, 1908-09-24
CHAPTER XIV.

The Rescue Of Miss Spencer.
While Hampton fingered between
life inc 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 emit Glen
mania of lynch law, and wen began
exhibiting some faint evidences of
shame over what was so plainly .
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 agrees
sively arrayed against each other; and
now, as the fierce personal rivalry be-
tween Messrs. Moffat and Mcneil
grew more intense. the breach per-
ceptibly widensd. While the infatua-
ton of Rev. Mr.. Wynkoop for this
same fascinating young lady was
plainly to be seen, HIS 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 q
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 hirted 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 vas .
scene Of wild hilarity. for 1t was then
that Mr.. Moffat was known to be com
fortably seated in the Herndon parlor.
relating gruesome tales of wild noun
tain adventure which paled the cheeks
of his fair and entranced% listener. Then
on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
nights, when Mr.. Mcneil rode gallant
~ in on his yellow bronco. bedecked
in all the picturesque paraphernalia Of
the boundless 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 70
the success of their representative.
It is no more than simple justice to
the fair Phoebe to state that she was.
IS her aunt expressed II, I'm Q dread
full state Of mind" Between these two
picturesque and typical knights Of
plain and mountain she vibrated. un-
able to make deliberate choice. While
laborirg in this state Of indecision
late one Wednesday night Mofat
tramped heavily into the Miners Re-
treat and called Long Pete Lumley
owe into Q deserted corner Of the bar
room.
We'll. Jack" the latter began e1-
~pectantly, "hev 70 rally got the cinch
on that cowboy at last. heyf"
"Dern 1t all, Pete, I'm blamed II I
know; leastwise. 1 amt got NJ u r
prove-up. / tell re thet girls Just
about the toughest piece o rock I ever
had any special call to assay. Ye SEQ
it's THIS way. She's got some durn
down east notion that she's got ter be
rescued, an borne away in the arms
Of her hero like they do in them pesky
novels the Kids alters readin'. and 20
! reckon I've got ter rescue her!" 81.
Rescue her from whut. Jackf"
swell. ye lee. Pete. maybe I'm part
y to blame. I've soTter been enter
tainin' her nights with some stories
regsrdin' road agents an things o.
tibet sort. while. SO fur. as I kin larn.
thet blame chump of q Mcneil hes
been Allin' her up scandalous with In
juns. until she's plum got EN- on the
brain. And now. l reckon as how it's
got ter be Injuns."
"Whut's got ter be Injuns?"
"Why tibet outfit whut runs OF with
her. of course. reckon o fellers
will stand in all right ter help pull me
out O. this hole?"
Long Pete nodded.
.wau peta thig in 'hout whut'a Sot