Eastern Colorado times., 1912-11-22

the place-Lone Treef"
NDerned II know, sergeant. Don't
recollect hearin' the guide say any
thin bout that. but the woman at the
house told me her place was called
Lone Tree cottage-so I reckon he
might"
This was chance worth trying.
I'VE will take the frst turn to the
left, and have look at the place." I
said. "Conroy. you and Tom ride
ahead. and keep your eyes open."
We reached the hollow where the
big tree stood. about midnight. but
found little reward. The house on
the hill had been burned to the
ground. Near the tree, however, we
discovered evidence Of recent camp
fires, one not yet cold. and apparently
there had been. quite body of men
camped there lately. Conroy manu-
factured a torch, and secuted about,
finally reporting:
Il don't know how many were here,
sir. altogether, but there was a lot o.
horses picketed over near the creek.
I reckon the last Of them didn't leave
until dark tonight. an they rode north
toward the main road. There was
maybe a dozen in that party"
We followed the general direction
the fellows seemed to have taken,
Conroy and on foot, scanning the
trail by aid Of a pine knot. The dust
lay thick on the clay road through
the cut, where we had charged the
foragers. and 1t was easy to see the
band had turned east. There was but
one conclusion possible; II this was
Fag1n's gang Of cutthroats. as I sus-
pected. then they were either return
ing to their sand caves in Monmouth
county after a raid. or else were start
Ing forth on some new project near
at hand. Whichever was true. Elm
hurst lay in the direction taken. De-
termined to learn the truth, we
pressed forward, riding rapidly, yet
exercising the precaution Of keeping
two scouts we'll in advance. It-must
have been nearly three o'clock when
we reached the summit of the low bill
within a few hundred yards Of the
house. and found the two scouts
awaiting US.
My first glance across the ravine
revealed the outlines Of the house
above the low trees Of the orchard.
All appeared peaceable enough. and
felt a sudden relief. There were lights
burning on the lower floor. streaming
through several windows. while up
stairs one window was ablaze. Late
as it was. this illumination was not
surprising, however, as the care Of the
wounded man would necessitate night
watchers. while. no doubt. Claire
would anticipate by reaching there
before morning. All this flashed over
me-. as my eyes hastily surveyed the
familiar surroundings. Then l be-
came aware that the older scout was
reporting.
There's quite a bunch Of horses
picketed down there in the ravine.
SIR" he said. pointing toward the
right.
How many?"
"Oh. maybe twenty-five or thirty:
Joe an I couldn't get very close. as
there's a couple Of men on guard on
top Of the bank. A hundred feet down
you can see 'em plain against the
sky"
Wasn't what you saw q cattle
herd?" -
mo. SIR" positively. They're
horses. picketed in line like a cavalry
troop. and they've got their saddles
on"
What this all meant could not be
guessed at, but there must be some
scheme Of deviltry under way.
Have either Of you crossed the ra-
vine?" I asked. endeavoring to reach
some conclusion.
"Yes. sir. Joe did. He was up in
the edge Of the orchard?"
See any men?"
mot a man, sir. outside" answered
the other But I saw shadows against
the curtains on that lower floor.
couldn't tell how many; they Just
come an go, only they wasn't dressed
alike"
One thing was sufficiently certain
we could gain little Information re-
naming where we were.
Sergeant" said, determining
swiftly on a course Of action, take
your men, dismounted, across the ra-
vine, and into the orchard. Keep un-
der cover, but get as close to the
house as you can safely. Picket your
horses back there beside the road"
And you, sir?"
circle that horse herd, and come up
to the house from the rear l want
to discover where those fellows are.