The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-09-13

gloomy like-you remember Cyrus. ap-
pealing to her husband-that 'hat WIS HIS
curse"
The smile that tlicke7ed around Clarence s
mouth faded, however, as he caught slght
of Phocbe's pleading, 'ntrrrognfins g! CS
1t was really too bad! Whatever change
had come over the rascal it was too evident
tnao his previous hcl@ercnt personality
had had its full effect upon the simple girl,
and that hereafter one PAIR OF honest eyes
would be wStfuIy following him.
Perplexed and indignant Clarence again
! closely questioned her rs to the personnel OF
the trespasSng party who had been sec n once
! or twice since passing over The n"ld lie
| had at least elected enough Information 10
| identity one of them as Gilroy, the leader
| of the party that had invaded RobcS rancho.
! His cheek flushed. Even if they had wish
! ed to take Il theatrical and monehtary re-
venge Hooker for the passing treachery
| to them which they had just discovered, al
| though such retaliation was only tranSltory
| and they could not hold the landlt was an IN
| suit to Clarence himself, whose tenant JIM
| was and subverSive of all their legally ac-
| ouircd rights He would confront this tll-
| roy at once. His half-Wi!d encanpment was
| only Il few miles away, just over the boull-
| dares of the Robles estate. Without stat
| ing his intention he took leave OF the HOP
kins family with the cheerful assurance that
| he would probably return with some news
of Hooker, and rode away.
! The trail became more indiStlnct ana I'M
frequented as it diyerged from the mann
road, and presently lost itself III the slope
toward the east. The horizon grew larger
! there were faint blush lines upon winch
| he knew We're distant mountains; beyond
! this a still fainter white line-the Slerran
shows Presently he intcrSocted tran
! running south. and remarked that II crossed
the highway behind km, where he had
once met The two mysterious horsemen.
! They had evidently reachl the terrace
| through the wild oats by thit tran. A Mt
| tie further on, here II few groups Oh ShedS
| and canvas tents i'll Il bare and open space
| with scattered cattle and horsemen--eXact-
/ ly like an encampment or the gathering Oh
| n country fair As Clarence rode down
towards them he could see that his APP
proach was instantly observed, ana that Il
simultaneous movement was made, as IL 10
| anticipate him. For the first time he real
| lied the possible consequences OF has visit,
single-handetl, but it too late to re-
trace his steps. With a glance at ms
| holster, he rode boldly forward to the
| nearest shed A dozen men lowered near
him, but something in his quiet, determined
manner held them aloof Gilroy was on
| the threshold in his shirtsleeyes. A single
look showed him that Clarence was alone,
and with a careless gesture OF his mana he
warned away his own followers.
you've got a sort of easy way OF drop
| pin in whar you amt invited, Brant. ne
said, with a grim smile, which was not,
| however, without n certain air OF approval.
''Got it from your father didn't your
Il don't know, but | don't believe he ever
| thought it necessary TO warn twenty men
of the approach of one" replied Clarence
in the same tone. Il had no time to stand
on ceremony, for | have just come from
| Rockers quarter section at Fair Plains
| tIilrOy smiled again and gazed abstract
eddy at the sky.
You know as well as 1 do" said Clar-
ence controlling his voice with an effort
that what you have done there will have
to be undone, if you wish to hold even
| those lawlcss men of yours together, OF
keep yourself and them from being run into
the brush like highwaymen I've no fear
for that. Neither do | came to know what
was your motive in doing it, but ] can only
tell you that if it was retaliation | alone
was and still am responsible for Hooker's
| action ut the rancho. | came here to know
lust what you have done with him-and-
if necessary-to take his place
you're just Il little too previous in your
talk | reckon. Brant.' returned Gilroy
laziIy land as to legality | reckon WI stand
on the same level with yourself, just here
Beginnin' with what you came for; as We
don't know where your jim
Hooker is. and as we ain't
done anythin' to him. we don't exactly
see what we could do with you in his place
t,z to our motives, WE'LL we've got good
deal to say about that. We rcckoned that
he wasn't exactly the kind OF man we want
ed for neishbor His powful 1ightin
| STYLE didn't suit us peaceful folks and we
! thought it rather worked ag'in this new law
! mad order racket. to have such Il man about
| 10 say nothin of it prejudicin' quiet settlers
| He had too many revolvers for one man
| to keep his eye on, and was altogether toe
much stepped in blood-so to speak-for or