Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-06-15


IL He met neither the invading
Il L army nor the patrol. Happily
the storm lessened as he descended,
and by dawn he was once more trot-
ting with the calm, close adhering seat
of the cowboy.
He had planned to go to friends
house in the lower town, but with the
coming of light and the blooming OF
the rose of the morning he resolved to
ride directly to Barnetts. MY errand
Ia an honorable one," he argued. "Why
should / sneak into Govern
The housemaid who let him into the
house smiled upon him in a most
friendly fashion. "We're glad to see
YOU. sir. Shall l tell Mr. Barnett you
are here?'
81 wish you would, and tell him !
wish no one but himself to know OF
my presence"
Barnett was in bed, with pot of
coffee and some toast on stand by bis
side. reading the morning papers.
Hello. old man." he called out when
the door was shut. Pm mighty glad
to see YOU, but / don't know what to
do about you. What's the row, any
way? Have you come down to see
Annw
RAYMOND took chair near the bed.
"Not exactly, but of course
81 understand, and l don't blame
YOU. She came back from up there
looking like a rose of Sharon. OF
course you haven't had breakfast.
Have some coffee. Touch that bell for
me and we'll have something heartier."
"How is Mrs. Barnett?'
"Never better I've got her locked In
there" He pointed at an inner door. Il
had an idea you were coming with i'm
portant news from the front. l don't
know about your being here; the peo-
pie have got you mixed up with Nun
TO in this thing, and I've had the
devils own job to convince them other
wise. I'm not bit sure they won't
want to arrest you and hold you as a
hostage"
'"That would be nice job"
"Wouldn't it? But they've lost their
heads completely. You see, these red
neckers' hit us on weak spOt-they
broke loose just as we were trying to
float our biggest issue of stock and
flattened out every deal till 1t looks
like square yard of nothing. Natural
~ we're all red headed as wOodpeck-
ers, and 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
his 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 smoking
jacket the young miner ate his steak
and drank his coffee while his host
looked ON and commented on his looks.
you've taken a hand to the pillow,
haven't you? That fist Is wonder.
And you've really struck it? Well, I'm
glad of it. But 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
yein."
"We are not worrying" replied Ray
mond.
When he had quite finished, Barnett
said, "Well, now, Rob, what about it?'
Raymond was equally direct. "Im
here to try to persuade you not to send
the sheriff and his men up the canyon"
"Whom do you represent, the union?"
Tn way, yes. / have letter to
YOU. and / come on behalf of the indie
pendents, who don't want to see blood
shed. There'll be 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 secretw His
voice ended In a rising infection. 1T
concerns only you and me-for the