Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-03-30

a. 10 4
tIfespeat siiis ll ali 'lBarssuse l can rue
thorsesand pitch haysasl make II a POI"
4 n II 10 nit my ether accomplishments
He was interrupted by a series ~
faint yells, and as they oil iisteheu 'h =,
swift trample of horses hoofs couio w
r Heard. Louis sprang up. all eAe'''
ment, his eyes glowing.
"What is that-IndiansT
Raymond smiled at Ann. NO on,9
bunch Of cowboys passing. IN
stepped to the door to study their up
fproach. 'Its mob of Williams men
don't know what they're doing mere
The rush and trample Of hoofs sweep
nearer, and a group Of FIVE draD Col
Ored horsemen drew up at the hitchint
pole with loud outcries, each man SET
ting his pony on end with wrench a.
} the relns.
"Hello, Bob! shouted the leader.
,1Howdy, boys-howdy?" he repiieo
coldly. 1t was plain he was not wei
pleased by their inopportune call.
"Got anything to eat?" asked one Oh
them as he staggered up. i.
"Sure thing. Tidy up and come IN.
| Raymond, turning to Ann, said gently
Perhaps you and the boy had better
step into the other room. This gang Is
coming ill.,"
Il They're not dangerous"
r. "No, but some Of them are not mt u
eat in the presence Of lady"
"Lcuis will want to see your guests
"Very WELL" replied Raymond and
tiIrnedi to- meet his visitors, who ap'
peared fresh from hasty toilet
"Come right in, boys. What's the best
word from over the ridge?"
man VINO entered first was@a big,
rawboned, wide mouthed, ,freckle faced
fellow, who gaped In amazement as be
caught sight OF Ann. A"HellO! What's
all this?' he asked, launching the man
next him.
The insolent vulgarlty Of his, tone
brought flush Of anger to Raymond's
face. "Shut uprrhe commanded In a
low voice. Then added in explanation,
"Some of Barnett's folks visiting the
ranch" At the moment he hated them
all with sudden realization Of their
essential cheapness and their filthy
manners.
As they took seats each man glanced
at Ann with furtive, deyOuring eyes,
and she thrilled under the scrutiny as
she would have done beneath the glare
of wolf She had a sudden sense OF
danger. Il am getting close to the ele-
mental man." she thought, and by con.
trast Raymond assumed new interest.
Though his clothing was almost as
rough as theirs, his face and voice be-
trayed good blood and refinement. She
wondered whether Wayne Peabody
could stand between such mob OF
ruffians and a woman. This man Ray.
mond dominated them easily.
7 Louis sat as one entranced studying
the groupings in the sunset light, which
had begun to dim little. To him
these men were heroic. Their physical
hardihood, their slouching grace, their
rumpled hair, their tag ends OF ker-
chiefs and greasy belts and cuffs were
all "bang up material" The avid glare
under which Ann shivered was hidden
from the eyes of the boy, but Raymond
took note or every nudge, every wink
that passed, and once or twice he fixed
his eyes on the man they called Spec
kle In a look which stayed coarse jest
upon his i&wless lips.
They talked of the great, new mining
camp on the side of Mogalyon, whereto
they were all bound. They're striking
it rich in the grass roots, and were go
ing up to take hand in 1t. Why, last
week they made three strikes on Pine
mountain within fifteen feet of the sur
face. They say the placer is turning
out $40 day. So we're riding up to
turn rock on our own account. The
cattle business Is done for. Gold chas-
ing is the game now"
"Say, Raymond" called out little
man down by the stove, you'd better
hustle out your gang and meet that
fire. It's coming right over the ridge
this way and is getting worse every
minute"
Raymond's face betrayed keen inter-
est. "I've been trying to locate that
fire all day. It's over about Round
Top, isn't it?
"Oh, no. It's away this side. Looks
like it's sure to take Williams hay IL
he don't watch out, and yours too"
"Why didn't you ride over and see
Just where 1t WASP asked Raymond.
: 'sToo busy" Speckle replied loudly,
and the others laughed. Tm after
gold now. I'm sick O. fOrkin' hay"
Raymond's voice grew sterner. You
didn't leave Williams short handed to
fight that fire?"
mo matter whether we did or not;
we've got done. Our time was up;
we've got our pay. He can fight bis
own fire; we're not responsible" They
all laughed as though this were good
joke.
Raymonds next words were as cold
and calm as they were unexpected.
"You get up and get out O. here, every
man Of you. I mean now" His anger
broke out as they started. II don't
II Il