Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-04-03

afternoon, Stiil suffering lIO"i 'HT -
in the head the cowardly Dyke Dcsparu
had dealt him. Several times It's enecCS
hal driven him to his couch ana 1t was
ooly bv the mer st accident that, IN
moment of temporary recuperatlon' nc
had wandered to the s,cne OF the hahS-
ing.
Thus it was that, in less than an hour
after the recapturc OF Inez Tracey Oy
the bandits, Darrell Grey awokc TO ma
himself an inmate of Ranger Kalph
cabin.
His senses were bcwi,dcrcd, his brow
fcvered, his neck and body in pain from
his rough experience with the lynchcrS
Gradually, however, he realized II aii'
and recognizcl the MN who sat by his
Side h lding cup of liquor in his hand.
"Drnk it, lad. It's got some roots
and herbs in it that have made new
man of me already"
barrel obeycd him, and then sat up on
the couch of skins, staring muteiy at
the scout
"The man l saw at the depot?"
"The same.
eWho told nc about the train wreck
erS?"
oYcs. stranger; Ranger Ralph, that's
nc, and lucky Tor you Strolled uo"h "
the tavern a little while ago.
Darrcps hand went Involuntary 10
his neck and he shuddcred.
"Thcy tried to hang me, !" he SAID musk
ily
ayes, and almost succeeded"
"And you saved me?"
ain the mix of time, lad There,
von're getting back your Co!or already
II was all a miserable mistake.
"The lynching?"
ayes. The people arc so cxcitod over
the train robbery that they act lmpulS'
ivcly."
"Th2 train robbery" calculated Oar
REL "Tcll me about it,"
"Thev beat off the robbers and xii et
two of the outlaws. They pursued the
others to the north, and the Vlgliah'cS
are after them now :.
"To the north?" repeated Darrcl' ans
appointcdly. "They have gone in tho
wrong direct on
GLOW do You know"
81 Just left their trail.
"YOu," excla med the scout, in tone
of the dccrcst ama2ement and interest
"Not two hours since. 1t was to war;
tho re)plc here to hasten in pursuit o
them that | came to tho tavern"
Ranger Ralph's face became serious.
ats too late now" he muttc:cd
(Which way did they go?'
"To tho cast. ="
"Toward their Indian allies. The ira
will be lost among the hills. Sec here
strangcr-lct ne see; what is you
namc?"
well, friend Darro!-for you've actc
the friend to me in bringing Tack N
horscs-i'vc a question to ask YOU
"What is it?"
"Therc was deep motive for wrccE
in7 she railroad train at Ten Spot
81 know it,"
The scout started.
"Yon do?"
eyes"
"What was it?"
"Frst, robbery; next, to secure po
session of q beautiful orphan hciress,
distant relative to the leader of tn
band, Tyke Desparl-Incz Tracey"
Ranger Ralph regarded Darrcl in pr
found bewildcrmcnt. His face becan
intensely anxious and excited.
"Then you saw the girl?" he asked.
81 did. Let nc tell my story, and yo
will know all about it,"
Briefly, graphically, Darrel related
that had happened to him since he ha
left the scout at the railroad statlo
, He found an interested listener
3 Ranger Ralph, and when he had co
cluded his recital, th3 latter grasped h
] hand heartily.
3 "Darrel Grey" he said, in tones husl
with emotion, "you have done me a &c
y service in protecting the poor Orphi
child fate threw in your way. She W
the object Of my oming to the depot
am her fathers Oldest friend, and h
own: while her enemies!-they a
n numerous and desperate. There's
q fortune beyond it, and Dyke Despard
D determined to secure it. "
4 "Hc shall not if | can prevent him
cried Darrell, with flashing, determln
Q eyes.
"Ha." cried the scout, as he read t
enthusiasm of courage ard the prom
$ inrs of love in Darrel's handsome faC
81 think understand you; lnez Trac
O has capt. urc your heart as she did mi
when she was a baby girl. What is
4 friend Darrell? Do we abandon
e fortune and the g'rl to that renega
S and assassin, Dyke Dcspard?"
II Never"
"No, never!" cried the ranger "un
n his blood has washed ont the coward
|, blow ho gave me last night. do
1t know you, except that you are tr'
earnest man: but Id rather have
r aid me in hunting down Despard a
recovering the girl Inez than all
a vigilantes in tic settlement"
n "Then it is a compact?" asked Oar
eagerly