Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-03-30

81 ALI :Ht tttiB uelAl ~ sttttcfieifSr
remarked gravelS "Ofgeburse alyou'rei
eboth hayinEfunR usbesahse we're
from thes east, dllawiafdorisE think 1T
Ul1ifc nice I'm YOU. ''N Wv saf
Baker began to look distressed. "Oh,
see here miss, you mustn't think
you're all wrong! Why. we're delight
,ed-we-Tyou seey2T, ssr IT 7
, Ami turned TO Lonis. Louis, you
are living out one of Owens stories
this very minute. want you to stay
here until you can meet these people
on their own ground" She faced Bak-
Or again. '"l'ell me more about this
cook. He's college man, and. there's
some hidden mystery, as the story
books say. What brought him to. this
pass? Is he fugitive from justice?"
Baker took seat and appeared to
pender5 i s'Well, now 7 tdonft like to
say say You see, it amt safe to ten tales
on Cook. If you'll swear not to breathe
q woid''--li3isK aiis4isai' isatg aai
Hold up your hands, Louis, and
swearp' cried Ann. ! "Of course we
won't tell"
Baker settled into his chair. l"You
mustn't blame him till you hear the
hull story, but he killed a Teller back
east, somewhere in Illinois"
Ann started Mechanically. "Real-
lyT
r Baker, pleased with LIS success add
ed, 'TwoIoff' EN-, insfasts
Louis, wide eyed with interest what
did he do it forT'
Baker, glowing with pleasure In the
work Of his own imagination, cut loose
from his moorings. 1T was this way:
He was counting girl-the daughter Of
rich farmer-and her family was hot
because Rob was poor and her dad
put another, fellow. on 70 tell Hes. about
Rob's' drinkinsa and all that, and ROB
met UP with this Teller and just natufs
/ rallypiped fiinlsfull Of soft nose bullets.g
That led him to- seek higher attitudes
as tie newspapers say. Now, that's the
plain truth OF, the whole business, as II
heard ff.e f's a'ss'S sesssE' 'isaaaaf's AsveS n.
fJIi
was the other man he killedT
'The deputy sherf. Had to do that
to get away"
Ann looked about. "You say he reads
these bOOksT
"When lie has time. He dotes on
'cm."
do you read them~
"Great Scott, no! I'd go to sleep
over such things. The Boys Own Is
about my size"
AIMS tone was reflective. That's
queer. Mr.. Barnett said you were q
great reader"
Baker paled, then got red. He had
walked into q clever little trap. He
wriggled in his chair, "Did he say
that? Well-I-I used to, but lately
Ann looked ut him keenly and said
calmly: you also are an impOstor.
Your name isn't Raymond-you're not
the foreman. You are all bandits and
have stolen my cousins ranch and are
running 1t to suit yourselves. I believe
you killed poor old Mr. Jones and his
wife,"
Louis sprang to his feet. Sam, what
do you mean?'
Baker threw up both hands. "Hold
on! Don't shoot! I'll come down.
knew couldn't keep the game going"
He rose, and his manner changed.
"Now listen. I'll tell you the square
toed truth. 1t was my turn to cook,
and Raymond that's our boss-when
he heard you was comm, KNOWN
couldn't cook sour bran mash, says:
Baker, you'll have to play boss while
the company's here I've got to toss
up the bacon and prunes. Now that's
the fact. lady,"
Ann, with conviction, turned to Louis:
"Now / believe he's telling the truth.
What is your nameY
"John Edwin Baker-Jack, the boys
call me. never had any other name,
I'm sorry to say, and came here from
Kansas. i never killed anything big
germ a coyote. I'm just plain COW
puncher at twenty-six per month"
Raymond, reappearing at the door,
put them all into guilty confusion. His
eyes were too keen to be withstood,
and AIMS lashes fell for moment as
he offered the dipper. "Like cool
drink, lady"
She recovered herself instantly.
THANK you, if you will be SO kind"
Raymond threw glance at Baker
that propelled him through the door
way as palpably as kick, then turned
to Louis. slow does the grub 60,
youngster?"
"Bullyr replied the boy as he took
up spoonful of rice. His eyes follow
ed the little figure Of the rancher with
joy.
Ann cut in with grave face, belied
by something in her voice II didn't
suppose a foreman would stoop to
cook"
The young fellow frowned. whats
thatY'
Ann went on, Il think it's nice Of you,
Mr.. Raymond, to abase yourself to the
rim of kettle"
Excuse me, lady, butt He looked
about for Baker.
Ann interposed. THAT'S twice you've
called me lady No real cowboy ever
does that, I'm told, so you must be an
impost0r."
Raymond's face flushed with anger.
"See here! What has that fat jackass
lteen saying to you about mef"
Ann, calmly smiling, made her
.l,o .s-oc o,,ooiRa tsXo1Itro not tho cook |