The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-12-05
CHAPTER XI.
Two villains and a New Plot.

Two Villains and New Plot.
All Is astir at the stone house. The
employees have returned from the an
nual roundup and the place, which
had borne a deserted appearance for
the past few weeks, is now all hustle,
and men are seen here and there
feeding the horses, mending brides.
saddles and harness, shoeing horses
and doing everything that is required
about great stock ranch. Night
comes on and finds them still busy,
but they change their work to the
finishing touches preparatory for the
night and one by one they come and
prepare for supper.
The Lord of The Desert is alone in
his accustomed place. None enter
his quarters except on business and
only his foreman and superintendent
have business with him, for all busi-
ness is transacted through these. His
glass sits upon the broad arm of the
old chair, and now and then his hand
goes mechanically to it, and brings
it mechanically to his lips. and he
swallows draughts therefrom me-
chanically. With mechanical regu-
larity his face grows redder and his
countenance sterner, while his eyes
take on a wilder glare.
A knock at the door and to the re-
sponse of welcome, Dan Follett en-
ters.
How is it?" inquiries his Lordship.
"All is completed" replied the
Frenchman.
Get a glass there and fill 1t to the
brim," exclaimed Martin Lyle.
Partially emptiying the glass Fol.
lett seats himself and relates the par
ticulars Of the transaction with Old
Egan, drawing forth the woman's
scalp from his pocket and passing it
over to the Lord of The Desert.
did you see the corpse?" inquired
Lyle.
NO, but I deemed this evidence
sufficient" replied Follett.
"Old Egan is a treacherous old
scoundrel and would deceive us If he
could, but the evidence seems straight
enough"
"Oh, you needn't doubt that" re.
piled Follett "the old scoundrel
would never lose an opportunity to
commit murder especially when so
many ponies and mules were to be
gained"
But they will never do him much
good" replied Lyle, as he placed the
glass to his lips. 81 have a plan,
Follett, and you are the man to car
ry it out. My men report Egan and
his men camped at the foot of Ash
Butte You are a pretty fair looking
Indian anyway, and want you to
leave tomorrow morning for the camp
of the Warm Springs tribe, lead the
warriors on Old Egan's trail, and take
every animal in his possession"
'What about the deed" inquired
Follett, remember this is dangerous
work and it has been a long time
since our accounts have been ad-
justed."
Tut. tut, man. don't worry about
that I'll have all that arranged for
you by the time you return. Take
drink, order an early bearkfast and
be off with the rising SUM- I shall
depend upon you, Dan, shall
depend upon you"
Dan Follett rose and left the room,
but as he passed out of the door he
turned and cast look at the Lord of
The Desert mingled with scorn and
contempt.
Martin Lyle sat and drank and
thought. For many hours he was
in deep meditation.
with my brother and his daughter
dead and out of my way, nothing can
ever disturb my rights here" ran
through his mind.
His lips barely quivered as the train
of his thoughts continued. "But what
ever became of that brother to whom
the property properly belongedP
It is strange that the old man should
have disinherited Jim and myself for
him, He was never considered a fo.
vorite by the connection, and we had
done nothing at the time of his death
to merit such treatment. But nv lit
tie sharp work and false swearing
and the little forgery combined
turned the property this way and. as
they used to charge in the old world
that one crime led to another, I have
carried out the scheme by making
way with my brother and his daught-
er and securing their whole fortune
after using Jim as an innocent cats
paw to obtain it.
"But this elder brother the right.
full heir, wonder what ever became
of him? He came to America when I
was quite young. We heard ne was
married once and had a child: and
then We heard no more of him. Yet
my father after giving my brother
and I barely enough to reach America
to engage in business upon. wiIled
the majority Of his estate to this eld-
er boy whose whereabouts are un.
known"
well. well. know he Is dead and
the others are out Of the way. so why
should Martin Lyle ever fear Of los
ing his fortune or his title as Lord
Of The Desert?"
Thus mused the arch criminal Of
the Oregon desert between drinks
until his conscience became so be-
numbed with the intoxicant that he
retired half-dazed. half unconscious
to hissbed.
Dan Follstt left with the morning
sun to perform his mission.
Ha be eoat,npnaN