The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-07-08
HIS . .
INHERITANCE
By :: :: 1:
Clinton Dangerfield
Copyright, 1909, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company

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The tones of the elder mans voice
ceased, and to John Ringwood, stand
ing before him, it seemed that the
whole world was suddenly enveloped
in mist of red shame. When Ring
wood spoke, his accents were curiously
quiet and constrained, for was he not
addressing Molly's father?
And So" he said, wondering vague
ly if he were the same John Ringwood
who ten minutes ago had asked SO
hopefully for the girls hand-"and SO,
sir, this is your objection to me-be-
cause my father was a-a-coward"-
the word came out with a gaspinR
sound-'you think must be one alsow
Blood tells" returned Henry Nor
ris hoarsely. But remember, lad, /
would never have forced this painful
knowledge of mine on you If you had
not compelled me to say why l could
not trust my girl to you. Your fathers
shame, known only to you and me,
would have slept with him in his grave
but-you would knowr'
"That will do" said Ringwood thick
ly. 81 am my fathers son, as you say.
There is no chance here. or l might
prove to you that God does not always
make us mere copies of those who go
before. But that is idle. There is one
thing-when am gone tell Molly that
| loved her, that asked for her hand, but
that there was "a barrier between
us. She shall not think was making
summer love to her. She shall not hate
me for that"
VERY we'll" said the elder man grim
ly. But If 1 had known the girl
would interest herself in the first good
looking stranger thrown at my gates
by broken ankle would have taken
preventive measures long ago"
II will take the stage tomorrow"
pursued Ringwood. Until then / must
trespass on your hospitality"
And welcome" said Morris heartily
you've met what said like a man
Here's my hand"
rs that necessary" returned the 9TH
er briefly. You may as well avoid con-
tamination when you have condemned
another into hereditary leprosy."
Morris left the taunt unanswered,
and just then the library door swung
open, and a curly haired boy of six
teen pushed in with spoiled freedom.
"Everything's gone to sleep on the
ranch" he said pettishly. "When's
Markham and Molly coming homer"
"Your brother said he would bring
your sister home by O'clock" return
ed Norris
"Graciousl hope he WILL" said the
boy. "Rut she said they might cut
across to Denham's. She wanted to
see old Aunt Hannah or some such
nonsense l told her she was going
after one Of Hannah's love charms,
and she turned as red as you please"
'0Try to talk sense" said his father
irritably, and Ringwood crossed to the
west window and stood watching the
sunset fires die to an ashen gray.
$50 rose the fire of my hopes" he
thought. Like this, it died in bitter
ashes-fung to my fathers levell The
son, 0 God, ola cowardy'
Eight o'clock came, but neither the
elder son nor Molly Morris had return
ed. At negro groom brought note
saying they would sleep that night at
the Denhams', some fifteen miles away.
A thrill half anguish, half relief, shot
through Ringwood Best, indeed, that
they should never meet again. He
would take the stage early next morn
ing.
Then on the heels of the negro STUN
bled i'll Lee Hung, the cook, who had
been granted an afternoon off. Blanch-
ed to the palest of yellows, he STAN
mered out tale In his almost incom-
prehensible lingo which, translated,
ran as follows:
Coming home on foot, he was aware
of tiny fire at the foot of Sewers
canyon. Inspired by ancestral deities.
he had crept up to overhear the stran-
gers converse. Developed they had
learned Of Markham Morris deposit
that day with the express agent at Ra-
money would circulate better at home
and had shot the unfortunate express
agent through his window, dead men
being proverbially close mouthed; had
seized the packet. which waited the
midnight express, and now only tar
ried the rising Of the moon.
Young Morris went white with rage
and despair. That package stood be-
tween his family and financial ruin.
His eyes flashed.
"Of course well get it back. dad, at
once"
Eyes, lad. Lee Hung, how many
men were thereT
"Allee samee fingers one hand mo
thumb"
-Four. I'm sorry your brother isn't
here, Stanley. You are bit young for
such work. The foot of Sewer canyon.
Let's see; we can be on them in half
an hour"
take the short cut through the can
yon, dad, and we can be at 'em In
twenty-five minutes"
NO" said his father decisively. "To
ride through that canyon trail at full
speed means almost certain death.
Quick. Lee Hung, and you, boy" to the
negro, saddle Prince and Firebrand.
Stanley, help me get the pistols and
rifle for each"
Only two horses! Young Morris fash
ed an astounded look on their guest.
Was that logged Indifference real? OF
course nothing was expected from Lee
or the negro, but this handsome Saxon
with frank, gray eyes-could he fail
them in such need?
But Morris understood. This was
Ringwood's bitter revenge for the
singing brand put on him. The for
mer checked Stanley when he would
have addressed Ringwood, and pres
emily father and son swung into their
saddles and galloped down the road.
AS they vanished in the faint light
Ringwood rushed for the barn, loosen
ing his pistols In his belt as he ran.
The two servants watched him scorn-
fully as he saddled his gray with in
credible swiftness.
"Marse Ringwood scared de fight run
down dis way" muttered Sam. HE
des muffin but trash, TO all he SO good
lookin'. Cord Almighty, wish all de
boys wasn't gonel Whar ebberybody,
LeeT
"Allee samee time of 'cept hunt
hills was the brief return, which
meant that some of the men had an
afternoon and the rest were after some
refractory cattle in the hills.
"Marse Ringwood gone like de deb
bic after him." growled Sam. And in
deed the gray was flying at terrible
speed.
The far, dim starlight sifted reluc-
family down, and the horses feet
reached the ground more by instinct
than sight Ringwood bent over his
neck, jockey fashion. For scant two
miles they kept to a badly marked
road, then before them yawned the
mouth of Sewer canyon, the broken