The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-12-27
By FRANCIS LYNDH.

By Francis rynds)
! ing his gun in the air as he came.
Macpherson stepped back into the
house, coming out again quickly with
his Winchester.
"By God" he said, between his
teeth, ''if they're going to begin by
taking pot-shots at us Now what
the devil is that fellow trying 20 do?
Hasn't he got sense enough to know
that Connolly's only waiting till he
gets in ranger
The oncoming horseman had slung
his rifle, and was waving something
white. The man in the breastworlS
lat him come up until he was within
easy killing distance and then judg-
ing by the way in which the truce
bearer dragged his horse to it's
launches, the bronco's garrison had
called halt. There was a brief col
loquy of some sort-not peaceful, if
the field-glass were to be trusted,
and gestures mean anything and at
the end of il the man with the white
handkerchief galloped back 70 his
company and led II by a wide detom
around the intrenched one. Five miu-
utes later, Connolly ambled up and
dropped from his horse at the corral
bars.
"what was the row, DAM" Mac
pherson called.
"Nothin' worth the name Of ut,
sorr. 1t was on'y Misther Engineer
a
Coomp'ny- cess TO 'm-poppin'
his gun over the head Az me to ask
about the thrail. He was sweatin'
heeius, an for wan cint I'd We put
him out av his mis'ry was that
near TO doin' ut anyhow"
Macphersons smile was the grim
NEST. "Its Gods mercy Connolly
didn't kill him." he said. I've known
him to do a worse thing on slighter
= provocation than that"
The little episode was to me like
the sight of his first battle is
|, like TO be TO the soldier, and
my bones became as water. More
Z over. the spirit of prophecy came up
on me and ! was faln TO give it
} speech as one who had advised a
thought too rashly
> "If that's the beginning of H.,
Angus, the middle part and the end
r ing will be of violence ] don't know
r but the school-ma'am IS right, after
: all. What ] had in mind was a legal
fight
3 "You mean that I'D better be pros
= pecting for the new range"
-
a bargain, yes There'l be bloodshed
If you don't
He laid the rife across his knees
e and the far-away look came back in
n 10 the brown eyes of him.
I 81 don't know" he said, slowly
e Somehow, l don't feel as sure about
s what I ought to do as ] did a few
>" minutes ago. Are we a lot of out
e laws to be called down like escap
f ing convicts2"
+ ! tried to turn it Off in a laugh
q "It's doubtless all one TO the engi
t neer He is probably from the fai
east, with fetional notions Of west
v ern customs. / shouldn't wonder i
o he thought that was the accepted
d method of calling mans attention
IS out here. Where are you going p
Macpherson had risen TO take hi
v saddle from it's peg under the wild.
2 caves
4 II believe TN ride up the valley
piece and see what has become o
If Milt He isn't quite as hasty as Dal
" Connolly, but I woaldn't answer fo
d him II that fellow tries 10 bully him
Shall put you TO bed before } go2
N / suffered him; aud liitle later
le through a chinls in the ranch hous
d wall, saw him mount and ride
I must have becn hours later when "a
n- returned. The men were snorm
c. peacefully, and the moon was pon
in ing a flood Of white radiance throuR
the square window Openings aad th
v. never-closed door of the ranch haus'
e ] heard Macpherson stumble in an
ID fling himself into his bunk. whic
"a was opposite mine. When turne
IN over to speak 20 him. J had glimp-
Is OF his face in the moonlight, an
Il brought me to my elbow with
I sharp ejaculation Of concern.
For heavens sake Angus what
he the matter with you? You're blee,
" ing you're hurtl"
NJ He rolled over quickly and hid h
At face after the manner of a petulaI
child. and / heard something whic
o. sounded like a mumbled curse
I'd "Never mind me; I'm all righ
The bronco stumbled You go
H. sleep"
CHAPTER III
rrr1rr, aarr..a III nrrr