Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-27
CHAPTER NNNI

\
| I ing pulse, permitted herself n
u closer study of the brusque
and ominous movements taking place
in the scope of her window. She stud
led Raymond, in earnest but apparent
| ly unexpected conference with his
wOrkmcn No word of their low ut
terance reached her ears, but she OBJ
| served that they organized into squads
as II in obedience to some command
| and that each man armed himself and
| that each face was grim or rcclileSsly
| smiling. That they formed her guard
| she knew, and this in itself ought to
| have been thrilling. But it was motif
| seemed absurd.
| Raymond did not show himself again
to her until about . O'Clock of the
evening, when lie entered the sckroom
and said quietly to Braide: Doctor,
you better go to bed il the patient will
permit. You may be badly needed
| early tomorrow morning.
Very WE'LL" acquiesced Braide, con
| WINGED that Il closer tie than friend
| ship united Ann and the young miner
| and that they desired to be alone
The door had hardly closed behind
the young physician when Ann turned
to Raymond and imperiously said:
You must not try to evade me. l
want to know what is threatening.
| Tell met!
1.-THE camp is wild" he admitted,
feeling the resentment in her voice,
land | don't see how a clash can be
mand and keeps his present temper.
| But YOU need give no thought to that.
All my men are on guard tonight, and,
whatever happens, this cabin is safe
Il like you to be honest with me"
she said, more gently. I'm not a
child, and I'm not timid person"
You shall know" he answered, TAX
ing a seat before the fire. He had
never been more admirable than
that moment. My theory is that the
sheritf's forces are eager to storm the
hill before the governor has a chance
to interfere and protect his pets that
is the way they put it, If the attack
is made desperate struggle will fol-
low. Probably the deputies will try to
carry the fertilization direct. Mean
while Kelly and l have drawn up and
forwarded to the governor long teie-
gram signed by the leading independ-
ents, reciting our disaster and de-
handing immediate interference on his
part, and we are hoping to hear from
/ him before midnight. / have also
wired Barnett to warn the sheriff Of
your presence here and that we are
guarding you l think Don is with the
deputies. If he is he will see that this
cabin remains outside the field Of op-
Grafton"
"Where is Captain Munro?'
His vedettes are camped on the
north slope, but may engage the enemy
at any moment, for Jack is quite as
eager as the sheriff to win first blood.
If it were not for the possible injury
of innocent men and women [ would
say let them fight it out Each camp
is quite as crazy and lawless as the
other. Now you have the truth. Ihave
concealed nothing from you. l will
even tell you that Munro has promised
to come down for final conference
with the Independents and that we are
still hoping to persuade him to leave
the camp"
The sick boy stirred uneasily and
called family, and Ann went to him
and bent above him tenderly. Here
l am. Buddie. Are you better?
ooh, I'm so hot! Take that blanket
off me.'
RAYMOND looked at Ann. "shall l
tighten his load?'
She shook her head as she put glass
of water to the boys lips. "What time
is it?" he asked as he fell back upon
his pillow.
"Going on 10 o'clock"
elias the fight come off yeti"
RAYMOND was cautious. mo, the
camp is quiet
He insisted on talking. II hope they
won't fight till get over this cold. It's
hard luck to be here. What day is it?
How long have been sick! You
should have seen Jack when he rode
up and stopped the mani" In this way
his mind leaped and danced for an
hour, but he grew drowsy at last and
went away into sleep. :.
Ann spoke first. "Poor boy! He Will
always feel defrauded to think ne IS
missing all the drama"
sYour father must have been such
another enthusiast. I liked his name
| for you"
She colored. .'That was the only
thing 1 had to reproach him for. 1 re
proach myself now for not ac4ulesclng
in it. l think it grieved him to nave
me side with mother against it.
ut is a sweet name to me-Hesper.
He uttered it with the tenderness
which dwells in the voice OF lover
and it's letters sang together-out ne
| dared not look at her.
| RAYMOND was fastening to apologize
| for his temerity when the noise OF q
galloping horse cut short bis speech
and whitened AIMS cheek, SO porten-
tous was the sound Of haste ut sucn
an hour. IL hope that is Jack" said
the miner, and fastened to the door 70
meet and silence Munro. who entered
with studied effect and, removing MS
sombrero, bowed very low to Ann.
Good evening, naughty princess.