, 1906-06-27

- 49,
portant news from the front. | don't
know about your being here; the peo-
pie have got you mixed up With Nun
10 in this thing. and I've had the
devils oWn job to convince them other
wise. I'm not a bit sure they won't
want to arrest you and hold you as a
hostage"
That would be a nice job"
wouldn't it? But they've lost their
heads completely. You see. these red
neckers' hit us on a weak spot-they
broke loose Just as we were trying ~
float our biggest issue of stock ana
flattened out every deal till 1t looks
like Il square yard of nothing. Natural
ly we're all red headed as woodpeck-
ers, II we're going to open these
mines. We've got to open them or go
broke. BY the way, when did you
come to town."
This minute"
"Ride. In this Storm He rose on
mis- elbow TO survey him. Great Scott.
man, throw off those horrible boots and
put on some dry socks and some slip
pers. Tumble the things out of that
bottom drawer: you'll find all kinds
there"
In the end he had his way, and so in
warm, dry footwear and a smoking
jacket the young miner ate his steak
and drank his coffee while his host
looked on Inc commented on his looks.
you've taken a hand to the plow,
haven't you? That fist is a wonder.
A,J ,,,,s.-, ,,anIfV- ,t,ur3ly ;tp Wall TIM
glad of it. Blu you want to watch
Curran. I'm told he's been to every
lawyer in town with your papers in the
attempt to break your grip on that
vein"
I'VE are not worrying" replied Ray
mond.
When he had quite finished. Barnett
said. Wei. now, Rob, what about it?"
RaT-Hoal was equally direct. I'm
here IL try TO persuade you not to send
the sheriff and HIS men up the canyon"
"Whom do you represent. the union?'
"In n way, yes. l have a letter to
you, and l come on behalf of the indie
pendents, who don't want to see blood
shed. There1l be a horrible miXup,
Don, sure thing, unless your fellows are
headed off. Munro's cowboys and des-
peradoes will fight; don't make any
mistake about that"
"Who is this man Munro?'
Raymond looked at his friend stead
lily. Don, the time has come to tell
you something, but it's a secret His
voice ended In a rising infection. 1T
concerns only you and me-for the
present."
Barnett reached out his hand. "All
right, old man."
Munro is really Jackson Hollenbeck.
We were classmates and roommates
at West Point. Do you remember read
ing some eight or nine years & of Il
group of six cadets being dismissed for
hazing and INSTRUMENTATION? l don't
suppose you do, but l was one of that
gang. Jack was another. We weren't
SO bad as we were represented, but
they fired us all the anne | lost all
track of Hollie, as we called him then"
$50 that's where Munro gets his mill
tary training, and his real name is
Hollenbeck." He smiled slyly. whats
yoursY"
"Oh, mine is straight. l never tried
to conceal my Identity. I'm Robert
Huston Raymond of Ohio, the man that
'swatted' his superior and got busted
for it. Since then I've lived a COM
monplace life"
What was it all about? | never ask
ed any questions before, but I'd like to
know all about it."
That's about all of it. l was a rest
less young cub and hated discipline,
but that's of no value. What is impor-
tant is this - Jack Munro's military
training Is being felt. Now, you
mustn't ask me a single question as to
conditions up there. Pm going back.
and | must be able to say to Jack that
l was faithful to my trust. If the
sheriff will go back with me alone l
believe l can get Jack to deliver the
men that blew up the mine. Then if
the Red Star people-you, in fact-will
deal with the men fairly I think the
whole situation will clear"
81 don't share your optimism. Those
jackasses must be whipped before they
will yield q point. They'd kill you and
the sheriff both"
81 don't think SO. l know Jack will
protect us. He practically controls he
camp at this minute. / have the coun-
tersign and can pass the patrol at any
time today, and the sheriff, if he has
the nerve, can ride with me straight to
Jacks headquarters. Then | want you
to meet some of the head men and ar
range a new scale"
To this Barnett would not listen. :