, 1906-07-11

III, liIOhNA . biCO1 tS'f - -N+E 49,
military instruction to freshen. and for
a moment. rs . paused there in the
darkness. he understood something OF
Munro's joy in a defensive campaign,
but he said aloud: ITS all a mistake,
Brown. They can't afford to fight the
sheriff. The law is on his side
Brown grimly replied, "W IL, Wen
give him a little run for his money,
anyway"
Raymond smiled at the boyish quail
ity of this remark. but made no com
ment upon it, end allowed himself to
be led by a roundabout path to the
west side of the town. At last his
guide paused. You're ali right now"
81 wish you'd tell Jack I'm here and
that | want to see him." said Ray
mond. I'm much obliged to YOU"
"Oh, that's all right, Rob; take keer o.
yerself." And the two men rode off.
Good luck, boys"
As he rode up to Kelly's cabin and
called out, Hello. the house." Matt
opened the door and, with IL lad on
either side of him. peered out. rs that
yGa, Rob-"
The very same. Matt.
"Well, nofg. whit n WHIST and In
come and put ont Your horse"
Mrs. Kelly called cheerily: Rob,
we're glad TO see sou safe returned.
Are you hungry
lie slid from his horse. Il am emp
ty as Il wolf in March," he replied.
"Where's LOUISE
Louis, lie hasn't returned. Didn't
YOU leave him ut the Springs?"
NO. He left early this morning and
Ann thought he had hit the stage road
for the camp. | hope he hasn't gone
wrong
This news took away Il large part of
his pleasure in the friendly hearth to
which he was welcomed and, removing
his outer garments. he bent to the
blaze in silence while Mrs. Kelly spread
some food before him.
Kelly listened to the news of Louis
disappearance with less concern. Hes
run into some of Munro's men and is
probably up at headquarters. He
couldn't get lost. He knows the road.
What's the word from the valleyp
"They're coming, Matt"
"Whcn?'
"Ton.ght or tomorrow"
I've been receiving delegations and
/ posters and all kinds of warnin's. It's
been Il lively day on the hill. They're
buildin' a fort"
so Frank Brown told me. How do
our men fecl?'
Matt rubbed his chin. They're a
little uneasy, to tell the truth"
Mrs. Kelly interrupted. 'Sit up and
eat. Rob. Talk afterward."
Raymond could see that Kelly was
disturbed, and that he had something
to tell which he did not care to have
Nora know. 1t was plain that he no
longer minimized the danger, and his
face fell easily into stern lines.
Selling the moment when his wife
left the room to put the youngsters to
bed, the big miner laid a sheet of paper
before his partner. what do you
think of that?'
Raymond looked at the deaths head
warning, for such it was, with amaze
ment. 1t seemed at first sight a rough
Joke. In ore corner glared the eonven-
tional c%rosSbones and skull. rudely
drawn. and to the right II beneath
them sprawled the word Beware
All this was amusing. but the logic of
the argument which followed gave him
thought:
This neutral business is played out.
Either you are for Us or you are for the
/ 1ii1ag II Noft a ~ for fha dudes GET ont
If you are for us. send in your men to
help us repel the invaders. This Is our
first warning. Remember the Red Star!
COMMITTEE.
Raymond rose. Lets go down to
my shack. We can talk matters over
there more freely"
TN be with you in a few minutes"
answered Kelly.
1t was warm in the cabin, for the
faithful Perry had built a fire early
In the evening. and after he had light
ed a couple of candles and kicked the
fire into a blaze the room resumed its
cheerful glow, but he was too deeply
disturbed over Louis n-onappearance to
fully enjoy 1t. He took out his revolv-
err and was examining it carefully as
Kelly entered.
Did We meet with any trouble, Rob!'
"None. Some of the committee of
safety wanted to arrest me and hold
me as hostage, but Barnett stood 'em
off. | didn't see a soul till on my way
back l came on one of Jacks picket
posts, where l found four men camp
ed in misery and eating snowballs for
supper"