked at Captain Sillard. Was it
possible that an expression of sat
isfaction swept for second across
his face? 1t could not be. No man
could wish another sent to such hazard
of life and death. And yet - she saw
his red lips parted in his close beard,
the fash of his white teeth.
well spoken, VIII" he was saying.
"As you say, this needs our best"
Caution had wild and bewildering
impulse to run forward and cry out to
Captain to stop him. to send some one
not so gay, not so bold - but she only
stood by her mother with that strange
and awful shaking in her body. She
had to bite her teeth hard together to
keep them from chattering aloud.
And there was turmoil on all sides
now. men and women hurrying to
their wagons to begin already the
feverish preparations of protection.
the council men gathering about Will
Dallas, talking. giving him advice.
Advice - to him! To the best scout
who ever made the journey.
People often said 50. He said SO him.
self. Dragging. A deep and terrible sob
caught the words in her very throat
and she had to fight to stop it. Her
mother had turned away. Her father,
too. She saw the stock coming in at the
oval's head where an opening had been
left, so quickly had the word Of
danger carried
She saw Will Dallas tall head
among the scouts as they moved back
toward the Sneed wagon, heard him
disclaiming company. Coin it alone,
fellers," he was shouting. If airy man
can make it. ! can"
Then, in almost no time at all, she
saw him coming up the center of the
camp, mounted without a saddle, his
long legs dangling. That would be for
speed, to save his horse. His head was
bare and he was laughing, as he always
did. People we're running toward him
to reach up and shake his hand, to
look at him yearningly. A girl. one of
the Hanson twins, the fair one, was
crying.
And then he raised on his horses
withers and looked all around as if for
some particular face. His eyes lighted
on Caution Pendergast and he rode
toward her. He leaned down and put
his big hand on her shoulder. a soft
touch yet firm and confident. 1t
thrilled her as that unknown kiss had
thrilled her, sent the heavy. golden
food along her veins. She looked up at
him helplessly. If he said goodbye.
forever, she knew that she would do
something wild; scream or faint, per-
haps. But he grinned at her with the
old, gay. devil-may-care of him and
leaning down so only she would hear,
said softly:
''Still partial to boards - with
kisses7"
Then he kicked the tall horse, flung
up hand, yelled "Yah-hoo"' and was
gone. Out through the parting crowds,
out through the head opening. She
heard the thunder of his horses feet
along the levels.
She stood swaying, her hand at her
throat, choking with agony. Things
ran together in blur before her eyes,
the faces of the people, the horses
being led into the stockade. Tall
horses, gaunt, strong, hard as nails.
A taller horse than all the rest, the
Captains swift bay stallion stood tied
to the back of the Captains wagon.
As in a dream Caution looked at it.
Then once again that something in
her seemed to break. Like a fash her
hands shot out and united the rope Of
the halter. She whirled the horse
around, caught up her wide skirt. set
her foot in the stirrup and flung her
self into the saddle.
Instantly the stallion shot away.
hotuoon tho asf0nished DeOnle he