The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-29
Had YOU been here all the tine, you

-Had you been here all the tine, you
yomg rattlepate?"
Louis was not afraid OF Barnett
-yes; was down there looking for
Rob- He pointed toward the town OF
AWeIl, Pm to bring you home-in-
gtantlyr'
Louis took shelter behind Raymond.
$40. you don't. Tell him, Rob-
Raymond winked at Barnett "He's
rning tomorrow on a promise to me,
Don. I've made bargain with him.
He can tell you about it on the way.
Moreover, ne is going by stage. Hes
Oh honor"
When they were alone Barnett said:
aHhe most unaccountable Of all things
Is the human heart. That boy is crazy
about you. By the way, how's the
lungg
Almost as good as ever"
sYour constitution is wonder. And
the mining deal?''
Every promising
In the talk that followed Raymond
learned for the first time Of the pro
posed consolidation Of the Red Star
with two or three other heavy proper
ties, and they fell into discussion OF
the camp.
sIi had my way" said Barnett,
sI'd nave. this meddling IDIOT Larned
thrown out of the camp What busl-
ness has he here? Hes rank out
slider anyway, and this union is
breeder Of war"
Raymond raised a warning hand.
Careful, Dom It doesn't do for you to
say such things up here. This union
has come to stay, and you who employ
labor will do we'll to treat it with a
certain measure Of respect. .
.But you're an employer too
Raymond laughed. "Oh, my little
crew don't count. They're all pros
pectors or cowboys, and, besides, I
work right with them and am classed
as a working miner. Your case is diff
ferent."
Barnett went away calmly superior,
sput came back from a conference with
Mackay, the superintendent OF the Red
Star, less naughty Of manner, but dis
tinctly more acrid of tone. "Mackay
says this confounded union is growing
rapidly and that practically every IN
coming miner joins at once. ! told him
10 nip the thing in the bud, and he has
begun 10 formulate plan TO do so.
Nait year. warned Raymond.
wait till I pay Tor ny mine
Tia. night as Louis SAT before the IRE
In the center Of the unfinished cabin
hss face shone with joy and the heart
of the tall miner grew very tender to-
ward him. It was good to have this
cav young brother of his love to keep
him company. A new sensation arose
from having some one to plan for and
h protect
The dreaming lad, outstretched on a
pile of blankets with his hands under
his head and his small feet, clothed in
znoccasins, extended to the blaze, sud
nen1y turned and said: Rob, this is
sne kind of life for me. Wouldn't ia
fser have liked this? I'd be perfectly
happy If didn't have to pack off down
fhe hill tomorrow. Why couldn't Ann
come up here?"
Maybe, by and by, when we get our
cabin fixed up, we will ask your sister
and Mrs. Barnett to come up and visit
m," said Raymond.
Louis started up. ooh, will you: If
Ann were here would never want to
20 back east again-never! I could
live here always
a loot outside disturbed Raymond,
and mans voice called, as Rob Ray
anond here?
In the unfinished doorway stood a
graceful young fellow in a white SOM
hrero and a neatly fitting dark suit
-Jack Munrop' exclaimed Raymond,
Iand they shook hands. 'Sit down.
This is boy friend Of mine from the
Springs" he said, indicating Louis.
"What can 1 do for you?"
Nothing, old man. Just lined you
cut today. I heard that a man named
Raymond had taken lease with Kelly,
but I didn't know it was you till saw
you with Barnett today Well, this is
wonderful. Where you from? What
have you been doing since we-gad-
rated? There was something in his
voice that eluded Louis Raymond
gave Munro a warning glance.
@Oh, a little Of everything = cattle
ranching, hunting, mining. l saw you
last night in Hanley's saloon"
4eWhy didn't you speak up:'
Raymond hesitated. 81 didn't know
whether you
~Oh, rats! I'm not one to dodge.
What did getting fired amount to any
way? I was ready to leave"
Raymond repeated his warning sign.
aHaye you been back-home?"
Munro smiled broadly. 'You bet! I
went back and swelled around in high
feathers-told my side of the story
understand? l didn't let the institution