The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-05

RAYMOND (she had divined his love-.
..Yol should "a seen her-working ev-
ery blessed minute this forenoon, Rob
! ert''-
You must not compliment NE too
much" interrupted Ann. Maids are
sometimes spoiled by too much kind
ness. Are there shops near? We need
:; few things to make us comfortable
ana my valises, when can l get them"
Raymond replied: Il will take you
down to Bozie tomorrow, if you care
5. to 50. The shops are better there and
! the streets less turbulent"
I'd like to go very much said Ann,
Or u sudden impulse I'D like to go
, this afternoon Can we drive? How
far is it,"
'We Will ride. if you are not afraid
Of our bronchos and steep trails. 1t
will be more comfortable than wag.
on. After you've rested an hour or two
I'll bring round the horses
Good morrow, friends.w A clear
voice made them all turn. Jack Munro,
booted and spurred, stood in the door.
"And how is the lady Of the silker
! voice:'
Kelly greeted him coldly. Hello,
Jack. Come in and eat
Much obliged, me lord, but I've al
ready eat. I came round 70 see how
, the lady stood her ride with me up the
hill
Ann rose and faced him. "Are you
the horseman who met us?'
.'The very same, lady. 1 don't often
hear voices like yours, and wanted to
see if the face and voice were of like
quality. They are" he added. with a
glance of unabashed admiration. III
troduce me, Rob-
Raymond reluctantly complied. "A1iss
Rupert, this is Mr.. Jack Munro
j Munro stepped forward and held out
very handsome hand, and Ann could
not refuse to take it. He was smaller
than Raymond and seemed hardly out
of his teens, as he stood There smiling
brightly, his barred head lightly poised
on shapely shoulders, and some magic
in his smile made Raymond and Kelly
seem for the moment cold and reserv-
ed. His assurance, his frankness,
amused her.
! 81 came to tell the lady that no harm
befell Colonel Barnett, her escort. He
was driven back to Grand View early
this morning and is at home ere this
''Thank you for your good cheer"
said Ann. 81 was not so sure OF your
kindly intentions last night
He smiled again, and his white teeth
shone. II must have seemed bandit.
I'm very glad I went to meet Barnett.
Brock might have made you more trou-
BILE, and would have missed the pleas
ure of being your guide and protector. ;"
| Kelly growled out, "Kape your mur-
derin' scalawags as far from this cabin
as ye can"
81 will see that you are not dis
turbed."
"You speak as one having authority"
remarked Ann.
81 am captain of the vedettes,' y he re-
Piled
What are they?"
GA company of mounted police which
I have organized to keep order here in
the camp. The lockout leaves many
men idle, and the local authorities need
help to maintain peace and quiet. Ny
force represents the union and its de-
sire to prevent violence in the camp.
You are quite safe here under our pro-
lection
you are very kind replied Ann.
"But aren't you one Of those for whom
the sheriff comes?''
Munro laughed a silent, boyish laugh.
81 believe am included in his list Of
notables, but I assure you the honor is
quite undeserved.'
lis true he kicked A1ackay down
the hill and put the mouth Of his gun
to his ear said Kelly, "but that's a
trife not worth mentioning"
Munro winked "a mere practical
joke"
With the punctilious grace of a dane
ing master he bowed himself out,
swung to his saddle and galloped away.
When shall we start on Our trip?"
asked am, turning to Raymond.
Il will bring the horses round very
soorl." AS they stepped outside he
turned to Kelly and asked in a low
voice, do you see any objection to
this trip to Bozle?''
"Divil a bit The sheriff will find
.Tacl, and his men waitin' for him on
the road. He'll get no farther than
Sage Hen fat this night I'm goin' to
ride down the hill 1neself just to know
what's goin' on Go ahead, lad; only
don't loiter-" The big fellow smiled.
"Get back before sunset. whatever ye
do
Raymond resented Munro's call and
forced introduction to Ann more deep
ly than he cared to admit even to
Kelly. 1t hurt him to think that AIMS
hard had lain within the clasp Of a
NAN to whom women had ever been
merely lower order of life, to be used