Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-08-13
The Mysterious
Englishman
And How He Was Brought
Back to His Own
By cLARlSSA MAcKlE

Star ranch, and the men were sitting
outside the bunk house enjoying their
pipes and cigarettes in the sunset
glow. There were long legged Jink
Prole, Mason Pepper, Tony Gon. Jack
Raymond, Bob Hazen, ''the mysterious
Englishman," and. a little in the fore
ground, Boss Carwood himself.
"Who comes hereT queried Jack
Raymond lazily.
The others followed the direction Of
his curious eyes and saw a horse and
rider dying up the straight trail that
was plainly visible for half mile.
zone Of the Manning boys" remark.
ed Carwood carelessly.
"Rides reckless-like Pete." observed
link Prole. "'Tain't him. though"
"why not7'
"'Tain't Manning horse"
"No more It amt" muttered Jack
Raymond, arousing himself to watch
the rapidly approaching horseman.
The horse was a beautiful creature.
a deep cream color with name and tall
q dark bay. Its rider was mounted on
a high Mexican saddle and wore cordu.
roy trousers belted around q soft white
silk shirt, q crimson scarf knotted at
the throat, q broad brimmed gray felt
hat pulled we'll down over the head
and half concealing the eyes. gray
zauntlets and high haeled spurred
boots Of tanned leather.
"Kinder ladylike looking" remarked
Tony Goff under his breath.
"Looks as II he meant business just
the same" returned Mason Pepper.
"Howdy" said the stranger.
"HowdyT they all CALCULATED IN
chorus. all except Hazen. the English
man, and he muttered. "How dye
dor all the time gazing at the stran-
ger with a puzzled frown on his hand
some face.
"Get of and stay awhile" invited
Carwood cordially. "Have some sup
perY he arose and bawled an order
to the cook.
Don't care II I do" returned the
stranger, dismounting easily and turn
ing his horse over to Mexican Pete.
"Are you Mr.. Carwood7" he continued.
folding his arms and looking up at the
burly cattleman.
THAT'S my name"
" have a letter for you, and-er-
perhaps I may have a few moments
conversation with you" continued the
stranger. "By the way. my names
Gray-Jim Gray"
"Glad to know you, Gray. Come up
to the house while I read the letter.
Cooks getting some supper for you"
look like a toy terrier and mas
tiff." remarked Raymond as the two
Hgures vanished in the dusk.
"'Pears as II he might sew q little
now and then. P'raps he'd turn to
and be mender for the outfit"
Like as not he's little fire eater
and could ride you clean of horse" "
laughed Mason Pepper heartlessly.
Tony GofY Joined In the laugh at his
own expense. Once there had come
to the Twin Star ranch greenhorn to
saddle aud lariat. 80 he said. and 80
his delicate appearance confirmed.
The Twin Star outfit had proceeded to
put the newcomer through hazing
that would prove the mettle Of any
man.
The greenhorn had proved his met.
tie and had given the laugh to Tony
Goff. the chief hazer. Since then Mr..
Gor was secretly suspicious Of all
"ladylike" looking strangers.
So they talked Idly now. watching
the moon rise above the 6atness Of the
plain below They had not noticed
that Mexican Pete had slipped away
from the edge Of the group and had
made cautious detour Of the ranch
house Pete loved to be the first to
impart bits of news to the catttiemen.
and he often stopped to questionable
methods to gain information. On this
occasion he did not hesitate to listen
to the conversation Of Boss Carwood
| huu TIE ottuukeIs SAn SAoy'
All at once he appeared In the midst
Of the group Of cowpunchers. chuckling
suggestively.
"Me. l have news" he whispered
THAT Jim Cray mamie detective
looking for some man-Lionel Frary-
I think maybe
The Englishman leaped to his feet
with q muttered ejaculation Of wrath.
"Oh. I say. chaps, I can't stand this
fellows tattling gossip. For sixpence
Id give him q sound drubbing. What
do you think. eh7"
Mexican Pete. who was an arrant
coward. squealed shrilly and disappear
ed In the direction Of the stables
Bob Hazen growled inarticulateiy
and walked away down the trail. The
others watched him until he was swai.
lowed up by the distance. The rather
tAciturn young Englishman was given
to solitary trampA and his companions
respected his apparent desire to be
alone from various motives.
"Wonder what makes all these Eng
hshmen % kinder moody and down.
cast" mused Mason Pepper. breaking
the silence
II reckon it's because they come over
here and see what q great country this
Is and realize they can't come up to It
back home" ventured Tony Go6.
"Why can't they come mp to It back
there?" demanded Mason argumenta.
lively
There mint room enough to have q
arst class roundup-not without STAN
pediue some OF the critters on tns -
land into the ocean," retortsd Tony
Goff.
"I wonder who this Erary person "
anyhow." broke in link Prols peace
ably. Not wanting TO appear over ane
above curious. I can't help Uit wonus'
| II it's rustllug bunch OF cattle O
killing"
"Seenrd 10 kinder get Hazcn's mad
up Test to hear about IT," suggested
lack Raymond uneasily. This ness
Frnry might be friend OF his.
LETS have o clear understanding
about IT," said Jink Proie. speaking
| authorilatiyeiy by reason Of bis supe
rior aye and length Of service at tn
Twin Star outfit II s'pose bscaus'
Haxen come here quiet like and ha'
never breathed q word about biz pes
ufe I reckon he's liable to come unde'
suspicion for anything that happens b
|. any one within 500 miles That you