Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-03-17
CHAPTER xv.-continued.


"There's a line Of the South Caro-
lima militia crawling through the
woods toward Raccoon creek. They
insist hat it's a practice skirmish ant
that they've come over here because
the landscape is naturally adapted tc
their purposes"
ITS awfully nice OF them to like
my scenery. You'd better send your
best man out to meet Col. Gilingwa'
ter of the North Carolina militia, and
tefl 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 al q
grand ball at Ardsley tonight"
Ardmore rode of alone toward Rae
coon creek to catch a view OF the
enemy How far would Griswold go?
Ardmore could go as far as Girls
void; yet he was puzzled to know
why Griswotd 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
IL &ACu ~ kioASSt NAS
freely to examine the frontier. By
jumping from boulder to boulder he
crossed the turbulent tide and gained
the other side with a sense OF enter
ing the enemy's country.
Now" he muttered, II am in South
Carolina"
He drew out his map and held 1t
against a tree the better to study 1T,
TeAssuring himself that his own prop
erty line embraced several sections of
the forest on the south side of the
state boundary.
IF Grissy shoots me. it 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. Paul's story had not inter
ested him particularly, but now that
he 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
his pocket before leaving the house
and while he had no idea that ghosts
nay be shot, he o made sure that
De weapon vas IN good order. As he
sat on a log slipping the cylinder
through his fingers he heard whis-
thing farther along the creek, followed
quickly by the swapping of twigs I'M
der . heary tread, and q moment later
. tan. slender man broke into view.
! The stranger was dressed like q
-countryman, but he was Enthusiastically
not OF the Ardsley force of workmen.
for these wore q rough sort OF uni
form. His hands were thrust careless
" into the side pockets of a gray
Jeans coat. They were thrust in deep.
20 that the coat sagged at 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
wal guiltless Of a tie. He vas smooth
shaven, and carried in his mouth a
short pipe, which he paused to relight
when about a dozen yards from Ard
more. Then, Is he held the lighted
match above the pipe bowl for an in.
slant to make sure his tobacco was
burning, Ardmore jumped up and COW
cred him with the pistol.
II beg your pardon" said the mas
ter Of Ardsley, "but you're my pris-
oner!"
The stranger shook the fame out
Of the match-stick carefully and threw
It away before turning toward his
captor.
young man." he said with perfect
self-possession, don't fool with that
gun, It might go on"
His drawl was characteristic of the
region; his tone was one of amused
tolerance. Ardmore was short OF
stature, and his knickerbockers.
leggings and Norfolk Jacket were
not wholly %consonant with the re-
volver, which, however, he leveled
very steadily at the strangers head.
"You are an intruder on my proper
"" said the master OF Ardsley. 4and
unless I'm much mistaken you have
been playing ghost in that cabin. I've
heard about you. Your gang has been
cutting on my timber about Ions
enough, and this game Of playing
ghost to scare my men won't do
STEALING your timber?v And the
stranger was clearly surprised. Y He
held his pipe in his hand with his
thumb over the bowl and seemed te
take a more serious interest in hii
captor-
And now" continued Ardmore
I'm tired Of having this end Of the
country run by the Appleweights. and
their disreputable rang. SO I'm going
20 lock you mp
The stranger turned toward thu
cabin, one corner Of which u plain
y visible, and shrugged his shoulders
Il hive nothing to do with the Ap
p1sWeights, and I assur you I am no
: timber thief"
Then yOn must b the one who ha'
llfkod : ~ Gteers out o. my hcrd. !
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