Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-03-07

 ann, TOT ne VIII see that We are protected"
 At about II o'clock t'Ay reached the Wide mountain meadow out of which the Bear creek fell The clouds hung just above their heads q broad. seam less gray roof.
 At the halfway house they found a stage load of people and several freight CTS, aud every man $ mouth was agapo. he tavern Was q survival of the days wl!on railroads were of the far- ;lWaS future-~a iong low log structure With q roof of dirt out of which dead weeds faunted. The front room. which sNafmed with men in rough clothing seemed to he . country store and post otitee as well as an eating house X small, active old woman met Ann with toethte>s grin. .tStep right this way aud get out Q the smulge. =
 Ann followed iel. into d minute bed room which oIele1 eff the dining room. The old woman began to clatter "Put oa So0r things heeo Alye but them's fine f19rs' Did Xe drive Up from the Strin@s* Are Eqa soins on to the cai1p:a
 ..4.es.".
 @Waal. yoaa find it lively up there. -As near as>. I can learn they mean biz"' sle whispered. Some O Jack Mum ro,s aen aro in there now eatin' They keep mighty sharp watch Oh who comes ill these days Soon's you're ready I'll put you and your man down at ny end of the table and I'll look after xe"
 Ana laid aside her furs but retained her hat, and IS she re-entered the room made dazzling appeal to those rough fellows, who eyed her with sly side glances
 Braide. already seated, rose to meet her. We have reached an outpost of the guard and will be interrogated be- fore We leave. fear"
 II am quite ready to meet them,' she replied, bending to her plate. "They can't refuse to let us pass"
 The talk at tue table was not illu- minating. Each man apparently strove to fill his paunch before his fellow. Only one of them seemed to study Ann and her companion with candid inter- est. This was small man with chin beard and an eye as keen as that of blue jay. AS the other men filled up and left the table he came down and took seat near Braide.
 Il reckon I've seen you before," he began pleasantly.
 Il shouldn't wonder. I'm Dr. Braide of Valley Springs
 ''Where you aimin' to go now, if it's a fair question!'
 '.To Skytown.'
 Coin to treat somebody?' asked the old woman, who was lowering near.
 Ann interposed. "Yes, he is going up to treat my brother Louis, who is lying III at Mir. Raymond's cabin
 The stranger glowed again. Didn't see nothin' of the sheriff's army on the way, did ye?" Here he winked at Braide.
 The doctor smiled. Not a thing. don't think they've left the valley yet
 I'd advise 'em not to. I'm going over to the camp myself, and if you don't mind I'll jest nacherly jog along a rod or two ahead of you-to show you the road''
 As he rose to go the stranger said: "lf so be it you folks have any intiu- ence with hob Raymond, preach him into joining the movement. It'll be mighty sight safer for him and big help to the minerS.'
 After the miner left the room Braide said: Were in the enemy's country. He was plainly warning us, and his going along is in the nature of an arm ed guard.'
 His escort may be of use to us" re piled Ann. 'WhO was that man? she asked of the old woman, who fairly whispered her answer.
 That's old Steve Adams. He's boss of this squad. All six O them men are Munro's pickets."
 As Ann and the doctor drove on the clouds began to lift, rolling slowly, reluctantly upward from the timbered slopes.
 Their guile rode rapidly, signaling the doctor now and then to keep pace with him. and after nearly an hour of fairly level ground the road entered another canyon and crawled upward along prodigious wall, which beat back the clashing roar of a small but very swift stream of water.
 It must have been about , o'clock when they rounded the great base of the Black Cone at the head of the canyon and looked away across the big camp and far out upon the valley to the west.
 Adams. their guide, was consider able distance in advance when a couple of horsemen encountered them. After moments conference one turn ed back, and the other came on swiftly. Anns heart glowed with the hope that it might be Raymond with a mes sage from the sick one, but it proved to be Munro. He came up swiftly and,
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