Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-10-15
ADeaI5WiIdLandS
FIGHT for The MHSsGlShGl Millions
BY LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER Z.
OR TIE

Let US now take long step forward
and see what was doing in Montana
At about o'clock on a fine summer
morning, Col Harvey Whipsaw, of Rat
tlesnake Ranch, sat in an easy chair on
his front veranda, engaged In looking
over q somewhat bulky mail of letters
and newspapers, which had just been
brought him from the nearest postoffice
by a trusted factOtum-
~It's strange" he muttered, @that do
not hear from Hiram Skidder. Can he
have failed TO get my letter? Or have 1
failed to allow sufficient time for it to
reach him?1
A troubled look crept into his coun-
aenance as he continued his task.
The appearance of the Colonel was as
striking as his name, he being one OF
those hardy, clean-limbed pioneers who
are seen nowhere in greater perfection
than in the Rockies.
he was not only renowned Indian
fighter and scout with an excellent
record, but he was also high toned and
cultured gentlemen, despite his plain
manners and his still more primitive
way of living
He had even been more renowned as a
magistrate than as an officer of the
army, and this fact will attest that he
was highly intelligent and many-sided.
II asked him to telegraph me the mo-
ment my letter reached him. added the
Colonel. gaining his feet and beginning
TO walk to and fro on the veranda, "and
he must have heard from me some days
since. My arrangements to get his tele-
gram are certainly perfect Why don't
he answer? At this rate, l shall not get
hold of those mines on any terms. What
can be done?"
A clatter of hoofs suddenly falling
upon his hearing from the adjacent
trail, he turned his gaze in that direc-
tiOn.
AT lastl" he could not help ejacuIat-
ing. There is my answer now"
He hardly stirred or drew a long
breath until the hOrseman had ridden
up to the ranch, drawing rein
"A telegram for you, Colonel" an
nOunced the messenger, with the air Of
one who believes he is the bearer OF very
gratifying intelligence. Il hope il will
respond TO your wishes"
"a thousand thanks, Tommy" replied
the Colonel, receiving the missive-
won't you come in and have a lemon
ade or something's"
mo, thank you, Colonel, was the re-
ply; 81 expect to tarry an hour with my
brother on Golden Creek, and need not
bother you"
And, with a polite movement of his
hat the messenger rode away at the
same pace by which he had come
~And now to know my fate" NUT
tered the Colonel, after turning the tele-
gram over two or three times in his
hands Il wonder if L am destined TO
get hold of those Musselshell millions?
In any case, am bound to make a good
fight for them"
Breaking the seal, he began reading
the somewhat lengthy communication
with look Of surprise which deepened
rapidly to amazement
ats mot from Hiram Glrfddar ~ all
he calculated ats from Perry Wy
mans"
He looked deeply puzzled
sAnd who on earth can Perry Wynans
be?n he demanded. "The name sounds
familiar. Let me see-ah! 1 have i'll
He's that clever young clerk from Chi
cago who passed a couple of days with
US three years ago. Well, well. here's
the end Of my dream. This Perry Wy
mans, it seems, is the owner of those
wild lands, and is on his way out here to
take possession.
He read the telegram again, and grad
ually the shade lifted from his features
allow true it is" he resumed, shat
there's no great loss without a gain II
I am disappointed about the mines,
none the less have the hope Of soon pos
sessing an excellent neighbor, and one
whose presence will be sort of indem-
nifty for all the annoyance Jerry SkiddeI
has caused me. Yes, yes, l remember
the young Stranger now distinctly. He
seemed to me at the time to be no COM
mon man"
Another clatter Of hoofs arose at this
moment, and there was ring about il
which at once fixed the ColOners atten-
tlOn.
~Hello!" he calculated. gathering up
his letters and papers and stepping into
the house with them THAT man rides
as If for dear life From the direction OF
the mines, too. Can it be that Sam Cad
der or any of his devils would dare come
here to make an attack upon me?"
Snatching a fine dOuble-barreled rife
from the wall, he stood it just within the
door of his sitting-room, and then
stepped out upon the lawn, giving his
whole attention to the approaching
horseman, who had now appeared TO his
view, about hundred rods distant.
Thunder! What can impel the man?H
exclaimed the Colonel ~And who can
he be?H
The Colonels ranch was situated near
the mouth of branch of the Mussel-
shell, and was one Of the finest in Mon
tana
1t comprised the whole peninsula be.
tween the two rivers, and consisted part
ly of bottom lands and partly of those
~bencheS" which are esteemed so highly
for residences
The Colonels abode was one of those
dwellings of squared logs which are sc
admirable in any climate for either sum
mer or winter, they bring as we'll adapted
70 keeping out the cold of one season a:
the heat OF the other.
1t was reached readily only from the
side of the tributary, across which haC
been thrown rustic bridge strong
enough to support any weight likely t
be placed upon 1t.
Over this bridge at a furious pace
came the stranger, his eyes fixed intent
ly upon Colonel Whipsaw, and in a few
moments more had drawn rein beside
him
~Am 1 right2" asked the newcomer
hurriedly. as this Colonel Whipsaw's?'
at is. sir
-Are you the Colonel?"
Il am
~Then l can do no less, continued the
stranger, slipping to the ground, ~thar
appeal to you for assistance. AS yoT
see, 1 have barely escaped with my life
from Sam Gaddler and 4 number of hi!
men, who have made an attempt Il
murder meiS
@Why?8 asked the Colonel.
because 1 have been spying out whal
they are doing at the mines, explained
the stranger. ~My name is Baker
Charley Baker. l am mining exper
by profession, and was sent out here BY
the real owner of the Musselshell mines
a man named Perry Wynans-"
Exactly interrupted the Colonel
with a start Come into the house
Mr.. Baker. I'll send your horse to the
stable
Placing a metallic whistle to mis- lips
the Colonel blew two or three peculial
notes, and then motioned the fugitive t