The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21

interrupted by the strange voicea in the
road, and their vague but ominoIs import
10 ms host; A feeling OF self%eproach
came over him. The threats chad i'm
| pressed him as only mere braggaCocio-he
knew the characteristic exaggesation OF
the race-but. perhaps. he ough< to prI-
vatesy tell Peyton of the incidental once.
The opportunity came later xhen the
ladies had retired. and Peyton, cssrapped
| In ponch. in q rocking chair, inShe now
chilly veranda. looked up from HE reverie
ana cigar. Clarence casually in reduced
the incident. as if only for tie sake
| OF describing the supernaturss effect
| OF the hidden voices, but .he was
concerned to see that Peyton Was con-
siderabiy disturbed by their more ma
| to the appearance OF the two men,
his host said: II don't mind telling you,
Clarence, that as far as that feisow's in
tentions go he is quite sincere. aelhough
his threats are only borrowed thuNder. He
| Is man whom have just dismissed for
carelessness and insolence-twoc things
| that run in double harness in thisecOuntry
but l should be more afraid to End him
at my back on a dark night. alor9 on the
plains, than to confront him in Daylight
In the witness box against me. HE was
only repeating a silly rumor that Che title
to this rancho and the nine square: leagues
beyond would be attacked by some specu-
lators.'
"But thought your title was confirmed
two years ago?" said Clarence.
THE grant was confirmed" rsturned
Peyton, (which means that theconvey
ance OF the Mexican government af these
lands to the ancestor of Victor Roalez was
held to be legally proven by the United
States land commission and p.tent is
sued to all those who held under it l and
my neighbors held under it by purchase
from Victor Robez, subject to thS confir-
nation OF the land commission. put that
confirmation was only of Victof's great
grandfather's title, and it is now alleged
that as Victor's father died *ithout
making will. Victor has claimed and
to ss1s OF dp ;SSgSsry with Mhch hi, h Sasn
At least some speculative ras-
Gals in San Francisco have get up
what they call The Sisters Title. and
are selling 1t to actual settlers on5he un-
occupied lands beyond. As, by the law, it
would mold possession against thu mere
based-as you know-on the presumption
that there is no title claimed, it eyes the
possessor immunity to enjoy ting use of
the property until the case is decided, and
even should the original title hotd good
against his. the successful litigans would
probably be willing to pay for ifoprOve-
ments and possession, to save the.expen-
But this does not affect you, WHO have
already possession ?' said Clarence,
quickly.
"No. Not AS far as this house end the
lands l actually occupy and cultivate are
concerned; and they know that an safe
to fight to the last and carry the ease to
the supreme court in that case uStil the
swindle is exposed or they drop il, but l
may have to pay them something 70 keep
the sQuatters off my unoccupied LARD"
"But you surely wouldn't recognize those
rascals in any way?" said the astcnished
Clarence.
"As against other rascals? Whyznot?"
returned Peyton grimly. II only Fay for
the possession which their shafl title
that title obtains l am still on tlr, safe
side" After pause he said more gs1svely:
"What you overheard, Clarence. shows
me that the plan is more forward chan I
had imagined, and that I may have to
fight traitors here"
81 hope, SIR" said Clarence with ssquick
glow in his earnest face. ''that yor'll let
me help you-you thought l did once
you remember-with the Indians.
There was so much of the old Cesrence
in his boyish appeal and eager QUESTION
ing face that Peyton, who had beer talk
ing to him as younger but equal rSan of
affairs, was startled into smile. ."You
did, Ciarence-though the Indians 1,utch-
cred your friends after all. don't know,
though, but that your experience with
those Spaniards-you must have knSwn a
lot of them when you were with DoN Juan
Robinson and at the college-mighH be of
service in getting at evidence. or smashing
their witnesses if it comes to fight But
just now money is everything; they-must
be bought off the land if l have to=mort-
gage it for the purpose. That strikes you
as rather heroic remedy, Clarence Ell ?"
he continued, in his old half-banter>ng at
titude towards Clarence's inexperienced
youth, "don't it?"
But Clarence was not thinking ofSthat.
Another more audacious, but equally
youthful and enthusiastic idea had aiken
possession of his mind. and he lay : wake
half the night revolving it. 1t was true
that it was somewhat impractically k,ixed
with his visions of Mrs. Peyton andFSusy.
and even included his previous schtSne Of
relief tor the improvident and incor. gible
Hooker. But it gave wonderful sincerity
and happiness to his slumbers that night
which the wiser and elder Ixyton
might have envied-and l wOt ntS was
in the long run as correct and ags:ious
as Peyton's sleepless cogitations. Sand
Brant-the young capitalist-sat dotn to
his travelling desk and wrote two lear
headed, logical and practical busineC let
ters-one to his banker and the otbr to
his former guardian, Don Juan Rohxlson
as his first step in a resolve perhtAs as
wildly quixotic and enthusiastic as any
dream his boyish and unseltish hears had
ever INDUCED.
At breakfast, in the charmed freedom of
the domestic circle, Clarence forgot Sasy's
capricious commands of yesterday. and
began to address himself to her in his old
earnest fashion, until he was warned by q
significant knitting of the young lsdy's
brows and monosyllabic responses. But
in his youthful loyalty to Mrs. Peyten he
was more panied to notice Snsy's
occasional unconscious indifference
to her adopted mothers sffec-
tionate expression, and a more con-
scious disregard of her wishes. : So
uneasy did he become. in his sensitive
concern for Mrs Peyton's half-concaaled
modification, that he gladly accepted
Peyton's offer to go with him to visit the
farm and corral. AS the afternoon APP
preached, with another twinge of sesf-re-
proach, he was obliged to invent soms ex.
cuse to decline certain hospitabie Elans
OF Mrs. Peyton's for his entertainment,
and at $3.50 stole somewhat guilty ssith
his horse from the stables. But he had to
pass before the outer wall of the ga.den
and grille, through which he had seen
Mary the day before. Raising his eyes
mechanically, he was startled to see Airs.
Peyton standing behind the grating, with
her distracted gaze fixed upon the wind
tossed level grain beyond her. :She
smiled as she saw him, but there were
traces OF tears in her proud, handsome
eyes.
"You are going to rider" she said pleas
antly.
"Y-e-es." stammered the shamesaced
Clarence.