Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-09-11

. few things to make us comforta bic
ana my valises. when can get them ?"
Raymond replied: II will take you
down to Bozle tomorrow, If you care
to CO. The shops are better there and
the streets less turbulent"
I'D like to go very much" said Ann,
on sudden impulse. "Pd like to go
this afternoon. Can we drive? How
far is itf'
I'VE will ride, If you are not afraid
OF our bronchos and steep trails. It
will be more comfortable than wag.
on. After you've rested an hour or two
I'll bring round the horses"
"Good morrow, friends!" A clear
voice made them all turn. Jack Munro,
booted and spurred, stood in the door.
And how is the lady Of the silken
voiceY
Kelly greeted him coldly. Hello,
Jack. Come in and eat"
"Much obliged, me lord, but I've al
ready eat. came round to see how
the lady stood her ride with me I'D the
hill"
Ann rose and faced him. "Are you
the horseman who met us? 2"
The very same, lady. l 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. elm
troduce me, Rob-
Raymond reluctantly complied. Miss
Rupert, this is Mr.. Jack Munro"
Munro stepped forward and held out
a 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 resery-
ed. His assurance, his frankness,
amused her.
Il 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"
"ThanS you for your good cheer"
said Ann. II was not SO sure Of your
kindly intentions last night
He smiled again, and his white teeth
shone. II must have seemed a bandit.
I'm very glad 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 muir
derin' sealawags as far from this cabin
as ye can
IT will see that you are not dis
turbed."
"You speak as one having authority,
remarked Ann.
~ am captain of the vedettes," he re.
piled.
what are they?"
"a 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. My
force represents the union and it's de-
sire to prevent violence in the camp.
You are quite safe here under our pro-
lection"
"Yon are Very kind" replied Ann
HRut aren't You one of those for whom
the sheriff comes?''
Munro laughed Il silent, boyish laugh.
II believe l am included in his list of
notables, but ! assure you the honor is
quite undeserved'
"',ris true. be kicked Mackay down
the hill and put the mouth Of his gun
to his ear" said Kelly. but that's o
triae not worth mentioning
Munro winked "a mere practical
joke"
With the punctilious grace of dane
ing master ha bowed himself out,
awpAg to his saddle and galloped away.
"When shall we start on our trip?"
asked Ann, turning to Raymond.
II will bring the horses round very
soon" As they stepped outside ne
turned to Nelly and asked in a low
yetce, "Do you see any objection to
this trip to Boiler"
"Divil bit. The sheriff will find
Jack and his men waitin' for him on
the road. He'll get no farther than
Sage Hen fiat this night I'm goln' to
ride down tho hill meself Just to know
what's goin' on. Go ahead, lad; only
don't loiter." The big fellow smiled.
Get back before sunset, whatever We
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
band had lain within the clasp of
man to whom women had ever been
merely a lower order of life, to be used
as playthings.
And yet cannot say anything to
her," RAYMOND said to himself. II