Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-05-21

Jssssrs ssss ssssw
Ssaa III ~ sai, sEs sagg Iasthsi Ihla
you. ! sppil4aA g69'pb 90 Mkn ifetsa
other daughter, chs"
Necia nodded.
"What time Of day was 1t when you
learned about this?"
cut that Outw roughly INTERCEPTED
Gale. do you think double crossed
you?"
The other turned upon him.
"It looks that way. and intend to
find out You said yesterday you
hadn't told anybody"
81 didn't think about the woman"
said the trader. a trne disconnected,
whercupon Runnion gave vent to an
ironica Snccr
But here's your girl and this man
ahead Of Us. suppose there's others
on the way too"
Nonsense" BurrCll cut in.
81 cali 1t sleeck work" chucklcd the
Canadian, slipping out Of his straps.
"De mex tam | so stampedin' TAX
you long, Necia."
ME. too" said Lee And now I'm
gon' to tear into some Of them beans
smell a-bilin' in yonder."
The others followed. although Stark
and Runnon looked bIac!; ard had IT.
tie to say. 1t was an Uncomfortable
meal. Every one WAS Ill ut case. Gale
in particular was quiet and ate less
than any CT them His eyes sought
Stark's face frequently. and once the
blood left his cheeks ard his eyes
bla2cd as he observed the gambler
boldly eying Necia.
"You are n mighty good looking girl
for blood" remarked Stark at last
"rhank you" she replied simply, and
tho soldiers dislike Of the man crystal
lied into hate on the instant Iherc
was u tone back Of his words that
seemed aimed at the trader, Meade
thought, but Gale showed no sign OF
II. so the meal was finished in silence.
after which the five belated prospect
crs went oft to make their locations.
fer the fear Of interruption was upon
them row.
First they went downstream, anu
according 70 their agreement, the trad
er staked first, followed by Polcoh ana
Stark. TINS throwing Runnions claim
more than Il mile distant from Lee 5
discovery. From here they went UP
the creek to iind the girls ether loca-
lions. one OH each branch. at when
Stark snceringIy remarked that she
had pre-empte0 enough ground TOT
full grown white woman. -
luminous displeasure was even more
omen. and he fell into foul moutheu
mutterings. addressing himself to TO
leon and Stark while the trader was
out Of earShCt.
This affair don't smell right, ana
still think it's ftame-up
"Rah." exclaimed Doret.
THE old man sent the girl on ahead
of us to blanket all the good ground
That's what he did,
Wait wnn minnit," interrupted TO
leon. his voice rs soft rs ii woman s.
Il tol' you dat | know all bout DIS
Black Bear creek too. You member
ell? Waal. mebbe you t'ink I'm traitor
too? Wat? Wy don you SpiG ont!
The three OF them were alone, and
only the sound OF Gales aX came 10
them. but at the light in the Cana-
dams face I.unniOn hastily GiSclalneu
any such thought Oil his part. atid
Stark shrugged his denial.
There are men quite devoid OF the
ability to read the human face, and
Runuion WIS of this species. More
over. malice was so bitter in his mouth
that be must have it out. so when
they PAUSED to blaze the next stake he
addressed himself to Stark loud enough
for Poiecn to hear.
''rhat lieutenant is more OF man
than thought he was"
How So" inquired the older man
"Vell. il takes nerve to steal girl
for one night and then face the IA
tbcr but the old man don't seem to
mind it any more than she does. /
guess he knows what it means, all
right"
Stark laughed raucously
That's probably how Gale got his
souaw." concluded RunniOn. with a
sneer.