Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1908-12-31

more upon the thought of Mary Ar
mitage.
Even after his first talk with the
girl, Holden would not have had the
fence put up, but that he was ashamed
to retreat.
The first night after the big ten-wire
fence was in place, Holden's ranch
boss, who may be supposed to have
had some personal feeling in the mat
force into watches and patrol the
fence all night
IF they're going to cut that there
fence he opined, ''to-night's the night
they'll cut it. When it's stood there a
week they're more likely to let it
alone"
Holden agreed in half-hearted fash
ion; but all day long the thought of
the fence and the armed men riding
before it in the dark haunted him
with a sense of impending tragedy
SO much was he oppressed by it that
he left the supper-table, and with
brief: I'll ride down to the big tank
came to view his own unfortunate
handiwork
1t was light when he left the ranch
house, and it was black dark when he
reached the boundary, so suddenly
does night come in that southwestern
plains country which has no twilight
Holden dismounted and left his
pony to Craze with bride trailing.
Suddenly he stood rigid. There were
yoices-lowered, whispering, but still
audible-near the fence, and about so
feet beyond him. He stole forward
with straining eyes-surely there were
two patches of denser black moving
close to his fence, and on the other
side
He was close enough to be actually
sure that there were two of them-he
was almost upon them-when one
form disparted itself from the other
and ran back into the enguldng DARK
ness of the Bradley pasture.
Had Elmer Holden not been a ten
derfoot he would not have run reck-
lessly in upon a wire cutter, in the
screening darkness of night, and with
out a gun drawn. AS it was, he put out
hand, found all ten wires cut, stepped
through the gap, and shouting: Throw
up your hands, I've got you!" Crap
pied with and held a slender form
that stood passive in his grasp
His hand had caught a slight Shout
der; it travelled down the arm, and
found pair of wire-clippers in the
small hand.
"Alf-Harry-wh one you
are-Ive got you; you needn't try
to squirm away; here are the clippers
in your hands,"
He had possessed himself of the
wire clippers, and dropped them into
his pocket; now he crossed the wrists
of his strangely unresisting captive
and started back toward the pony
Come along!" he ordered. I'm going
to settle this thing here and now"
"Elmer!" demonstrated a well-re-
membered voice.
You here, Mary-Mary Armitage!"
he faltered.
Don't call me that" the girl re-
monstrated. Give me the name that
every one uses, the name that you
despise-call me Mary Bradley"
Holden reeled and chung to the post
beside him for support Had she mar
ried that abject creature-Mary-his
Mary?
Jeff was cutting the wires" the
girls voice went on with gathering
composure. Il followed him from the
house and found him at it. l was
searching for the clippers when you"
she sobbed-"caught mel"
Holden groaned and covered his
eyes with his hands. THE sneak!" he
ground out beneath his teeth. He
ran and left you to bear the brunt of
it. My men will be here in a few
Moments must get you away. Oh,
my Lord! what mess-what a mud
dle!"
He went heavily toward her, put out
his hand and took hers as gently and
quietly as mother leading a little
child Here are the clippers" he
said, fishing them from his pocket and
presenting them. Mary, l was go
ing over to Socorro tomorrow to ask
you to be my wife-instead of that
man's-oh!"
The girl halted and laughed, a queer
little laugh that was a mixture of re-
lief, embarrassment and not without
the sound of tears in it.
Il thought you knew" she said
softly, that l was generally called
Mary Bradley, because jeff Bradley
is my step-brother-but Alf and Harry
are my own. They are Armitages
I've tried-nobody knows how I've
tried-to straighten things out here.
Jeff is no good-but l couldn't run the
ranch alone with just my little broth
ers, and I've been teaching over at
Socorro to help out
Mary" cried Holden, ardently
after all, l may ask the question !
was going over to Socorro to ask"
A party of mounted men swept down
upon the two-Holden's cowboysi
!, ooyf rTboy,uo o,,f a. W.