Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-02-11
The three women looked at each other with

Without comprehending all that Col. Clinch
had said, they understood enough to know
that their late guests were safe from the
pursuit of that party, and that their own
conduct was spared criticism. hardly dare
write it, but they instantly assumed the ap-
pearance of aggrieved martyrs, and felt as
if they werel
eyes, ladieslp continued the colonel, in
spired by the bright eyes fixed upon him.
1--WE haven't taken the road ourselves yet, but
-pohn honor-we wouldn't mind doing it in
case like this" Then with the fluent but
somewhat exaggerated phraseology of a man
trained to "stump" speaking, he gave an
account of the robbery and his own con-
| nection with it, He spoke of the swindling
and treachery which had undoubtedly pro-
voked Falkner to obtain restitution of his
property by an overt act of violence under
the leadership of Lee He added that he had
learned since at Wild Cat Station that
Harllins had fled the country, that a suit had
been commenced by the Excelsior Ditch
company, and that all available property of
Harkins had been seized by the sheriff.
'Of course it can't be proved yet but
there's no doubt in my mind that Lee, who
is an old friend of Ned Falkner's, got up that
job to help him. and that Ned's off with the
money by this time-and Pm right glad of
it. l can't say ez we've done much toward
it, except to keep tunlbling in the way of
that detective party Of Stanners, and SO
throw them off the trail-ha, hal The judge
here, reckon, has had his share of fun, for
while he was at HennicEer's trying to get
some facts from Hennicker's pretty daughter,
| Stanner tried to get some sort of vigilance
| committee of the stage passengers to burn
| down Hennicker's ranch out of spite, but the
judge here stepped in and stopped that"
at was really a highhanded proceeding,
Josephine, but managed to check it," said
| Hale, meeting somewhat consciously the first
direct look his wife had cast upon him, and
falling back for support on his old manner.
"In its way, think it was worse than the
robbery by Lee and Falkner, for it was done
in the name of law and order; while, as
far as l can judge from the facts, the affair
that we were following up was simply a rude
and irregular restitution of property that
had been morally stolen"
II have no doubt you did quite right,
though don't understand it," said Mrs. Hale,
languidly; "but trust these gentlemen will
stay to luncheon, and in the meantime excuse
us for RUNNING away, as we are short Of
servants, and Manuel seems to have followed
the example of the head of the house and left
US, in pursuit of somebody or something"
When the three women had gained the
vantage ground of the drawing room, Kate
said, earnestly, Gas it's all right, hadn't we
better tell him now?"
Decidedly not, child" said Mrs Scott, i'm
peratively. ''Do you suppose they are in a
garry to tell us their whole story? Who are
those Hennicker people' and they were there
week ago" ....
"And did you notice Johns hat when he
came In, and the vulgar familiarity of calling
him 'judgeg said Mrs. Hale.
"Well, certainly anything like the familiar
ity of this man Clinch l never saw" said
Kate. Contrast his manner with Mr.. Falk-
ner's" ...
At luncheon the three suffering martyrs
finally succeeded in reducing Hale and his
two friends to an attitude of vague apology.
But their triumph was short lived. At the end
of the meal they were startled by the tramp
ling of hoofs without, followed by loud
knocking. In another moment the door
was opened and Mr.. Stanner strobe into the
room Hale rose with a look of indignation.
u thought, as Mr.. Stanner understood that
had no desire for his company elsewhere, he
would hardly venture to intrude upon me in
my house, and certainly not after"--
"Ef you're alluding to the Vigilantes shakin'
you and Zeenie up at Hennicker's, you can't
make me responsible for that. I'm here now
on business-you understanding bust
ness. Eff you want to see the papers yer ken.
suppose you know what warrant is!'
II know what you are" said Hale hotly,
and if you don't leave my house,
"Steady, boys" interrupted Stanner, as his
five henchmen filed into the hall "There's
no backin' down here, Col. Clinch, unless you
and Hale kalkilate to back down the state of
Californy The matter stands like this:
There's halfbreed Mexican, called Manuel,
arrested over at the Summit, who swears he
saw George Lee and Edward Falkner in this
house the night after the robbery. He says
that they were maxim themselves at home
here, as if they were among friends, and
considerin' the kind of help we've had from
Mr.. John Hale it looks ez if it might be true. "
ats an infamous lie!" said Hale
sit may be true, John,n said Mrs. Scott,
suddenly stepping in front of her pale
checked daughters. "a wounded man was
brought here out of the storm by his friend,
who claimed the shelter of your roof. AS
your mother l should have been unworthy to
stay beneath it and have denied that shelter
or withheld it until l knew his name and
what he was. He stayed here until he could
be removed He left letter for you. 1t will
probably tell you if he was ME man this per.
son is seeking" '- E.-.-t.t %. -t1t..
'Thank you, mother" said Hale, lifting
her hand to his lips quietly; and perhaps
you will kindly tell these gentleman that, as
| your son does not care to know who or what
the stranger was, there is no necessity for
opening the letter or keeping Mr.. Stanner a
moment longer ~
but you will oblige me, John, by opening
it before these gentlemen" said Mrs. Hale
recovering her voice and color. "Please tc
| follow me-" she said, preceding them to the
| staircase.
| They entered Mr.. Hale's room, now re-
stored to its original condition. On the table
! lay letter and small package. The eyes
of Mr.. Stanner little abashed by the atti
tude of the two women, fastened upon it anG
| glistened
Josephine handed her husband the letter
| He opened it in breathless silence and read: