Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-08-08
[CoNTINUED.l
CHAPTER XVI.

I ! ing pulse, permitted herself a
4 4 closer study of the brusque
and ominous movements taking place
in the scope of her window. She stud
led Raymond, in earnest but apparent
ly unexpected conference with his
workmen. No word of their low ut
terance reached her ears, but she OBJ
served that they organized into squads
as If In obedience to some command
and that each man armed himself and
that each face was grim or recklessly
smiling. That they formed her guard
she knew, and this in itself ought to
have been thrilling. But it was not-it
seemed absurd.
Raymond did not show himself again
to her until about . o'clock of the
evening. when he entered the sickroom
and said quietly to Braide: Doctor,
you better go to bed if the patient will
permit. You may be badly needed
early tomorrow morning"
Every we'll" acquiescod Braide, con-
yinced that closer tie than friend
ship united Ann and the young miner
and that they desired to be alone.
The door had hardly closed behind
the young physician when Ann turned
to Raymond and imperiously said:
"You must not try to evade me. l
want to know what is threatening.
Tell me!''
"The camp is Wild" he admitted,
feeling the resentment in her voice,
"and | don't see how II clash can be
avoided so long as Munro is in COM
mand and keeps his present temper.
But you need give no thought to that.
All my men are on guard tonight, and,
whatever happens, this cabin is safe"
81 like you to be honest with me-"
she said, more gently. I'm not
child, and I'm not timid person."
"You shall know" he answered, TAX
ing a seat before the fire. He had
that moment. my theory is that the
sheriff's forces are eager to storm the
hill before the governor has chance
to interfere and protect his pets that
is the way they put It, Ii the attack
is made desperate struggle will fol
low. Probably the deputies will try to
carry the fertilization direct. Mean
while Kelly and l have drawn up and
forwarded to the governor a long tele-
gram signed by the leading independ-
ents, reciting our disaster and de-
manding immediate interference on his
part, and we are hoping to hear from
him before midnight. | have also
wired burnett to warn the sheriff of
your presence here and that we are
guarding you. l think Don Is with the
deputies. If he is he will see that this
cabin remains outside the field of OPP
Grafton"
"Where is Captain MunrOT'
His vedettes are camped on the
north slope, but may engage the enemy
at any moment, for Jack is quite as
eager as the sheriff to win first blood.
If it were not for the possible injury
of innocent men and women | would
say let them fight 1t out. Each camp
is quite as crazy and lawless as the
other. Now you have the truth have
concealed nothing from you. l will
even tell you that Munro has promised
to come down for final conference
with the independents and that we are
still hoping to persuade him to leave
the camp"
The sick boy stirred uneasily and
called family, and Ann went to him
and bent above him tenderly. Here
am, Buddie. Are you betterT
"Oh, I'm so hot! Take that blanket
off me-"
Raymond looked at Ann. "Shall
tighten his load?"
She shook her head as she put glass
of water to the boys lips. "What time
is it," he asked as he fell back upon
his pillow.
"Going on 10 O'clock"
"Has the fight come Off yetY'
Raymond was cautious. mo, the
camp is quiet"
He insisted on talking. 81 hope they
won't fight till l get over this cold. It's
hard luck to be here. What day Is 1t!
How long have been sick? You
should have seen Jack when he rode
up and stopped the man. In this way
his mind leaped and danced for an
hour, but he grew drowsy at last and
went away into sleep.
Ann spoke first. Poor boy! He will
always feel defrauded to think he is
missing all the DRAMA"
"Your father must have been such
another enthusiast. l liked his name
for you"
She colored. "That was the only
thing l had to reproaoh him for. re-
proach myself now Tor not acQuiescing
In it. / think it grieved him to have
me side with mother against it,
1T is a sweet name to me-Hesper."
He uttered it with the tenderness
which dwells n the voice of lover,
and its letters sang together-but he
dared not look at her.
Raymond was Fastening TO apologize
for his temerity when the noise of
galloping horse cut short his speech
and whitened AIMS cheek, so porten-
tons xvnS fba sound of haSta ot cuoh