Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-10-05
CHAPTER XXI.
. ALMONDS descent of the can
4 yon was singularly uneventful.
Y He met neither the invading

VII "oo oih5uiuLAy uASNC4I1
IN He met neither the invading
4 a army nor the patrol. Happily
the storm lessened as he descended,
and by dawn he was once more trot-
ting with the calm, close adhering seat
of the cowboy.
He had planned to go to friends
house in the lower town, but with the
coming Of light and the blooming of
the rose Of the morning he resolved to
ride directly to Barnett's. my errand
Is an honorable one" he argued. "Why
should | sneak into Govern
The housemaid who let him into the
house smiled upon him in a most
friendly fashion. We're glad to see
you, sir. Shall tell Mr. Barnett you
are here?"
II wish you would, and tell him I
wish no one but himself to know of
my presence"
Barnett was in bed, with pot of
coffee and some toast on stand by his
side, reading the morning papers.
Hello, old man." he called out when
the door was shut, I'm mighty glad
to see you, but / don't know what to
do about you. What's the row, any
way? Have you come down to see
Anna"
Raymond took a chair near the bed.
mot exactly, but of course
II understand, and don't blame
you. She came back from up there
looking like rose Of Sharon. OF
course you haven't had breakfast.
Have some coffee. Touch that bell for
me and We'll have something heartier."
"How Is Mrs. Barnettr
Never better. I've got her locked in
there" He pointed at an inner door. II
had an idea you were coming with i'm
portant news from the front I don't
know about your being here: the peo-
pie have got you mixed up with Nun
70 in this thing, and I've had the
devils own job to convince them other
wise. I'm not bit sure they won't
want to arrest you and hold you as a
hostage"
'.That would be nice job"
Wouldn't It? But they've lost then
heads completely. You see these red
neckers' hit US on weak spot-they
broke loose just as we were trying to
noat our biggest issue of stock and
fattened out every deal till 1t looks
like square yard of nothing. Natural
" we're all red headed as woodpeck-
ers, and we're going to open these
mines. We've got to open them or 60
broke. By the way, when did you
come to town."
"This minute"
"Ride! In this stormw He rose on
his elbow to survey him. "Great Scott
man, throw off those horrible boots and
put on some dry socks and some slip.
pers! Tumble the things out Of that
bottom drawer; you'll find all kinds
there"
In the end he had his way, and so in
warm, dry footwear and a smoking
| jacket the young miner ate his steak
and drank his coffee while his host
looked on and commented on his looks.
you've taken hand to the plow,
haven't you? That fist is wonder.
And you've really struck it? Well, I'm
glad Of it. But you want to watch
Curran. I'm told he's been to every
lawyer in town with your papers in the
attempt to break your grip on that
vein"
''We are not worrying" replied Ray.
mond.
When he had quite finished, Barnett
said, "Well, now, Rob, what about it?"
Raymond was equally direct. 'T'm
here to try to persuade you not to send
the sheriff and his men up the canyon"
"Whom do you represent, the union ~
"In way, yes. have a letter to
you, and come on behalf of the inde-
| pendents, who don't want to see blood
shed. There'll be q horrible mixup,
| Don, sure thing unless your fellows are
headed off. Munro's cowboys and des-
peradoes will fight; don't make any
mistake about that"
'sWho Is this man Munro?"
Raymond looked at his friend stead
lily. don, the time has come to tell
you something but it's secretr His
voice ended in rising infection. at
concerns only you and me-for the
present"
Barnett reached out his hand, CAL
right, old man."
| Munro Is really Jackson Hollenbeck.
We were classmates and roommates
at West Point. Do you remember read
Ing some eight or nine years ago of a
group of six cadets being dismissed for
hazing and Observation-Disclosures don't
suppose you do, but was one Of that
gang. Jack was another. We weren't
SO bad as we were represented, but
they fred us all the same lost all
track of Hollie, as we called him then"
$50 that's where Munro gets his mill
| tary training, and his real name is
Hollenbeck." He smiled slyly. whats
yours"
"Oh, mine is straight. I never tried
to conceal my identity. I'm Robert
Huston Raymond Of Ohio, the man that
'swatted' his superior and got busted
for 1t. Since then I've lived COM
monplace life"
"What was it all about? never ask.
ed any questions before, but I'd like to
know all about IT..
THAT'S about all Of 1t. 1 was rest.
less. young cub and hated discipline,
but that's of no value. What is impor
tant is this - Jack Munro's military
training is being felt, Now, you
mustn't ask me single question as to
conditions up there. I'm going back
and must be able to say to Jack that
was faithful to my trust. If the
sheriff will go back with me alone ]