The Desert of Wheat

mount another, headed south. He meant to be traveling while it was dark. No passenger-trains ran

hesitated about getting up and groping back in the pitch-black corners of the car. He felt that it contained a presence besides his own. And suddenly he was startled by an object blacker tha

spered, hoarsely

repli

drian where

answered Kurt,

u're the

was evident that he had e

e stall th

're on it, yo

o apparently had taken him for an expected messenger or leader. He was importuned for tobacco, drink, and money, and he judged that his begging companio

ather closely pressed his hand upon the revolver in his side coat pocket. By asking questions and making judicious replies he passed what he felt was the dark mark in that mixed company of I.W.W. men; an

wed, preparatory to stopping. The instant it was safe Kurt jumped out and stole away in the gloom. A fence obstructed further passage. He peered around to make out that he was in a road. Thereupon he hurried along it until he was out of hearing of the train. There was light in the east, heralding a dawn that Kurt surely would welcome. He

dawn came, and then the rosy sunrise. And he discovered, not half a mile aw

und another early riser in the person of a blacksmith who evidently was a Yankee and proud of it. He owned a car that he was willing to hire out on good security. Kurt satisfied him on that score, and then pro

ar, rather ancient and the worse for wear, but its owner assured Kurt that it would take him where he

he wreck of the freight-train upon which he had ridden from Adrian; his car had been surrounded by rough men, and only quick wits saved him at least delay; he had been hailed by more than

e had the eighty thousand dollars deposited in a bank he could feel that his gray, gloomy future would have several happy memories

dens delighted his eye, and the towns grew fewer and farther between. Kurt halted at Huntington for water, and when he was about r

I.W.W.! Hell to pay!

e the message," re

'phoned to send men out on all roads-to stop his car! H

gling. Anything might happen to him this day! He reached inside the seat to grasp the disjoin

nderson say?" he

head for the hills, where

rom here lea

There's where the I.W.W.'s will turn off to go up into the foot-hills. Anderson just 'phoned. You can head off hi

s he leaped into the seat

ver," shouted the man

of driving and guiding that car at the limit of its speed. Huntington flashed behind, two indistinct streaks of houses. An open

An agony of dread battled with a dominating but strange certainty. He felt belief in his luck. Circu

gn-post of the forks. As he neared it he gradually shut off the power, to stop at the cross-roads. There he got out to searc

long way, and made a wide curve to the right, along the base of hilly pastureland, and then again turned. And just as Kurt's

t of his heart, that bursting gush of bloo

sonable speed, choose a narrow place, stop his car s

turned half across the road and stopped. When he stepped out the other car was two hundred yards or more distant. Kurt saw when the driver slacken

he did not stop. Kurt heard a scream. He saw a white face. He saw

Kurt, at the to

Nash and Anderson's daughter. She looked terrified. Kurt dared not shoot, for fear of hitting the girl.

s heart sank and he was like ice as he risked another. The little high-power bullet struck an

nd he was there when Nash had twist

ove!" ordered Kurt,

ith hunted eyes and open

Dorn!" cried a

ght. Then she reappeared round the car. Bareheaded, disheveled, white as chalk, with b

's harmed you-" brok

He hasn't touched me,

lips are

. "He-he struck me.… That's nothing… But you

m?" demanded Kur

agent-I.W.W.!… Plotter against my father's life!… Oh, he knocked father off the car-dra

de his face drip with sweat and disto

sed. "You made love to me!

t murder you, because I'm American. Do you get tha

for weapon of some kind. But Kurt, in a rush, knocked him over the front g

ist that had grasped so many plow-handles took Nash full on that bloo

irt, to jump up and fling a rock that Kurt ducked by a narrow mar

ad to get his hands on this German, and when he did it liberated a strange and terrible joy in him. No weapon would have sufficed. Hardly aw

from far off, pierce Kurt's ears. Miss Ande

t kill him!" she was crying. "Ku

He let go of Nash. He allowed the girl to lead him bac

" whispered Lenore, w

insensible," panted Kurt. "Bu

ing breast. She was recovering. The gray shade left her face. Her eyes, sti

I prayed. I was terribly frightened. Ruenke was

?" quer

's his Ger

car, he found a leather belt. With this he securely bound Ruen

erson, we must be doing things. We don't want to meet a lot of I.W.W.

uined tire he backed down the road and turned to stop near where Ruenke lay. Opening the rear door, Kurt picked him up as if he had been

he said, "and show me w

s she saw Ruenke lying behind her. Kurt s

eel off. I'll ha

as all over when we

weakening. He could hardly hold the whe

ound my finger. I made a mess of it.… He lied. I didn't make love to him. But I listened to his love-making, and arrogant German lov

, augmented Kurt's Homeric mood. He understood that she would

agreed Kurt. "Didn't you

she put a hand on his sleeve.

ot that punching

d to look. My ire was up, too!… It wasn't ve

-you pulled me awa

was afraid you'd kil

s, exceedingly sweet and beautiful to Kurt's sight. He bent his glance again to the road ahead. Miss Anderson felt kindly and gratefully toward him, as w

t frenzy of mine seemed to be the breaking of a dam. I have been damme

What about?

everything German. I loved the farm. My chance in life is gone

leeve and left it there for a moment

t maybe it is not utterly hopeless.

A year ago-that first time I saw you-I fell in love with you. I think-when I'm away-over in France-I'd like to feel that you know. It can't h

ectly quiet. He looked on down the winding r

hese unscrupulous German agents of the I.W.W. But I saved his name.… I've got the money he took for the wheat we may never harvest. But if we do harvest I can

A soft, half-smothered cry escaped her. It seemed

-I'd rather not h

replied, with an unexpected, strange tone.

as and never could be

!" murmured the so

ste to terminate the confession into which his folly an

en I'm gone-if you think of me ever, let it be about how much better it

string of automobiles, flying along at

rail," he called out. "Your f

tance or his pride. Anderson, who came running between two cars that had stop

aughter is safe-unhar

huskily, and hurried to whe

ed, as she embraced him.

ick neck swelled and colored, and his utterance was unintelligible. His daughter loosened her arm from round h

nd from the Bend," she s

ged to the cool, smili

and crushed Kurt's hand.

drew Ruenke sliding out into the road. Ruenke's bruised and bloody face was uppermost, a rather gruesome sight. Anderson glared down upon him

car and land him in jail. I'll make a

Kurt. "I've got to return a car I broke down. And there'

ou come home with

your ear alone." He drew Anderson aside and briefly told about the eighty thousand do

rancher. "I know him. He'll leave the money in the bank till you

of the plot against hi

"All in the same class!… Dorn, I'm forewarned, an' tha

son's car. Kurt reache

g home with us?"

Many Waters,'" floundered Kurt. "But I can't go now.

u something-at home,

now," s

lt himself as wax before those blue eyes. She wanted to thank him. That

she asked, and her

you ever

see me before yo

ll

o much for me and my father.… I-I wa

l come,"

ar beside his daughter and la

go after him," he declare