Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-08-09
IADea6WiIdLa Lands
Or, THE
Fight for The MQSSGbhGl Millions
by LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER X.
AT RATTLESNAKE RANCH.

tleSnake Ranch, sat in an easy chair on
his front yeranda, engaged in looking
over somewhat bulky mail Of letters
and newspapers, which had inst been
brought him from the nearest pOStoffice
by trusted factOtum.
ats strange" he muttercd, "that do
not hear from Hiram Skidder. Can he
have failed to get my letter? Or have
failed to allow sufficient time for it to
reach him?"
A troubled look crcpt into his coun-
tenance as he continued his task.
The appearace of the Colonel was as
striking as his rame, 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 a so a high toned and
cultured gentlemen, despite his plain
manners and his still more primitive
way of living
He had even been more renowned as o
magistrate than as an officer of the
army, and this fat will attest that he
was highly intelligent and many-sided.
81 asked him to telegraph me the mo-
Colonel, gaining his feet and beginning
to walk to ard fro on the vcranda, land
he must have heard from me some days
since My arrangements to get his telc-
gram are certainly perfect. Why don't
he answer? At this rate, shall not get
ho,d of those mines on any terms. What
can be dOne?"
A clattcr of hOofs suddenly falling
upon his hearing from the adjacent
trail, he turned his gaze in that direc-
tiOn.
"At last" he cou'd not help ojacuIat.
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. 81 hope it 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?"
"No, thank you, Colonel" was the re-
ply; al 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
"And now to know my fate," NUT
tered the Colonel, after turning the tele-
gram over two or three times in his
hands 81 wonder if | am destined to
get hold of those Musselshell millions?
In any case, | am bound to make u good
fight for them
Breaking the seal, he began reading
the somewhat lengthy communication
with look of surprise which deepened
rapidly to amazemcnt.
"Its not from Hiram Skidder at a l."
he calculated. 1T from Perry Wy
mans"
He looked deeply puzzled.
"And who on earth can Perry Wynans
be?" he demanded. THE name sounds
familiar. Let me see-ahl l have it!
He's that clever young clerk from Chi
cago who passed 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 re 20
take possession
He read The telegram again, and grad
ually the shade lifted from his features
"How true it is" he resumed, chat
there's no great loss without gain. If
/ am disappointed about the mines, l
none the less have the hope of soon pos
sessing an excellent neighbOr, and one
whose presence will be a sort of indem-
nifty for all the annoyance Jerry Skidder
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 hoo S arose at this |
moment, and there was a ring about it |
which at once fixed the CoOnel's atten-
ton.
"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
er or any of his devils would dare come
here to make an attack upon me?"
Snatching 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?"
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 who'e peninsula be-
tween the two rivers, and consisted part.
Iy of bottom lands ard Iartly of those
"bencheS" which are esteemed so highly
for res denc S.
The COlOnerS abode was one of those
dwellings of squared logs which are so
in aIv climate for either sum.
mer or winter, they bring as we'll adapted
TO keeping out the cold of one season as
the heat of the other
1T was icached readily only from the
side of the tributary, across which had
been thrown rustic bridge strong
enough to support any weight likely to
be p aced upon it.
Over this bridge at furious pace
came the stranger, his eyes fixed intent
" upon Colonel Whipsaw, and in a few
more had drawn rein beside
him.
"Am l rght?" asked the newcomer
lurr edly. ais this Colonel Whipsaw's?"
at is, sir i"
"Arc you the ColOncl?"
81 am"
"Thea l can do no less" continued the
stranger slipping to the ground, "than
appeal to YOU for assistance. AS you
zee, l have barely escaped with my life
rom Sam Gaddler and number of his