The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-05-14

four of MS sitting ON the verunda,' re-
piled Hester
MAY ] ask to be introduced TO Uncle
Ephinim2' inquired Ringbraid
you've met him." said Ludlow;
Yes, sab, please, SAL, tank ~, sah.'"
"Ohl the old fellow who CT iTied my
ulise up from the train. Why, I've
.een a good deul of him, and ,ic seems
20 be quite above chiclscn-st, 1ling.
believe I'd trust him with my pocket
book"
"You could do that safely enough;
bed bring IL back; but that isn't saying
he wouldn't borrow n fat chicken "
Providence threw one in his way. I'm
clio Eph is rs honest AS the day is long,
nut he'll bear watching after dark" re-
piled Ludlow. However, agree with
Hester; the intruder wasn't yagrant
or chicken thief"
,'No,' said Hester; 81 suppose it was
one OF the Bynum boys; and / wanted
TO ask you, Mr.. Ludlow. II there had
been any new developments lately; |
can't get anything out of father or
Henry"
Nothing that ] know OF, except
well. yes: we've decided to begin work
again on the McNabb vein, but don't
see how that could account for your
visitor; that's distinctly a company af-
fair, now"
"You may be sure they won't consid-
CT IL so. Tn afraid it will mean re-
turn of the old days of cut clotheslincs,
and broken fences, and border warfare
generally
Ringbrand looked shocked, and Lud-
low replied, gravely: 1--WE won't have
that, at any cost. wish there were
some way of getting evidence against
them"
"Can IL be possible that there have
been no witnesses 20 any Of their depre-
dations?" asked Ringbrand.
"Oh, l suppose there are few, only
.hey won't testify, and don't know
that blame them much; I'd go on the
witness stand myself, II | were morally
euro OF conviction, but otherwise IL
would he risky enough. 1t takes he
role love Of justice for its own sake to
intake man willing to incur the enmity
Of such people as the Bynums."
YWhnt would be necessary 10 con-
Wet them?"
The testimony Of one or moro relia-
,le eyc-witncases. or n chain of circuIn-
,tantial evidence that could not be east
" broken"
Ludlow's bantering suggestion TINT
he should turn detective came to Ring
brand with sober meaning In the
light Of the threatened danger TO the
l.atimers, and in connection with his
discovery OF the crevice cave. lie saw
his opportunity. and how drawer man
would have turned II to account; dozen
plans for entrapplng the criminals
flashed through his mind. but they all
,sked fer more or less personal courage
m the part of the person who should
execute them. OF course there vac the
alternative that he conid efTace himself
w turning his information over T. those
who would make use of 1t; but Ring
',rand was only human, and he Lad al
eady learned enough of Hester char
tcter 10 make him fear that she might
Inspect his motive in shifting he re-
possibility. AS n matter OF fact, he
nd her an injustice In this; but when
owardice, or venality, or vice. or any
other human weakness or welcomes
once under1ninss the fortress OF char
acter, there are many uncanny Shape
standing ready to slip unnotlced
through the breach.
After they had left the dining table
he excused himself, and spent the early
part OF the afternoon in wandering
aiinlessly about the village, trying e
| devise some scheme which of red .
| compromise between his weakness ant
his determination TO win Hester's np
| probation; and with the planning cam'
that curiously insistert urging which
| Ruds parallel In the desire to see how
| near one can creep to the brink OF ;
| precipice without being overbalanccd
| II is tho quality which often leads ;
| timorous man 10 attempt that whicl
| would make brave one hesitate, an'
when Ringbrnnd finally yielded 20 IL
importantly he turned his steps toward
| the road he had taken in the forenoon
The shadows OF the western cliff
were beginning their evening marcl
dawn the sloping sides of McNabb'
cove, and the hush OF the summer after
noon broodcd over the picturesque land
scape Of the narrow valley. Bud by
num's dog, lying in the shadow of tn
anrn, arose ynwning, mnde canin
,beisance, and cooked one car towar'
| the road leading up from Harmony val
ley. That his acute sense was not
fault was presently proved by the al
,earanee OF man approaching IN
farmhouse, and lie began TO bark fur
yusly at the intruder. julie Bynun
SbmlnR 10 the back door to find on
What had aroused the dogs anger sa'
, pleasant faced young man stondin
u the gate, and she stepped into tn
ard and spoke sharply 10 tho barldn
,ur. Ringbrand looked up at the SCUM
4 her voice, and found himself col
4 routed by middlc-aged woman wit
mkempt hair and sallow face, who's
,iph cheek bones and flashing blac
yes mnde him wonder n there wei
40. Indian blood In her veins. II
,ouehed his hat and opened the gate
topped to ask " you could give me
rink of water" he said.
rollteness il rarely wasted, even
be most unpromising subject, M
here was something in the nature
he woman thntrcsponded uneonseior
r to the touch Of kindly Difference
Z /. voice and manner. II reckon
an have a drink" she said leading I
ny 20 the house. The water buck
eas empty. and as she took It up $
j ,oiuted 10 u bench Ia the PASSAGE -
Town thar u minute, an I'll go let
somp from the spring
|, II wouldn't trouble you 10 do th