Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-10-29
CHAPTER xv.-continued.

There's a line OF the South Caro-
Tina militia crawling through the
woods toward Raccoon creek They
insst that It's a practice skirmish and
thlt they've come over here because
ths landscape is naturally adapted to
thelr purposes"
TITS awfully nice OF them TO like
my scenery. You'd better send your
best man out 10 meet Col. Gillingwa-
ter OF the North Carolina militia, and
tell him to march all his troops into
the estate by the north gates, and to
be In a hurry. Tell him-tell him
Gov. Dangerfield is anxious to have
the stan present In full uniform at
grand ball at Ardsley tonight"
Ardmore rode OF alone toward Rae
coon creek to catch n view OF the
enemy. How far would Griswold go?
Ardmore coulc go as far as Girls
void; yet he was puzzled to know
why Grlswold was in the field at all
These reflections carried him far to-
ward Raccoon creek. and when he had
reached that tortuous stream he dis
mounted and tied his horse. the more
freely to examine the frontier BY
jumping from boulder TO boulder he
crossed the turbulent tide and gained
the other side with sense of enter.
ing the enemy's country.
Now" he muttered. Il am In South
Carolina"
He drew out his map and held II
against a tree the better TO study Il,
reaBsuring himself that his own prop
srty line embraced several sections of
the forest on the south side OF the
state boundary.
II Grissy shoots me, II will be on
my own land" he said aloud
He cautiously followed the stream
until, several hundred yards farther
on, and overhanging the creek. he
came upon the log cabin in which Big
Paul had reported the presence Of a
ghost Pauls story had not inter
ested him particularly. but now that
ne was in the neighborhood he re-
solved to visit the cabin and learn II
possible how ghosts amuse themselves
by day. He had thrust a revolver into
and while he had no idea that ghosts
may be shot, he now made sure that
the weapon was In good order. AS he
sat on a log slipping the cylinder
through his fingers he heard whls-
tling farther along the creek, followed
quickly by the swapping OF twigs un-
der a heavy tread, and a moment later
a tail. slender man broke into view.
The stranger was dressed like a
countryman, but he was unmistakably
not Of the Ardsley force Of workmen,
for these wore a rough sort " uni
form. His hands were thrust careless
ly into the side pockets OF a gray
Jeans coat They were thrust in deep,
so that the coat sagged Rt the pockets.
His trousers We're turned up from a
pair OF rough shoes and he wore a
gray flannel shirt, the collar OF which
was Builtless OF tie lie was smooth
shaven, and carried in his mouth a
abort pipe, which he paused to religbt
when about a dozen yards from Ard
more Then. as he held the lighted
match above the pipe bowl for an I'm.
stant to make sure his tobacco was
burning. Ardmore jumped up and Gov
cred him with the pistol.
Il beg your pardon" said the mas.
ter OF Ardsley, but you're my pris-
onetl"
The stranger shook the fame out
OF the match-stick carefully and threw
II away before turning toward his
cAptOr.
Young man." he said with perfect
aelfpossession, don't fool with that
gun, II might go on"
His drswl was Characteristic OF the
region; his tone was one Of amused
tolerance. Ardmore was short Of
stature. and his kniokerbockers,
ieggings and Norfolk jacket we're
not wholly consonant with the re-
voiYer, which. however. he leveled
very steadily at the strangers head.
you are an intruder on my proper
IT," said the master Of Ardsley. "and