Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-01

5 Helen'S Hostility.
Copyright ,190l:By Daily Story Pub. Coz


Copyright 1901 by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Helen Gilman was a successful Young
ranchWOman on Bear Creek in Nebraska
Five years ago she had come to the state
and invested her earnings as teacher in
cattle, pre-empting an excellent piece Of
land. Her fine health and a good head
for business had enabled her to attain a
success beyond her most sanguine expec-
tations.
I'D be perfectly happy now she said
to her sister. a girl of Is. who lived with
her. IF l could have held that claim UNI
til YOU We're of age. And to think a man
should get it. and worst of all that man.
El.ery Chase the son of the lawyer who
caused our father to lose his property
in Michigan by finding some flaw in the
deed. It's an outrage None of the neigh
boring ranchmen would touch that land
as long as I kept my cattle grazing
there, and now that young man must
come here and gobble up the claim
right under my very nose
well, Helen, we could hardly expect
that so fine a claim would remain un-
taken till the law would let me hold it,
said Lottie. For my part I'm not sorry
handsome and pleasant. Then he's not
to blame for what his father did,
NO, but l object to his taking the
land" answered Helen. zone thing sure.
he'll not find me a sociable neighbor."
Lottie laughed.
There's no need nursing your disap.
pointmsnt about the claim" she said.
for intend to be mistress of it some
day"
why Lottie Gilman. what do you
mean?" demanded her sister.
I'm marry Erery Chase and get the
claim after ALL" she returned in her teas
ing tones.
\ few days after this dialogue between
the sisters. E:llery Chase rendered the
young ranChwcman a service by finding
and returning to her herd some ''strays"
which she had thought We're hopelessly
lost. Helen Gilman was riding along
on her pony. inspecting some Of her cat
tie. when Ellery drove up the strays
and in a STRAIGHTFORWARD manner ex-
plainei how and where he had found
Them
Very kind of you. Mr.. Chase, she
said in icy tones How much do l owe
you for your service.
Nothing Miss Gilman" he replied, 1T
gives me real pleasure to serve you. ana
whenever can do YOU neighborly turn
don't hesitate to ask me-
"Thank you,' she said even more
4 co!dly than before. and she rode away
/ toward her house.
! IA Nova Zembla icic.e would be warm
| cofpared with her reception" he said
| with a whistle. "Jove! She makes
! beautiful figure on that pony. and what
! perfect health she possesses!
That very evening he happened to meet
| Lottie at the postotfice. and as he rode
back with her he asked her why her SIS
ter was SO cool toward him. After lit
tie hesitancy. with her CHARACTERISTIC
| frankness. Lottie told him.
and So" he commented with a SMILE
..your sister a double grudge against me:
I took the claim the sister had IN view
! for you, and happen to be the son Oh a
| LAWYER who Won case against your
father when We We're all chlldreh. "eli'
] il is strange, isn't it? But I'm gong 10
: remove Miss Gillmans pre)udlces II
/ have to deed you the claim ana PERISH III
Z the attempt" :,
] ooh. YOU shan't give up the claim
: cried Lottie quickly. You got 1t 1alrly'
4 and 7 don't care two straws for II. IL
7 has always been Helen's ambition u
have me turn ranchwoman, TOO SO we
. could live old-maid cattle queens on
adjoining claims
! Euerv Chase laughed merrily, but ne
. mentally decided to break up 'n's w.
maid scheme as he called II, "lore
effactua,lv than he had already. bu'
ha soon discovered that it was not sc
easv to overcome the ranchwohah
nreiudices, and often he returned IRON
tho arena, of his efforts feeling almost
hone,esslv vanquished by Helen Gill
mans GOODNESS. But he went on peihs
rIa.sant and attentive to her whenever
.,,av met. Lottie and Ellery had grown
/ N be the best of friends, but months
went by making Helen no frlendHei
than at first
~ Ono dav Helen set out to transact some
business that took her across the fiat'e
river. She started to cross the streah
Inv an old ford not often used. her pony
had trayersed only few feet when sne
realized that the animal was making nc
= nroeress. He was merely lifting one roo
after another. and Withdrawing II VIII
a peculiar sucking sound.
Il, ..Ouicksand." she said. with little ap
nrehension. Il never heard there wal
any at this ford.
she urged her pony forward. and tn
animal. with a terrified snort. tried u
obey her, but succeeded only in MAKING
a wild struggle that almost unseateu MI
| rider
~ Realizing the danger Of her position
II e,en attempt I'd t. turn her. pony bacl
!, to shore. but the creatures efforts to d.
;, this merely served to sink him furthe
in the yielding. Shiny mass that SCENE,
. to rise up to enfo,d them. With increas
(; ing apprehens Helen felt the hero
a little pony sinking deeper and deeper il
~ the treacherous quicksand. Little bub
4 b'es of water began To appear over tn
4 surface of the sand. and before she knev
: it the pony had sunk to its sides in TIL