Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-08-09
men who know that they are menaced
nv A terrible peril.
CHATTER xt-.
INTO EVIL II AHDS

Rv the t'me Elfio Tower and Perry
Wynans, accompanied by the In )therly
| Mrs. Rankle were well out Of Chi ago,
their souls | a1 be ONE joined in the ten
| dcreSt respect and affect on.
"How odd it seems, Mr.. Wynan - tho
former could not help saying, "for me to
lie going On such long journey with
yoa!"
"But not so odd as pleasant-for me,
at least. ".was the rcpy. 81 hope that
the Journey upcn which we have entered
| will last as long as We live
Elfe's face grew moro intense in its
coloring, ad. tender light appearing
| in her sou ful eyes
81 hope so, too" she said simpY.
The ST ence Which succeeded was so
full o. happiness that it lasted many
minut s, dliffng which the tran con
tinued to roll onward.
"And this time we forget that Jerry
| Skdder is on this sane train with us"
at length murmured Elfic
"And also his daughter" suggested
Mrs Ranko
"Not to peak of Hiram Skidder and
his two hopefu's," remarked Perry, with
smile of content How verJ Lite we
care for them
"Perhaps the two brothers will make
up tlcir differences before the night is
ended" pursued Ellie. 81 dare say they
are in good way to unite their
forces AGAINST us
ain any ase, we need not give them q
thought" said Perry. Fortunately they
are not in the same car with us, and if
thcy were we cou remain in the state
room
lie reflected few moments intently,
an then resumed:
81 told you about Colonel Whipsaw,
didn't I-how kind he was to me during
my Wis to the Musselshell, although
d dn't give him any very definite idea of
my business in that quarter Well |
must send the Colonel few lines by tel
| egraph before our arrival, and it will be
well to a so tell our mining expert, Char
| lie Baker, that we shall soon be with
| him. Charley is one of my old school
mates, with whom | have always re-
maincd moro or less closely associated,
and / am sure you will be pleased to
make his personal acquaintance.
We need not linger upon their journey
to st. FauI, nor upon the longer one be
tween St Paul and their destination.
Let it suffice to say that the lovers and
Mrs Rankle remained the most of the
time in the seclusion of their own state
room, and they did not so much as catch
q impse of the SkidderS during the
whole trip Westward.
At about o'clock in the morning on
the fourth day after leaving Chicago,
the little party alghted from the train
at Custer
ats an awkward hour for ones ar
riva'," remarked Ferry, with glance at
the covered sky, as he drew Elfe's arm
within his own on reaching the ground;
"and there is a still more awkward ride
before us. | wonder if there will be
hack in waiting at such an unseasOna-
bic honr?"
Carriage, sr?" said man, who came
hurrying up to the couple, with dull
burning lantern.
"Yc'," replied Perry; "where is it?"
"YOnder, sir. "
The man not only pointed out the ve-
hicle but led the way toward it.
"That will answer" said Perry,
after glance at the carriage "This
way Mrs. Rankle.
He fastened to assist his companions
into the vehicle, and then sprang in
lightly himself, shutting the door.
"Where to, sir?" asked the driver.
"Ill tell you that later, after we have
crossed the river" answered Perry.
"Shall we be able to ferry across at this
hour of the night?"
"Certainly, O., at any other hour, so
long as you are vii ing to pay well for
the service"
"Drive on, then," ordered Perry.
"Our first step is to cross the Yellow
some at the junction.
The driver looked the party over a
moment, with an air of suppressed
jub lance and excitement, and then
mounted brisklY to his box and drove
away into the darkness, conceaIing his
lantern beneath him
"It's rot far to the river, | suppoSe2"
queried Perry, after brief silence
"No, sir; a mere step"
Tho "step" proved to be long one.
but az length the carriage was driven
upon low pier. aud from the pier eau
t'ously assisted into one of those small,
shaky ferry boats which are still so
commonly in use on Western rivers
"Thats all" said the driver; there's
no one else coming"
The ferry boat proceeded to get under |
way, and hardly word was spoken J
until it had disembarked its passengers
upon the opposite side Of the river.
ais it not strange that we saw moth |
ing of the Skidders?" asked Mrs Rankle. |
Rather" replied Porry. 81 can only |
suppose that they have gone on 20 BIZ |
lings, because we talked of going ther'.
In good truth, that would have been al |
most as handy for us, as far as the mines |
are concerned, but my objective point is
the county seat, where | propose to |
pace those deeds on record"
"Where to, sir?" asked the driver
again, appearing at the side of the car
r age
Perry reflected moment.
"Your horses are fresh?" he then
asked
"Yes, sir; reajy for anything"
"You do not care how far you go,
dare say?"
Certainly not. so long as you are
ready to pay me literally"
"Then take the road to Musselshell,
and do not let the grass grow under your
feet for the next two hours"
"All right, sir"
ITO BE CONTINUED.
Jedge Waxem's Politicall Proverbs.
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