Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-07-25
HESPER
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
Copmight. 1905. by Hdmlfn Garland
fcoNTINUED.1 ]


fellows, who eyed her with sly side
glances.
Braide. already seated. rose to meet
her. 1--WE have reached an outpost Of
the guard and will be lnterrogated be-
fore we leave. | fear"
81 am quite ready to meet them," she
replied, bending to her plate. "They
can't refuse to let us pass"
The talk Mt the 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 a small man With @
chin beard and an eye as keen as that
of blue jay. AS the other men flied
up and left the table he came down and
carelessly took seat near Braide.
81 reckon I've seen you before" he
began pleasantly.
Il shouldn't wonder I'm DIR. Braide
of Valley Springs"
"Where you amin' to go now, IL it's
fair question:
ITO Skytown."
"Gon' 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
I'll at Mr.. Raymond's cabin"
The stranger glowed again. Didn't
zee nothin of the sheriff's army on the
way, did ye?" Here he winked at
Braide
The doctor smiled. Not thing.
don't think they've left the valley yet"
I'D advise 'em not to. LIN going
over to the camp myself, am 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:
"If so be it you folks have any influ-
ence with Rob 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"
Ills escort may be of use to u.s." re-
piled Ann. ''Who was that MANI" she
asked of the old woman, who fairly
whispered her answer
'That's old Steve Adams. Hes boss
of this squad. All six o. them men are
Munro's pickets."
As Ann and the doctor drove on the
cloudsr,hegan to lift, rolling slowly,
ponderously, reluctantly upward from
the timbered slopes.
Their guide 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 small but
very swift stream of water.
1t 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 a consider
able distance In advance when
couple of horsemen encountered them.
After moments conference one turn
ed back, and the other came on swiftly.
AIMS heart glowed with the hope
that it might be Raymond with mes
sage from the sick one, but it proved
to be Munro. He came up swiftly and,
setting his horse upon his launches,
leaped cavalierly to the ground.
"Good evening, lady" he called as he
approached the wagon. "Haye you
journeyed far?"
"How is LOUISE" asked Ann quickly,
with instant revolt of his assurance.
He felt the impersonal rebulle of her
manner and replied simply: "He is bet
ter this afternoon, so l hear. l have
not had time to call. 1t is pleasure to
see you again." He fixed his eyes on
her companion. 81 don't think l know
you," he said, with challenging in
Election in his voice.
'I am DR.. Braide of Valley Springs"
Ann explained, "Dr. Braide comes to
attend my brother"
Munros face lost its reckless smile,
and he looked worn and pale. "Doc-
tor, I'm glad to meet you"
1--WE must hurry on" interrupted
Ann, warmly impatient OF MuhIo
glances.
Braide chirped to his horses and
Munro swung to his seat and followed
after At the foot of the hill he called:
Keep that winding road. 1t will bring
you to the top near Kelly's. I'll meet
you there"
The peak was more than quiet-it
was silent. 1t was as If palsy had
fallen upon every ablebodied workman,
causing a swift devouring decay to set
in.
"What changeI' exclaimed Braide.
81 was here just before this trouble be-
gan and these hills teemed with mem
"There is one smoking chimney. 1t
must be the Raymond & Kelly NINE"