Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-08-16
CHAPTER XIV.
TROUBLE BREWING FOR GADDLER

seconds to decide upon hi; course.
"You will reali .e, Mrs Cotter, after
what you have tod me" he hastene1 to
add, "that | cannot leave this place un'
til Mr.. Wynans and his betrothed have
teen freed from tho hands Of their
enemy"
ooh, certainly"
"Then, too, l have little account of
my own to tile" pursued Baker.
"After our terrible fight of yesterday,
Colonel Whipsaw and l were pursue o
.core Of miles by Sam Gaddler and his
rulfians, and barely escaped with our
lives We were hunted so closely, in
fact, that we got separated, and l have
been looking several hours in vain here
nbouts for the Co onel, it having been
understood that he would make his way
IN this direction if he should succeed ir
throwing off his pursuers."
"Perhaps he's killed, sir.
dts only too likely" admitted Baker,
"as they were close at his heels when
last saw him, but l will hope for the
best Can't you introduce me into this
house without my being secn?"
"Certainly" answered the woman,
after sharp look around.
"And what shall we do with the
norsc?"
"l'll take him to the stable and give
some exp anation of his presence. / can
Gay that he has thrown his rider, or
otherwise made his escape, or | can pre-
tend to have picked him up On the
prairie without knowing anything about
him. Leave all that to me-"
"Thank you, madam And now con-
trive to smuggle me into the house."
"This way, then.
There was no difficulty in tho matter,
as the event proved, and Baker soon
found himself in possession of one OF
the front rooms of the dwelling, with
an excellent supper before him.
He had barely made amends 20 his
stomach for its privationS during the
day, when his kind entertainer came
hurrying baci- to him. She was in a
futter Of excite. .fent
"Quick, Mr. Baker!" she cried "YOu
must go into hiding! Mr. Gaddler and
his prisoners are coming!"
She waved her hand toward one of the
windows, offering him pocket glass,
and Baker hastened to look out
"Sure enough" he muttered, his gaze
resting upon a considerable body of
horsemen that were approaching, less
than mile distant. 81 can make them
OUT There's barely time for me to beat
a retreat to the room you have placed at
nv disposal If | should have urgent
need of your advice or assistance, for
myself or my friends, 1 will hunt you
up later"
ut is all understood, SIR" said Mrs.
COtter, with a sigh Of relief. permit
NE to make a last request, however
At whatever moment you may leave the
house, or in whatever way, l beg you
to remember that 1 wish to depart with
you"
81 won't forget you," assured Baker,
with kindly respect "You will Of course
keep an eye on the prisoners, helping
them in any way you can, but you need
say nothing about my presence.
Nodding understandingly, Mrs. Cotter
hurried away in the direction from
which she had come, while Baker pro-
ccede1 to the quarters she had assigned
h m. and which were naturally-at his
suggestion-the very rooms which had
been put in order for the expected ar
rivals
As he had duly foreseen, he found
himself in the first of handsome suite
of apartments.
"Here," he said to himself, after a
glance at the handsome furniture, in
Guiding a bed in one corner, "will be
lodged Mr.. Wynans."
He crossed the apartment TO an open
b I'M xrif af
and looked into large and airy room
beyond, which was furnished with taste
fu elegance.
"And this" he concluded after keen
but rapid survey, "will be given to the
ladies-for l see there are two OF them. "
He referred, of course, to Ellie Tower
and Mrs Rankle
After carefully noting his surround
ings. he took an extended stroll through
the palatial mansion, occasionally taking
glance at the newcomers from a
window.
Returning in due course to the suite
assigned him he waited with what pa
tience he could for the developments OF
the drama in which he was figuring.
His patience had become well-nigh ex.
bausted, and he was even beginning tC
TO fear that something had gone wrong
when footsteps and voices resOundcd on
the principal staircase, and Sam Cad
dlcr threw open the door leading into
the suite and entered, followed by his
prisoners.
He was covered with dust and travel
stained, as well as greatly fatigued. but
in what a merry and jubilant mood he
was! His entire visage was picture oil
sinister jubilance.
"Well we'll, Mr. Wynans," he wa
saving, al consent to your remaining
near the ladies, but you must compre
bend that none Of you are to leave these
rooms without permission To do SC
will be to run the risk of being shot NY a
couple of my men, who have already
been posted on the landing. You under
stand the matter?"
"Perfectly," was Perry's quiet answer.
GAS to the ladies'" pursued Gaddler
"they cannot fail to be pleased with the
adjacent apartment. 1t is one | have
had fitted up in the latest style for Miss
Daisy Skidder, who Is about to become
my wife, and it is. needless to say that
nave not counted the dollars expended
upon It,"