Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-04-20

saw goodby. and besides, 1 feel that
must cut loose from the boy.
RaymOnd's note to Ann was snort,
almost curt:
Since NV thanks are burden to you,
the least / can do is to take myself OUT
of your life and beg pardon FOR having
entered it. Had l attended TO my duties
that night of the fire, you would not nave
been troubled by me. | stayed because
you were beautiful, and that Is the whoie
truth. 1t is not the first time man has
neglected his duties for a woman, and the
pain l now suffer in giving up all nope
of meeting you again is just punishment
for my presumption. l am sorry 10 go
without saying goodby to Louis but 1t Is
best | know you do not like his growing
regard for me, and you are quite right
Louis came to her door and cried
out dolefully, "Ann, Rob has gone
away!
II know it. Come ill.,"
He entered with troubled, fearful
face and in deeply aggrieved tone SAID:
Gle went without saying goodby. l
want to 90 hunt him and bring him
back. but Uncle Don says that we
must respect his wish. All the same,
l like him, and want him back. No.
l DON'T want to go with him."
"And leave me?'
His resentment long smoldering,
burst forth: Yes, l would! Don't you
suppose | have seen how you treated
him? You think because you're from
New York you can snub a man like
Rob, but you're not up to him. You're
not half as good as he is"
Ann listened in establishment to this
outburst from her brother and then
cuttingly remarked:
Zone would think / had taken away
some plaything of yours. Go out OF my
room and stay out till you can treat
me with respect"
"I'm going, and you'll never see me
again. I'm going to follow Rob. l
don't care what you say" With this
defiant cry he rushed from the room.
A keen ache of jealousy ran through
the proud girls heart The one soul of
vital interest in her life, her sweet little
brother, seemed about to pass from her
hands to that of an adventurer. Her
resentment of his influence blazed hot
within her. Il will defeat him with his
own weapons" she said. Il will win
him back to me. l will go wherever he
wishes to 60"
But Louis did not return to lunch,
and she was greatly troubled. He did
not appear at dinner and at last, open
/ lv alarmed, Ann told Mrs. Barnett of
/ Louis bitter accusation and of his
! threat that he would never return.
Don't worry. Don will find him.
He'll get tired of it and come back
These boyish tantrums don't last"
ut scares me to think. Of that poor
innocent lad spending the night alone
in a big, wicked western city. wish
Don would hurry home. Can't &c
/ down to his Officer"
"Oh, no; there's no need of your
going. I'll telephone him at once"
When Barnett returned, Ann, white
with anxiety. poured out her story. he
comforted her by saying: "You take il
too seriously. l will notify the police al
! Cinnabar and MogalyOn. They'll locate
him in an hour"
They did not find him, and Ann pass
ed a miserable night, imagining al
sorts of i'll adventures into which
Louis might be led. and would have
accompanied barnett on his quest neX'
day but for his firm command: DOM
be absurd can find him alone mucl
quicker"
"Bring him back if you have to use
force!" she cried. And then, with
knowledge of Raymond's power, sht
added: "If you find Mr.. Raymond
please tell him to send laddie home
Say I wish IT,"
With these words in his ear Barnet
took his way TO his office. At lunch III
was more concerned. "He's not II
Cinnabar nor any of the surrounding
towns lie may have gone back to
the ranch. I will wire out there this
afternoon. Did he have any money"
4 eyes. l had just given him his al
. lowance. He must have had nearly
5000"
Don whistled. "a smart boy car
hide out good while on that. How
ever. he'll come back when his PEI
wears Off"
Even though Raymond had taker
himself bodily out of her life, hi:
power to disturb and thwart AIMS
will remained. She began to fear hin