The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-11-28
z.
CHAPTER XIV.


While Hampton fingered between
life and death, assiduously waited
upon by both Nadia and Mrs. Guffy,
Brant nursed his burns, far more Sc
rious than he had at first supposed,
within the sanctity of his tent Glen
caid meanwhile recovered from its
mania Of lynch law, and even began
exhibiting some faint evidences of
shame over what was so plainly a
mistake. And the populace were also
beginning to exhibit no small degree
of interest in the weighty matters
which concerned the discriminating
love affairs of Miss Spencer.
Almost from her earliest arrival the
extensive cattle and mining interests
Of the neighborhood became aggres-
siVely arrayed against each other; and
now, as the fierce personal rivalry be
tween Messrs. Moifat and Mcneil
grew more intense, the breach per-
ceptibly widened. While the infatua-
ton of Rev. Mr.. Wynkoop for this
same fascinating young lady was
plainly to be seen, hts chances in the
race were not seriously regarded by
the more active partisans upon either
side.
The regular patrons of the Miners
Retreat were backing Mr.. Moffat to
man, while those claiming headquar-
tiers at the Occidental were equally
ardent in their support of the pros
poets Of Mr.. Mcneil. 1t must be con-
fessed that Miss Spencer fiirted out
rageously and enjoyed life as she
never had done in the effete east.
The Rev. Mr.. Wynkoop always felt
serenely confident Of an uninterrupted
welcome upon Sunday evenings after
service, while the other nights of the
week were evenly apportioned be-
tween the two more ardent aspirants.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday
evenings the Miners Retreat was
scene Of wild hilarity, for it was then
that Mr.. Moffat was known to be COM
fortably seated in the HerndCn parlor,
relating gruesome tales Of wild noun
tain adventure which paIed the cheeks
of his fair and entranced listener. Then
on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
IT'S, when Mr.. Mcneil rode gallant
On his yellow bronco, bedecked
in all the picturesque paraphernalia of
the bouudless plains, revolver swing
ing at thigh, his wide sombrero shad-
owing his daredevil eyes, the front of
the gay Occidental blazed with lights
and became crowded to the doors with
enthusiastic herders drinking deep to
the success of their representative.
1t is no more than simple justice to
the fair Phoebe to state that she was,
as her aunt expressed it, in a dread
full state Of mind" Between these two
picturesque and typical knights Of
plain and mountain she vibrated I'M
able to make deliberate choice While
laboring in this state of INDIGESTION
late one Wednesday night Moffat
tramped heavily into the Miners Re
treat and called Long Pete Lumley
over into a deserted corner of the bar
room.
We'll. Jacll," the latter began ex-
pectautly, "hev We rally got the cinch
on that cowboy at last, hey?"
DC4ll ~ al, 4 CtGf IL Dlehi1lCN4 ~
know; leastwise, l amt got no sure
prove-up. l tell ye thet girls just
about the toughest piece O rock ever
had any special call to assay. We see
it's this way She's got some durn
down east notion that she's got ter be
rescued, an borne away in tho arms
Of her hero like they do in them peskv
novels the Kids alters reGdin', and so
/ reckon I've got ter rescue her,"
Rescue her from whit. Jack?"
"Well, ye see, Pete, maybe I'm part
ly to blame. I've sortar been enter
tainin' her nights with some stories
regardin' road agents an things O.
tibet sort, while, so fur. as I kin larn,
tibet blame chump c. q Mcneil hes
been film her up stG-dalous with In
juns, until she's plun got en- on the
brain. And now, ! ,-ckon as how it's
got ter be Injuns."
"Whut's got ter be iD.u1s?"
"Why thet outfit vnu1 runs off with
her, of course. ! reckon you feIlers
will stand in all right eY help pull me
out O. this hole?"
Long Pete nodded
"Weli. Pete this is bout whuts got
ter be done, es near es l kin fgger II
out. You pick out maybe half a dozen
good fellers who kin keep their mouths
shet an make injuns out of EN-. Then
you lay fer her, say bout next Wednl s.
day, out in them Carter woods, wi IN
she's comm home from school, III
kinder naturally happen long by acci-
bout the head O. the gulch an
Jd.-I in an rescue her. Sabe?"
Lumley gazed at his companion with
eyes expressive of admiration. by
thunder, if you haven't got a cocaanut
on we, Jack! Lord, but tibet ought to
get her fyin'! Any shootin'?'
"Sure!" Moffat's face exhibited a
faint smile at these words of praise
1T wouldn't be no great shucks Of a
rescue without, an this hes get ter be
the real thing. Only, reckon, we bet
ter shoot high, so thar won't be no
hurt done"
When the two gentlemen parted a
few moments later the conspiracy was
fully Matched, all preliminaries per-
fected and the gallant rescue Of Miss
Qpanrnr acctrad TnlAod tha,n 10