The Irish standard., 1906-11-24

|! Ion O0 no ways nervous NO Ndlu
in an aside to Winton. Chem profess
sional veniry chumps couldn't hit the
side O. Pacific Peak"
Winton held his ground, waiting the
turn of events and looking on, not
without interest, while the sheriff
tried to drive has men up a bare slope
commanded by 200 rifles to right and
left. The attempt was a humiliating
failure. Being something less than
soldiers trained to do or die, the depu-
ties hung back to man, hugging the
backgroundfng shelter of the Rose
mary as II they were shackled to the
private car by invisible chains.
Virginia, standing az the open win
dow and trembling with excitement,
could not forbear smile. 1t was too
much for the sheriff, the added straw,
and his exhortation to his foot-posse
burst into caustic profanity. Where
upon Mr.. Peter Biggin rose up in his
place, took careless aim, and sent a
bullet to, pillow little furrow In the
ice and frozen snow within an inch
of ueckert's heels.
Excuse me. Bart" he drawled,
''but no cuss words don't 80 in this
here highly moril show. They pains
lis extreme"
| Under ordinary circumstances the
sheriff would have replied to Mr.. Big
gins salutatlon in kind. AS it was.
he ignored Peter Biggin as person
who could ESoargued with at leisure
! md fsyv nd
| Come DOWN." he beloved.
Winton laughed. Tho tide had
| turned, and he knew it.
Let me return the invitation. Come
ZIP, and you may read your warrants
tN US all day"
| The crisis was past. Deckert with
drew his men, and at Winton's signal
the track layers came in and the earth
began to fly again.
| Virginia sighed her relief, and Bes-
sic plucked up courage to go to the
window, which she had deserted in the
moment of impending battle.
"Oh-h-h! I wish Uncle Somerville
would take us away" she gasped.
Cant you persuade him, Virginia,
dear?"
"1'll try" said Virginia, gravely.
foreseeing future tragic situations too
terrifying to be witnessed.
Breakfast is served" announced the
waiter as calmly az If the morning
meal were the only matter Of conse-
quence in world of happenings.
They gathered about the table, a
silent trio made presently a quartette
by the advent of Mrs. Carteret, who,
from having her stateroom on the
peaceful side of the Rosemary, had
neither seen nor heard anything of the
warlike episode with which the day
had begun.
Having weighty matters to discuss
with Sheriff Deckert, Mr.. Darrah was
late, so late that when he came in Vir-
ginia was the only one of the quartette
who remained at table. She stayed to
pour his coffee and to bespeak peace,
knowing full we'll that the time was
unpropitious, but believing that the
crisis was it's own best excuse.
Uncle Somerville, can't we win
without calling in these horrid men
with their guns?" she began, plunging
desperately into the midst of things.
A mere shadow of grim smile came
and went in the Rajah's eyes.
IAN unprejudiced outsider might
say that the 'horrid men with their
guns were on top of that embank-
ment. my deah-ten to Duh one," he
| remarked. "It was the first time
even saw Misteh Deckert show the
white featheh."
But should think we might win
in some other way. What is it you
want to do?-speci6cally, mean.
Make me your ally and see il can't
help you."
Mr.. Darrah pushed his plate aside
and cleared his throat.
For business reasons which YOU
ah-wonldn't understand we can't let
the Utah finish this railroad of theirs
into Carbonate this winteh."
so much have inferred. But Mr..
Winton seems to be very determined"
"Mmph! wish Mr.. Caldwell had
favehed us with someone else-any-
one else That young fellow is bawn
tighten, my deah."
You mean that another man might
make it easier for you?"
II mean that anotheh man would
probably daily along-with Duh help
till the SHOWS come"
Virginia had bright idea, and she
advanced it without examining too
closely into its ethical part.
"Mr. Winton Is working for wages.
isn't he?" she asked.
cot cou'se; big money, at that. His
sawt come high"
"Well, why can't you hire him away
from the other people. Mr.. Caldwell
might not be so fortunate next time.
And it wouldn't be dishonorable in
Mr.. Winton TO resign and take bet
ter place, would it,"
The Rajah sat back in his chair and
regarded her thoughtfully. Then a
slow smile twitched the huge mus
taches and worked its way up to the
fierce eyes.
What is it?" she asked.