, 1906-07-18

L 20 OAeT lue SldSe Iodu. LII ellueI Cast
we must meet and pass Munro's guard.
According to all accounts, he has a
complete circle"
Il am not afraid of Munro or his
men," she answered. "In fact, they
will be our safeguard. | will telegraph
to MI. Munro that we are coming, and
he will see that we are protected
IF you feel that wax, then the sim
plest and quickest route is over the
old stage road. With a good span of
horses and a light cart we can drive to
Bozle by / O'Clock and reach Skytown
before dark"
''Then let us go!' she cried, rising.
81 will order a carriage at once and
call for you in half an hour"
81 will be ready" he alertly replied.
BY means of the telephone Ann Or
dered the liveryman to harness his best
span of horses to a mountain buck
board. NO, | do not need IL driver"
she sharply answered to his query.
"Get them here quick!'
Before she left the receiver Barnett
came rushing into the room. whats
all this? Jeanette tells me you're 60
ing back to Skytown today"
I'm twenty minutes | shall be on the
road"
"Alone?'
mo; DIR. Braide is going with me-"
impossible! You mustn't do it, Our
attack is to be made tonight. The
whole hill will be a battle-ground to-
morrow"
81 can't help that. Don. l must go to
my brother. He needs me all the more.
Think of that poor boy lying there
burning with fever and a battle going
on. Put off your attack. It's all fool
ish, wicked, anyhow. What good will
1t do? You will only kill men or get
killed yourself"
DR.. Braide was waiting as Ann drew
up to his door. He carried a big bear
skin robe over his arm and held a medi-
cine ease in his hand. Have you
plenty of wraps? It's cold up there,
they say. Let me arrange this robe
around your feet. Shall l driver
mo, thank you. | will drive"
The horses were marvels. They
pushed up the steep, winding road with
steady stride, their heads swinging.
Not till they entered the canyon did
they lag into a walk. The clouds
hung low. IN great gray masses, cover
ing even the secondary peaks. Patches
of snow began to appear at the road
side. 1t was a bleak. inhospitable and
silent world.
There is something ominous In his
Stiffness" Ann said Mt last.
Where do you suppose we will meet
Munro's men?'
Anywhere after we leave the half
way house, according TO report"
You know this man M%unro?"
1--WE met him."
rs he as terrible as people think
him.
"He seemed very boyish to me and
not ut all terrible
1.-The morning papers stated that he
had assumed absolute control up there,
and that his men We're drilled in true
military fashion,
$50 much the better for us answer
ed Ann. for he will see that we are
protected
At about Il o'clock they reached the
wide mountain meadow out of which
the Bear creek fell. The clouds hung
Just above their heads. a broad, seam
less gray roof.
At the halfway house they found a
stage load of people and several freight
ers, and every mans mouth was agape.
The tavern was Il survival of the
days when railroads were of the far
away future-a long. low log structure
with a roof of dirt out of which dead
weeds Haunted. The front room, which
swarmed with men In rough clothing,
seemed to be a country store and post
office as well as an eating house. A
small, active old Woman met Ann with
toothless grin. "Step right this way
and get out O. the smudge."
Ann followed her into n minute bed
room which opened off the dining room.
The old woman began to clatter. Put
off your things here. My, but them's
fine furs! Did ye drive up from the
Springs? Are you going on to the
camp?'
"Yes."
"Waal. you'll find 1t lively up there!
As neal as I can learn they mean biz!'
she whispered. Some o Jack Mum
ro's men are in there now eatin', They
keep Il Eighty sharp watch on who
comes in these days. Soon's you're
ready I'll put you and your man down
at my end of the table and I'll look
after ye."