The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
ADeal6VldLandS.
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EFight for he MlSSebhel Millions,
BY LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER x.
AT RArTLESyAKE RANCH.

Let Us now take long step forward
and see what was doing in Montana.
At about 8 o'clock on fine summer
morning, Col. Harvey Whipsaw, OF Rat
tlesnake Ranch, sat In an easy chair on
his front veranda, engaged in looking
over somewhat bulky mail Of letters
And newspapers, which had just been
brought him from the nearest postofice
by trusted factotum.
ats strange, he muttered, @that I do
not hear from Hiram Skidder. Can he
have failed to get my letter? Or have I
failed to allow sufficient time for it to
reach him?"
A troubled look crept into his coun-
tenance as he continued his task.
The appearace 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
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
10 walk to and fro on the veranda, aand
be must have heard from me some days
bince. My arrangements to get his tele-
gram are certainly perfect Why don't
he answer? At this rate, shall not get
Al -
can be done?"
A clatter of hoofs suddenly falling
upon his hearing from the adjacent
trail, he turned his gaze in that dfrec.
tion.
@At last" he could not help ejaculat-
ing. HThere is my answer now."
He hardly stirred or drew 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
Observation-Disclosures. II hope 1t will
respond to your wishes.
"A thousand thanks, Tommy" replied
the Colonel, receiving the missive.
@Won't you come in and have lemon
sde or something?"
mo, thank you, Colonel" was the re-
ply; u expec: 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.
sAnd now to know my fate," NUT
tered the Colonel, after turning the tele-
gram over two or three times in his
hands II wonder If am destined to
get hold of those Musselshell millions?
In any case, am bound to make good
fight for them"
y Breaking the seal, he began reading
the somewhat lengthy communication
with look Of surprise which deepened
rapidly to amazement.
sIts not from Hiram Skidder at sll,s
he calculated @It's from Perry Wy
mans"
He looked deeply puzzled
J. sAnd who on earth can Perry Wynans
be?" he demanded. "The name sounds
familiar. Let me see-ah! I have It'll
He's that clever young clerk from Chi
cago who passed couple Of days with
Ms three years ago. Well, we'll here's
the end Of my dream. This Perry Wy
mans, it seems, is the owner OF those
WHO ldQQS, duu 10 Ou Ills way oQe uc1S w
take possession"
he read the telegram again, and grad
ually the shade lifted from his features.
@How true 1t is," he resumed, "that
there's no great loss without gain. Ii
] 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-
xIo
has caused me. Yes, yes, / 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 q ring about 1t
which at once fixed the Colonels atten-
tiop.
sRello!o he calculated. gathering up
his letters and papers and stepping into
the house with them. "That man rides
rs If for dear life. From the direction of
the mines, too. Can it be that Sam Cad.
dler 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
horseman, who had now appeared to his
view, about hundred rods distant.
Thunder! What can impel the man?"
exclaimed the Colonel "And who can
he be?"
The Colonel's 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
~ of bottom lands and partly of those
abenches" which are esteemed so highly
3or residences.
The Colonel's abode was one of those
dwellings of squared logs which are so
admirable in any climate for either sum-
to keeping out the cold of one season as
the heat Of the other.
It was reached readily only from the
side Of the tributary, across which had
been thrown rustic orIdge strong
snough to support any weight likely to
be placed upon 1t.
Over this bridge at furious pace
came the stranger, his eyes fixed intent.
ly upon Colonel Whipsaw, and in few
moments more had drawn rein beside
him.
aAm right?" asked the newcomer
hurr;edlY. ais this Colonel Whipsaw's?"
at is, sir"
"Are you the Colonel9"
Il am"
Then can do no less, continued the
stranger, slipping to the ground, "than
appeal to you for assistance. AS you
see, have barely escaped with my life