The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-01-23
His
Later Events Showed
a Mistake
By GLARISSA MACKIE

l
The men Of the Lone Bull ranch had
finished supper and were gathered
about the long table over newspapers
and cards. Most of them were smok-
ing, and the air was blue with the ex-
halations from pipes and cigarettes.
The Chinese cook tapped into the
room noisily. He addressed the COM
pany impart1ally in a high. complain
ing voice:
Him, Hally Bally. no come eat
chow; him sabe keep chow velly hot
| till him come aloundw
Harry Barry's seven comrades fixed
piercing eyes on the cook Gabriel
spoke, smothering yawn with one
lean hand before he did so.
Il guess he sabe you'll keep bis sup
per hot for him, Lee. If you don't"-
he paused significantly. and the wrath
full Chinaman found seven blue mug
zled revolvers focused upon different
| parts of his anatomy.
OhuCkctduU5 SAdpPcU OdDElS1.
Lees straw slippers tapped restless
ly on the bare floor His frightened,
beady eyes roved from one to another
Of the stern faces. He nodded his
head like toy mandarin. Eyes, yes,
sabe velly, velly muchT
s'"You will keep Mr.. Barry's supper
hot for him?"
"Velly hot!' said Lee forcibly. Gas
hot as And he named the hottest
place there is.
The seven were still shaking with
silent laughter over the episode when
there came the rapid thud Of small
hoofs and the Widow Clancy slipped
from her saddle at the door and stood
before them.
Where is Harry BarryY' she de-
manded in low, intense voice. All
the pretty color had fed from her face
and her pailor was enhanced by the
vivid auburn of her lovely hair
Where is Harry BarryY she repeat
ed as they arose and clustered around
her.
We've been expecting him every
minute. He Oughter been back long
ago." drawled Gabriel.
"Mebbe his horse went lame," sug
gested the Crane from the background
One or two others offered suggestions
as to the probable cause of Harry Bar
rvs absence even while they expected
to witness his dashing arrival at any
instant. At last they stood mutely be-
fore the pale widow and waited for her
to speak again
You're a clever lot Of fabricatorsl"
she sneered.
A look of concern came into Gabriel's
face. you don't think he's got into any
trouble. Mrs. Clancy?" he asked quick
ly.
"As IL you didn't knowV' Her voice
trembled with grief and anger. "As If
you didn't know! What has he done
that you-the men that he called his
mates. his friends-yes, every one Of
you-what has he done that you should
string him the tallest cottonwood at
the springs?"
WHAT Numbered Gabriel, pushing
forward. Harry Barry hanging
where did you sayT' The seven who
loved the merry hearted comrade
whose grave danger had caused them
alarm on another occasion listened
with white faces while Mrs. Clancy
explained in shaking voice:
II saw him myself His horse was
staked under the tree. l was a quar-
ter of mile off when 1 happened to
see him dangling up there in the tree"
She hid her face in her hands and
shuddered. IT was looking for lost
critter and had my fieldglasses."
Mrs. Clancy" said Gabriel heavily,
for he loved Harry like a younger
brother. there is some mistake You
can count on the seven Of US to avenge
Harry If harm has come to him."
II am his avenger," said Mrs. Clancy
coldly. II want you seven to come
along with me-"
The seven silently obeyed more from
pity for the agitated woman than be-
cause they were fearful of her threats
Harry Barry's comrades were grief
cLkA@ACA at luC O1SdSlck LAA0L 4AO OV0k-
taken their friend What could he
have done to have merited the severest
penalty of that unprotected country,
where justice is swiftly melted out
wherever 1t Is outraged. with the dome
Of heaven for a courtroom and the VIC
Tins for Judge and Jury7
Crane, who was leading the file,
turned and spoke to Gabriel, who was
next you remember once before we
was hauled out to save Harry. the time
when we got the letter about the Last
HOPPER
Sure" returned Gabriel, land we
found that the Last Hope was the name
Of q mine he'd discovered. Mebbe
there amt anything in this either" He
smiled hopefully.
The Widow Clancy's voice came
nervously shrill from the rear. Laugh.
will your she cried. Zone Of you
laugh again and I'll p-put a-a-b-bul-
Acknowledgment She sudden
ly broke into tears and bowed her
head on the neck Of her pony. Gabriel
was beside her in an instant.
You're mistaken. Mrs. Clancy" he
said soothingly. I'VE was only re-
membering that Harry scared US once
before You remember we've told you
about the Last Hope mine and how
we rode all night chasing that boy,
only to find him alive and wall at the
end Of the trip. and we can't help but
think there's some mistake now ana
that Harry can't be done away with"
but / saw himw cried the widow
pIaintively. II saw him there, hiD
head dropping. Oh, 1t was awfull'
I'VE think - we're sure that he
wouldn't do one of the things he'd
have to hang for" was Gabriel's ear
nest assurance.
''Of course he wouldn'tP' Mrs. Clan
cy lifted her tear stained face and
turned drenched blue eyes upon him.
Gabriel was relieved To see the
spunky little widow giving way 30
grief was so foreign to her disposition
that he was alarmed.
"Mebbe you'd like to wait here while
we 60 and investigate" he suggested,
but the widow was firm In her deter
mination to be on the spot
you amt used to such scenes,
ma'am," protested Crane mildly, foe
they had paused to discuss the ques-
ton.
Il may as well get used to it-if &c
kills me" declared Mrs. Clancy, and
then. fixing glowing eyes upon each In
turn. she said earnestly: IL want you
to understand I appreciate you've been
good friends TO me ever since 1 came
from the east, and / know you've al