Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-21
CHAPTER %.

IN Al II. ShAM was Tall young man /
Im OF thirty or whereabouts. smooth I
faced, good looking and athlet- |
g ic. IL was quite true that he |
wore red coat when tramping through
his woods and wales. not because IL /
was fashionable. but because be had a
vague horror or being shot at by some
nearsighted Nimrod from Manhattan
crowd Of old college friends had just
left him alone In the hills after spend
ing several weeks at his place. and
his sole occupation these days. aside
from directing the affairs about tie
house and grounds. lay In the efforts
20 commune with nature by means OF
a shotgun and n fishing rod. His most
constant companion was q pipe. bis
most loyal follower a dog
As he sauntered slowly down the riv-
er road that afternoon. smiling retro
spectively from time TO time as be
: looked into the swift. narrow stream
that had welcomed bis adversaries OF
the morning. he little thought OF the
encounter In store for him. The little
mountain stream was called a river by
courtesy because II was yards wider
than the brooks that struggled impo-
tently TO surpass II during the rainy
season. But II was deep and turbu.
lent In places. and IL bad a roar ut
times that commanded the respect Of
the foolhardy
The poor devils might have drown
ed. eh. Ronaparter' he unused. ad-
dressing the dog at his side Con.
founded nuisance. getting wet after
all. though. Lord Bazelhurst wants
war, does he? That log down there Is
the dividing line in our river eh? And
] have 10 stay on this side OF IL By
George. he's u mean spirited person.
and it's his wife's land, too. ! won
der what she's like. It's a pity fell
low can't have quiet, decent sum-
mer up here In the hills. Stlll'-light-
ing his plpe-"I dare say ! can give
as we'll as / take. II stay of his
land they'll have to keep OF OF uine.
Hullo. who's that? A man. by George.
but he looks ike a partridge AS
live, Ronaparte is pointing Ia. ha.
that's one on you. Bonyw Mr. Shaw
stepped into the brush at the side OF
the path and watched the movements
Of the man at the log" now less than
100 yards away
Lord Bazelhurst. attired I'm his brown
corduroys and his tan waistcoat. Ger.
tainly suggested the partridge as he
hoped nimbly about In the distant
foreground cooking his ears from
time Ia time with. all the aloofness OF
that willy bird. He was. strange to re-
late. some little distance from Bazel-
hurst territory. an actual II not a con.
ident treSpHsser upon Shaws domain.
His horse. however. WAS tethered to a
sapling on the safe side OF the log.
comfortably browsing on Bazelhurst
grass. Randolph Shaw. an unseen OBJ
server. was considerably mystified by
the actions Of his unusual visitor.
His lordship paced back and forth
with a stride that grew firmer as time
brought forth no hostile impediments
His monocle ever and anon was direct
ed both high and low IN search OF Shaw
or his henchmen. while his face was
rapidly resolving itself into a bloom of
rage.
"Confound him" bis lordship was
muttering. looking at his timepiece
with stern disapproval, he can't ex-
pect me to wait here all day. I'm on
his land. and I'll stay here as long as 1
like" cat this juncture be involunta-
rily measured the distance between
himself and the loGO Il knew II was
all u blum, his threat 10 put me OF.
Hang II all. where is the fellow7 /
won't go up to his beastly house /
won't crafty him by going up there
even 10 give him his orders. Demmed
cad. blowhard. Five o'clock. confound
him! l dare say he's seen me and has
crawled OF into the underbrush. He's
afraid OF me: he's a coward II is as
feared can't see the rascal There's
only one thing left for me 10 do. I'll
pin note TO this tree. Confound him.
he shall hear from me. He'll have to
read IT,"
Whereupon his lordship drew fortf
large envelope from his pocket anC
proceeded 10 fasten il 10 the trunk oI
a big tree which grew in the middle Of
the road. an act OF generalization which
showed strange powers OF prophecy
How could be. except by means Of
clairvoynnce. have known before leay
ing home that he was not 10 meet hii
enemy face TO face?
As MIR. Shaw afterward reS1 thu
note and tossed II into the river. II Il
only fair that the world should know
its contents while II hung unfolded q
the bark OF the tail tree II said in 1
very scruwling hand: MIR. Shaw.
have looked all over this end OF you
land for you this afternoon. YoU
doubtless choose 20 avoid me. So b,
a. Let me state once and for all ths
your conduct is despicable. ! cam,
here personally TO tell yQl to keep of
my land hencefOrth and forever
will not repeat this warning. but vii
instead. II you persist take such sum
mary measures as woHld beht a per
10 son Of your instincts ! trust you will
feel the importance OF keeping of
To this his lordship bravely signe<
himself
There" he muttered. again holdin,
his watch aud fob up for close inspec
tiOn. hell not soon overlook wha
I've sid In that letter. confound himT
He haA mt observed the annroach 4,