Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-12-12
~ VERIFYING had gone wrong
~ with Kathryn Shelbourne since
n she started from Philadelphia

Christmas dinner and ranch dance at
the Y-open-A. and when she arrived at
Cody Christmas eve common sense had
almost abdicated in favor of a disor
dered Imagination.
The trains had belated her two days;
a blue gogged easterner who occupied
the section opposite hers across the
plains filled her ears with the dangers
3 of cross country travel in Wyoming on
account of the strife between the cat
tie and sheep men; then unfortunately
she found the little town of Cody ex-
cited over a holdup in the bank that
morning.
Therefore it was a fear smitten
young woman who tremblingly signed
the register at the Irma and asked for
a room.
.Do you want it for the night or
until the Meeteetse stage goes out?"
inquired the clerk, surveying with sat
isfaction the TALL graceful figure clad
in dark blue. fur trimmed broadcloth.
Kathryn's eyes Travelled slowly
around the Office from group to group
of men excitedly discussing the affair
cup of trouble quite full, but there was
in view a possible calamity which
would run it over.
To the clerk she replied vaguely,
"Why-yes."
''Well, which," the clerk demanded.
Kathryn flushed. Excuse me, yes,
I'll take it for the night and then-if"-
Again her blue eyes made a circuit of
the room.
They were searching for man large
of limb and tall of stature with scant
hair and full beard, who was further
more distinguished by a triangular
scar above his left eye. She had new
er seen him, but she had studied Il pho
tograph in her possession until she
could not mistake the original, and the
original was not there.
Her lips trembed as she followed the
porter to her room. At the door she
turned and pressed bill into the mans
hand. Porter, is there a man in the
hotel that has scar over his left
eye and not much hair?"
The porter, ignoring the ambiGuity of
the speech opened hi~ : -sO~sADked
earnestly at its contents. Don't know,
miss, but I'll find out" Then he hesi-
tated, ''Want me to give him this?' in
dicating the bill.
'Why, nor calculated the ,irl in
amazement, and the bill again anged
hands.
The next instant she dropped into the
only chair in the room and gazed at
oi yn 10 hot
laughter and tears. "Now, by this sign
kno,o I'm outside the pale of civiliza-
tion,' she said aloud, "where porters
won't take tips"
Resolutely winking back a tear, she
took from her suit case letter and re-
read parts of it. Mrs. Stetson, mistress
of the Y-open-A, had written:
There's nothing out here to fear, dear
nothing at all. OF course the sheep and
cattle men are having a little fling, but
that means no danger to you. Royal will
meet you at the Irma with a carriage
I'll just slip his photo in so you'll recog-
nize him. You know how wild 1 have
been to have you meet him. He's dear
boy, Kate, but as sensitive and quick as
a girl, and l think that already-well of
course. I've raved about you so much he's
prepared to like you just a little.
P. S.-If Royal shouldn't be there, take
the stage to Meeteetse. It's perfectly
safe. only q bit tiresome for a thirty mile
ride, as 1t makes the trip at night. And
at Meeteetse take the Kirwin stage, which
will set you down at our door. But
She was interrupted by tap on the
door. 1t was the porter. "Say, miss,
there's a man with a scar over his left
eye and bald but''-the messenger look
n1 fIa,, ho
all in
"Oh," calculated Kathryn, Il know
that can't be the one I'm looking for.
He probably has not come"
But" began the porter hopefully,
there's man in the parlor wantin' to
see Miss Shelbourne. That's you, amt
itY
Kathryn gasped Eyes, but-porter-
has he a scar
Smooth mug and no scar" antici-
pated the porter, "and a heap of hair.
Says tell you Mrs. Stetson's brother
in-law would like to see you.'
The porter departed, leaving Kathryn
quaking. "Says he's Mrs. Stetson's
brother-in-law-with no scarf Her
head swan. She scented danger and
abduction in the region of the parlor,
to which, inwardly confused, but out
wardly composed, she descended.
Under the hanging lamp stood man
who bore no resemblance to the photo
graph. He was tall and muscular, but
not stout. His face was smooth, dark
and scarless, his eyes black and steady.
He came forward with his hand half
outstretche, but it dropped heavily be-
fore the girls manner-Kathryn had
decided ON her course. This was no
ordinary villain. He must be dealt
with warily! She would be brief and
decided.
Therefore when the man stammered,
81 am Royal Stetson," she inclined her
head coldly and did not contradict.