The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-12-21

The sun swung lower and lower, and,
as the shadows OF tho buttes became
longer and longer, st. James discerned a
party OF mounted ranchmen filing
toward the river. Reaching it's farther
bank they dismounted and after tether.
ing their horses begnn to ford their way
toward the plateau.
whats mp, now?" mused Harry,
curiously. There's twenty Of 'em at
least, and they are all armed"
BY this time the party had crossed the
river and were scaling the plateau in
single file. with Val Benton in the lead.
whats up, boys?" called Harry.
leaving his threshold and approaching
the men.
you'll find what's up quicker'n you
want to-" hissed Val, with look OF
hatred blazing in his black, evil eyes
"Yes," he continued, in "A vicious voice,
IAN I'm happy to tell you that we hev
kim fer you"
"For me? said Harry, laughing light
ly. "For meP Well, I'm at your SER
vice, Benton. What's wanted?"
"We've ben er-missin' our cattle fer
three months past, an we want you, fer
you're the thief Bring on the rope,
Sam, an Wen make short work o. this
city rascal Bring il on ~
"Hold there Bit" cried Little Jo,
springing TO the fore. "Give the man n
chance. Let's hev trial an Far trial,
too, or my rifle might go off. an the
first fellow that pulls on the rope might
git hurt"
This sentiment prevailed, and after
selecting Long John for Judge, the men
seated themselves around their pris-
oner. After a few preliminaries, the
Court called upon Harry to give good
account OF himself for the last three
months, or take the consequences"
81 think" said Harry, who had been
standing all this time with set, stern
face, his arms folded upon his breast,
81 think you are crowd OF cowards--
the last one OF you-except Little Jo."
"Nuff of that, now" yelled Benton,
springing to his feet Eve haven't KEN
here fer none o. that kind oi chaif. III
you have anything TO say fer yerscli,
say it. III you hain't, the Jedge'll pass
sentence in n iifiy, and you'll never ketch
that little bird down in Toms ravine
thet-"
He never finished the sentence. With
one mighty bound Harry had him by
the throat, and was throttling him to
kill.
"Dogl. Devil How dare you alludc
to herl" and his fingers frightened until
Benton reddened and rcelcd.
Little 10 tapped Harry on the shoul
der. "Let up" he said, Tets hear yer
side o. the case, and II yer inherent III
stand by yer ez long ez kin shoot"
Hurting Benton to the sod, Harry
kicked him as II he were worthless
whep, and resumed his former attitude
"Any more outrageous proceedings
like thet," said Long John, "and I'll adj
journ this here Court, and ei | adjourn
it you mout as well prepare fer King
dom come. Now, wha. have yer 20 sny
fer yerseli about this cattle business?"
81 have nothing TO say to you nor to
any OF your cowardly crowd. II you
were civilized men, instead OF being tho
savuges you are, you would mt least le,
me have the benefit OF n trial in n Court
OF proper jurisdiction"
"Well, boys" said Long John slowly
! guess he's guilty, where's the halter?
We will now take our reader TO Toms
rcvine, six miles up the river from the
scene we have just been trying to por
tray. The ravine in question was GOV
cred 10y the ranch Of Colonel Tom Endi
colt, one OF the richest men in the Mau
vais Terrcs. lie spent his winters at hii
old home In Virginia, but he liked The
wild life OF the West, and generally pass
ed the summer season on bis ranch
His wife was dead, and his one chile
Grace, was the apple oi his eye. Sh'
was beautiful girl OF II, beautiful no
only In lace and iorm, but IN her sweo
spiritual, unselhsh ways and words. M
well. She was staying with her father
Mt the time OF our story, and as IL wni
her first visit TO the Bad Lands, sh'
found an unfailing source OF interest II
the wonderful scenery that surrounded
} her-in the customs OF the people, In th,
new life that opened novel visits 10 Nc
dora, where she had met Harry ST
! james, n wealthy young man Of Chicago
who had taken n hunters lodge for 1
short season few miles from Tom
ravine.
IL was not strange that Harry love,
the girl from the first moment OF thei
meeting. IL was not strange that hi
love was rcciprocated, and before thrc
months had passed they were betiothed
with the blessing OF bluff old Tom End