Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-04-27

hack of his cabin. ''See here, iau' Ve
brought you up here to ask you d &c"
questions" said he. w
Louis braced himself. "Fire away
GAS I understand it, you and-Ann
are alone in the world mean you ale
closer to each other than TO any ono
else-she's your best friend. You We
given her great deal of anxiety my
lad, and that isn't right. You mus ~
straight back to her and apologlIe anu
ask her permission to come BACK. IL
she consents, then I'll make a place ioi
you here" ,
"She won't consent. I'd have TO run
away again, and I'd do it!' he aooeu
defantly.
RAYMOND. after a pause, slowly re-
sumed: -"Now, want to make d Gull
pact with you. If you'll go down ana
see her I will write letter interceding
for you and asking her to let you IT.
turn"
The lads face vas suddenly iliumi-
mated. He threw out his small pain'
'IIl do it!' he cried out, and DIS tone
carried conviction.
RAYMOND continued: "You like me,
and I like you. You can't live IN tne
Springs, and your sister cant i've
here. So it seems that / must be your
big brother and look after YOU AND
bark We, you must mind what L. say
or I'll take a birch to YOU
This threat seemed not to appall the
boy. "Can work in the miner
mo: you can't work in the mine, but
I'll find something on top for you to
do. You must take care of those lungs
of yours for awhile. But come, let's
see if we can't catch the STAGE
ooh, let me stay till tomorrow"
pleaded the boy. Il don't want to go
today. It's too beautiful to miss"
RAYMOND reflected a moment. very
we'll, but you'll want that stage ride.
It's one of the finest roads in the
mountains. You rattle down the can
Won tomorrow, sure thing. Remember
that?
Together they went down toward the
mine. where group OF men were
building log cabin. "Here is where
we are to live, provided your sister
consents"
Barnett came riding up the hill about
shutdown and Immediately at sight OF
Louis began a jocose TRADE. You
scamp! You young fyaway nice
interlude you've given us. Ann hadn't
slept a wink for a week till she got
your message yesterday. How long
have you been here"
Raymond FASTENED to say, 81 induced
him to wire as soon as he turned up"
"Had you been here all the time, you
young rattlepate?"
Louis was not afraid Of Barnett
"Yes; / was down there looking fol
Rob-" He pointed toward the town OF
BoZle.
"Well I'm to bring you home-in
stantlyw
Louis took shelter behind Raymond
"No, you don't. Tell him, Rob-"
RAYMOND winked at Barnett. "He's
going tomorrow on promise to me
Don. I've made bargain with him
He can tell you about it on the way
Moreover, he Is going by stage He's
on honor"
When they were alone Barnett SAID:
"The most unaccountable Of all things
Is the human heart. That boy is crazy
about you. By the way, hows the
lungT
almost as good as ever"
"Your constitution is wonder. Ano
the mining deal?'
"Very promising"
In the talk that followed Raymond
learned for the first time of the pro
posed consolidation Of the Red Star
with two or three other heavy proper
lies, and they fell into a discussion Of
The camp.
IF | had my way" said Barnett
I'D have this meddling idiot Larnec
thrown out Of the camp. What busi
ness has he here? He's a rank out
slider anyway, and this union ls
breeder of war"
Raymond raised warning hand
Careful, Don. 1t doesn't do for you II
say such things up here. This unior
has come to stay, and you who employ
labor will do well to treat 1t Win
certain measure Of respect"
4 "But you're an employer too"
Raymond laughed. "Oh, my LITTLE
crew don't count. They're all pros
pectors or cowboys, and, besides,
work right with them and am classe(
as a working miner. Your case Is OH
ferent."