The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-16
CHAPTER V.
At wARTRAG HALL


VWYHEN Evan Blount opened his
nv eyes on the morning follow
FH ing the night OF singular ad-
ventures the sun was shin
NJ brightly In at the beds head win
low, cheerful FIRE was cracking on
tie hearth, and his father, a little
sssvier, a little grayer, but with the
sane rugged face and kindly eyes,
vas standing at his bedside.
Evan, boyr and father were
he only words Of greeting. but the
Mighty hand grip that went with them
Eas for Evan a renewal Of his boy
bod and a sufficient promise for the
future.
Followed instantly rush OF mingled
tnOti0ns: OF astoundment that he had
recognized no familiar landmark In
ne midnight faring through the hills
sl on the approach to the home OF his
childhood; of something like a keen
ngret that the old had given place so
.horoughly and completely TO the new;
Of something bordering on chagrin
that he had been surprised into &C
nptng the hospitable advances of a
Toman whom he had been intending
avoid and for whom he had cher
shetland meant to CHERISH con
amptuous disregard.
But at the hand gripping moment
here was no time for a niceNeighing
# emotions. He was IN his fathers
h0use. the Homecoming. some phases
4 which he had vaguely dreaded, was
fact accomplished, and the new life
the life that was TO be lived without
Pstricia-was fairly begun. Also there
Eere arrears to be brought up.
Did the 1ittle-er-did Mrs. Blount
tel you that I was hereF
she did, but she couldn't tell me
much more. How on top OF earth did
!ou happen to blow In at midnight
With Jack Barto for your herd leader r
its fairy tale, and you won't be-
EeYe it-of a Blount," was the laugh
Ing reply. 81 left Boston Monday and
should have reached the capital last
hight. But my train was laid ont be-
hind freight wreck at Aretas just
before dark, and / left It and took to
tie hills-horsebaek- Don't ask me
wy. The smell of the sagebrush was
n ny nostrils, and I had 10 do It. ]
new where I was, and / thought
c0uld ride to Debbleby's, so hired the
tQneho and pitched out I think !
sept the general direction all right un-
q I got lost among the Lost river hog
lacks, but after that I was pretty sue
sssfully lost"
And Barto found you7" Queried the
Eaator.
Who is this ubiquitous Barto who
pcs around playing the holdup one
1taute and the good angel the nextT
He is a sort Of general utility man
to' Hathaway, the head pusher OF the
tEa Buttes Lumber company. He Is
Supposed to be a timber cruiser and
hg sealer, but guess he doesn't work
Hleh at his trade. Down In the lower
See1s Of New York they'd call him q
heeler maybe. But you don't mean tc
isl me that Jack Barto robbed you
I1a?'
No; he was merely discussing with
Is two fellow holdups the ACCESSIBILITY
u knocking me- on the head and drop
pHg me into Lost River canyon; thai
vas all. OF course knew they had
talea upon the wrong man, and after
sSaile succeeded In making Bartc
seeept that hypothesis At least he &C
espted it sufficiently to bring me hers
IoF Identification Since he wouldn't
az and l didn't recognize the trail Of
q place hadn't the slightest notion
ny Observation-Disclosures the least il
Se world"
he big man was leaning againsi
e foot rail Of the bed and frownine
s'aghtfulIy. Talked about dropping
~ into Lost river, did they? HIM
vel have to look into that little.
s-esz Who set them on, son? Co
Sy idea Of that?'
! have very good idea-a mai
10 came across in the Pullman wit
nom Omaha; tall and rather sin
. with Ratchet face and owlisI
rs l didn't learn his name. but b
- be was interested in mines ans
nat was Hathaway himself" wa
instant decision. sHis compan.
= been cutting timber in the Los
.,s' reserve and he probably though
we're chasing MIN You didn'
Wv Honoria?