The Argosy, January 1906 — page 91: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JIM DEXTER—CATTLEMAN. I saw her reel in her saddle, and ran up barely in time to catch her.” “Give her to me,” said Dexter, and took the limp form from the deputy and bore it tenderly into the house. “ Water,” he said laconically to Hav- erstraw, who had followed him in, as he laid the form on the couch. It was Orah: Lee. Her fair hair was tumbled about her shoulders and her face was deathly white. As he knelt beside her, supporting her head on his arm, Dexter’s heart swelled in his breast and a choking sen- sation came into his throat. A feeling he could not define all but mastered him. Why had she ridden at break-neck speed to reach the camp? ‘There was peril of some sort afoot, he felt sure, and Orah had tried herself beyond en- durance to bring the warning. Haverstraw came with the water, and the girl was quickly revived. Opening her eyes with a gasp, she stared blankly up into Dexter’s face. “ What is it, Orah?” he asked softly. His voice brought her to herself. “Roy!” she murmured wildly. “They are coming for him!” “Who?” -“QOh, I don’t know,” she sighed weakly. “ There are a lot of them, Mr. Dexter. Mrs. Hutton told me—she said Kalispel was one. They say Roy has committed some terrible crime, and they are coming here to get him. It isn’t true! It ean’t be true!” Her voice died away in a moan of anguish. “ Of course it isn’t true, Orah,” Dex- ter said reassuringly. “ You rode out here to tell Roy these men are coming, did you?” “Yes. Is Roy here? Has he come back? Mrs. Hutton said the men were eoming here, and so I got the horse and galloped on ahead of them. Save Roy, Mr. Dexter!” She clasped one of his hands. passionately with both her own. “ You will save him,” she added; “you must save him!” “Roy is safe, Orah. There has been a mistake, you understand? Roy has committed no crime, and he is not at the ranch. But you are a brave girl to do what you have done; it is some- thing neither Roy nor I will ever forget. 6 A 213 You are worn out and you must lie here and rest. This afternoon my foreman will take you back to town.” Dexter got up from beside her, waved all the men out of the room, and then went out himself and closed the door. “A word with you, Haverstraw,” said Dexter, and walked apart with the fore- man. “I did some shooting last night in self-defense,” he continued, “and that makes it necessary for me to accom- pany the sheriff. I don’t know how long I shall be away from the ranch, but you will take entire charge while I am gone. Have you seen anything of Roy?” “Not a sign, Jim, since he reached camp this morning and turned in. But one of the horses is missing.” “Allright. Now another thing. That young lady in the house is to be well eared for, and [ want you to have your wife come down and look after her. “This afternoon you are to put a team to the buckboard and drive her to Mrs. Hutton’s, in Siwash. Also, see that her horse is cared for and returned to town. That’s all, except that I want you to have one of the boys get a mount ready for me as soon as possible.” © All - right,- iJim.”’ Haverstraw hastened off, his brain teeming with vague surmises and suspicions. Meantime, McKibben had been talk- ing with Perry, and both offieers came over for a few words with Dexter as soon as the foreman had left. “Tf what the girl says is true, Jim,” remarked the sheriff, “ Kalispel is head- ing this way with a lynching party.” “T have no doubt that Ol Kalispel will try to take the law into his own hands,” replied Dexter. “Then it won’t do for us to take you to Siwash.” “Why not?” “ Because we'd be likely to meet Kali- spel and his men.” : “T should be safe enough,” returned Dexter. “‘They’re after Roy, and won't learn their mistake until I am safe in the Siwash jail. I don’t want that outfit to come here. If it does ”— and a worried look crossed Dexter’s face —“ there'll be fighting, for my boys are hot against Kalispel and his men.” McKibben was thoughtful for a mo- ment. At last he said: com chook (ef 0)