Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-09-28


of the third part. They are standing
clear for the present, but If you crowd
them to the wall they'll take hold and
then, as Kelly said, you'll have a wild
cat by the tall l wish l could wait
and see how you come out, but I've got
a big case on for the 10th and must be
in Washington"
"The whole thing will be settled in a
day or two" declared Barnett "When
we go up there again 1t will be with a
thousand men and fully armed"
THAT is a harsh arbitrament," said
Peabody, with a gravity which was al
most solemnity II would advise you
to settle this case out of court"
Ann interposed. II think you both
take too serious view Of the whole
thing. Mr.. Raymond laughs over it."
"Mr. Raymond was probably trying
to keep you unbalanced" answered Pea
body. "And now that you are out of
1t do not think it well for either you
or Louis to return to it,"
Louis uttered indignant outcry. ooh,
see here! I've got to go back I'm help
ing Raymond"
IT guess he'll have to stagger along
without you, Louis" replied Barnett.
'You better not go into this mixup
again."
"I'll go back whenever please"
The dinner was finished with pleas
anter topic, and when the men were
alone with their cigars Peabody care
lessly remarked: I'm going to take
Ann back with me If she'll go. don't
like the idea Of this youngster dragging
her into all this filthy turmoil. Why, l
found her living in a log cabin with ar
Irish family-nice people, but no place
for her"
THAT'S the singular part Of it, She
seems to enjoy 1t. She wrote Jeanette
from up there pretty regularly, and she
out and out said she liked 1t. And she
Is gay as bird-she's lost some of her
fat-I never saw her looking filter"
Peabody mused. "She is changed.
can't quite make out why or how. She
was like q schoolgirl for spirits last
night. Do you suppose it's the high
alttudeY'
my dear chap, suspect it is man,
and fear 1t is Munro" said Barnett. !.
II hope not, for her sake"
* do. too, and for your sake; but I've
seen too many women go to pieces in
that way to- feel any assurance. It
Wouldn't have been SO bad IL she'd TAX
"a up with Raymond, for he is fine
| fellow aside from his present stand;
but there. again, he was too respectful,
too near her own type. It needed a
Wild devil like this cowboy captain to
stir her imagination"
Peabody's cigar was broken between
his fingers. don, you scare mev
Barnett, having fairly crushed his
friend, now tried to comfort him. "All
this may be wrong diagnosis, and l
hope it is, but If were you 1 would
go to her and use words that would
startle her. She needs the strong
hand"
Peabody rose, all the quizzical lines
Of his face lost in plexus of doubt
and hesitation. Y = Is,
ANN Wondered at the change in Pea
body, but had no chance to speak to
him for some minutes, for couple of
young men were detailing their stern
plans for invading Skytown.
Yhe large library was soon filled
with people who had heard of AIMS
return from the peak. and the girl was
profoundly amused to find herself tax
en- for fount of wisdom concerning
the miners war and their demands.
The feeling against the camp was saw
age, and the men Were loud in denun-
citation OF the governor of the state,
who had refused to order out the mill
tia. HE is as bad as Munro, an abb
solute anarchist declared one man,
whose strident voice dominated all the
others.
One by one the guests dropped away,
and at last only the Barnetts and Ann
and Peabody were left in the library.
At signal from Mrs. Barnett Don
sauntered out Of the room as If on
some errand and forgot to return. A
few moments she. too. begged to be ex-
cused "for moment" and was seen
no more.
| Both Ann and Peabody understood
these actions, but as he was intent on
making an appeal to her and she knew
there was no escape from it they faced
each other with tensity,t of em1tion'
which seemed IMPOSSIBLE moment
before,
Ann broke the silence. How indel.
icate Of themr'
"How considerable, say I, for want
to talk with you" he hurried on. 81
want you to 60 back with me, Ann, as
my wife can't go back alone.
have missed you horribly. Dear girl,
answer me, are you ready to GOT" J. ~
Ann remained silent, her mind run
ming eyer tor the hundredth time the
advantages, the duties involved. while
his plea proceeded, earnest and manly,
but leaving her cold. It permitted her
to calculate, to criticise. He had much
to give her. He was man of large
income, Of unquestioned power, and his
home was spacious. She liked him,
she respected him very highly, she ad.
mired htm, but '
THE girls dream was not yet faded
out Of her soul. She heped-faintly,
foolishly hoped--for return of the
glow, the mystery, the flooding, trans
forming power Of love that was more
than respect, more than honor and ad.
miration.
She found herself saying: II know,
Wayne, we seem suited to each other
all our friends would say so-but I'm
not SO sure of it. 1t is silly In me, but