Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-06-22

He slid from his horse, II am emp
ty as wolf in March," he replied
where's Louis 2"
Louis! He hasn't returned. Didn'
you leave him at the Springs%
"No. He left early this morning ant
Ann thought he had hit the stage roat
FOR the camp. hope he hasn't gone
wrong"
This news took away a large part Of
his pleasure in the friendly hearth tt
which he was welcomed and, removing
his outer garments. he bent to the
blaze in silence while Mrs. Kelly spread
some food before him.
Kelly listened to the news Of Louis
disappearance with less concern. "He's
run into some of Munro's men and is
probably up at headquarters. He
couldn't get lost. He knows the road
What's the word from the valley"
"They're coming, Matt"
"When!"
Tonight or tomorrow.
give been receiving delegations and
posters and all kinds of warnin's. It's
been lively day on the hill. They're
buildin' fort"
80 Frank Brown told me. How do
our men feel?"
Matt rubbed his chin. They're a
little uneasy, to tell the truth"
Mrs. Kelly interrupted. "Sit up and
eat. Rob. Talk afterward."
Raymond could see that Kelly was
disturbed, and that he had something
to tell which he did not care to have
Nora know. 1t was plain that he no
longer minimized the danger, and his
face fell easily into stern lines.
Selling the moment when his wife
left the room to put the youngsters to
bed the big miner laid sheet of paper
before his partner. what DO you
think Of that?
RAYMOND looked at the deaths head
warming, for such 1t was, with amaze
ment. 1t seemed at first sight rough
Joke. In one corner glared the conven-
tional crossbOnes and skull, rudely
drawn, and to the right and beneath
them sprawled the word Beware
All this was amusing, but the logic of
the argument which followed gave him
thought:
This neutral business Is played out.
Either you are for us or you are for the
dudes. If you are for the dudes, get out.
II you are for us, send In your men to
help us repel the invaders. This Is our
first warning. Remember the Red Star!
COMMITTEE.
Raymond rose. Lets go down to
my shack. We can talk matters over
there more freely"
"I'll be with you in few minutes"
answered Kelly.
1t was warm in the cabin, for the
faithful Perry had built fire early
in the evening. and after he had light
ed a couple Of candles and kicked the
fire into blaze the room resumed its
cheerful glow, but he was too deeply
disturbed over Louis nOnappearance to
fully enjoy it. He took out his revolv-
err and was examining it carefully as
Kelly entered.
"Did yc meet with any trouble, Rob!
"NOne. Some Of the committee Of
safety wanted to arrest me and hold
me as hostage, but Barnett stood 'em
off. didn't see a soul till on my way
back / came on one Of Jacks picket
posts, where l found four men camp
ed in misery and eating snowballs for
supper"
"Its strange the power he has over
them wild cowboys. Drunk or sober,
they do as he tells them. His trouble
will come with Brock and Smith, who
are neither miners nor cowboys, for
they arc all tryin' to derive their power
from Carter, who is lad sick Of the
business and likely to fly the coop at
any minute. Where you goin'?
Uptown to take look round for
Louis"
you go not! IT'S poor time for
you to visit the street. They have it
In their heads that you are playin' the
spy"
81 must find that boy. He left the
Springs at this morning. and his sis
ter is worried about him."
II will go for We, Rob. It's too dan
gerous for you"
Raymond rose and laid hand on
Kelly's shoulder. "See here, Matt, l
want to talk plainly to you. You've
got to bundle up that little wife and
he boys and get out Of here. I'm 60
ng to take hand in this game. I'm
going to call the Independents togeth-
n and make a stand"
Kelly faced him. IF ye make
stand 1 must be beside ye. What is
your plan?"
81 will not tell you unless you prom
sc to take Nora out Of danger"
Kelly's face grew stern, and his
yoice fell to q level hoarseness that
ent d culver through the young mans
,lood. "See here, boy, we struck hands
N this partnership. We share and
hare alike. I am with ye and so Is
Iora. I am ready to dig hole in the
round and stand 'em Off. I'm worn
'ut with their comm and goin', whip
awin' now on this, now on that side
the question. They've declared war
N us. Now, by the powers, We'll meet
EN- halfway"
Raymond surrendered. "All right,
Iatt, here's my hand. Well defend
lora and the mine too. When your
ighting blood is up / don't want any
lispute between us"
Kelly's eyes began to twinkle. II
'egln to draw me breath natural again.
'or weeks I've been wanting to put
n l. a.. Al 80