Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-08-20
CHAPTER II.

III Ill Iuceu, BOOu lOOkluS anu utnlet-
ic. 1t was quite true that he
wore red coat when tramplng through
his woods and wales, not because 1t
was fashionable, but because he had a
vague horror of being shot at by some
nearslghted Nimrod from Manhattan.
A 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 the
house and grounds, lay in the efforts
to commune with nature by means Of
a shotgun and fishing rod. His most
constant companion was a pipe, his
most loyal follower dog,
AS he sauntered slowly down the rlv-
er road that afternoon, smiling retro
specdvely from time to time as he
looked into the swift, narrow stream
that had welcomed his 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 1t was yards wider
than the brooks that struggled impo-
tently to surpass It during the rainy
season But 1t was deep and turbu-
lent in places, and it had a roar at
times that commanded the respect Of
the foolhardy.
"The poor devils might have drown
ed, eh, Bonaparte? he mused, ad-
dressing the dog at his side. Con
founded nuisance, getting wet after
all, though. Lord Bazelhurst wants
war, does her That log down there Is
the dividing line in our river, ehl And
have to stay on this side Of 1t. BY
George, he's mean spirited person,
and It's his wife's land, too, Won
der what she's like. It's a pity a fel-
low can't have a, quiet, decent sum
mer up here in the hills. Stlll"-llght-
ing his plpe-'1 dare say can give
as we'll as | take. If l stay off his
land they'll have to keep off Of mine.
Hullo, who's that2 A man, by George,
but he looks like a partridge. AS l
live, Bonaparte is pointing. Ha, 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 in his brown
corduroys and his tan waistcoat, GER
tainly suggested the partridge as he
hoped nlmbly about in the distant
foreground, cooking his ears from
time to time with all the aloofness Of
that willy bird He was, strange to re-
late, some little distance from Bazel-
hurst territory, an actual If not con-
6dent trespasser upon Shaw's domain.
His horse, however, was tethered to a
sapllng on the safe side of the log,
comfortably browsing on Bazelhurst
grass. Randolph Shaw, an unseen OBJ
server, was considerably mystiHed 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 impedlments.
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 bloom Of
rage.
"Confound him." his lordshlp 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 III stay here as long as
likew (At this juncture he involunta-
rily measured the distance between
himself and the Logo al knew 1t was
all a bluff, his threat to put me off
Hang It all, where is the fellow?
won't 90 up to his beastly house.
won't crafty him by going up there
even to give him his orders. Demmed
cad, blowhard! Five o'clock. confound
him! | dare say he's seen me and has
crawled Off into the underbrush. Hes
afraid Of me; he's coward. 1t is as
feared. can't see the rascal. There's
only one thing left for me to do. III
pin a note to this tree. Confound him
he shall hear from me. He'll have tC
read It,"
Whereupon his lordship drew forth
large envelope from his pocket and
proceeded to fasten 1t to the trunk Of
big tree which'grew in the middle OF
the road, an act Of premedltation which
showed strange powers Of prophecy
How could he. except by means OF
clairvoyance, have known before leav
ing home. that he was not to meet bis
! enemy face to face?
AS Mr.. Shaw afterward read the
note and tossed It into the river It i'
only fair that the world should know
; rs contents while It hung unfolded tC
the bark Of the tall tree II said IN @
very scrawling hand. "Mr. Shaw.
have looked al over this end Of your
land for sou this afternoon. You
doubtless choose to avoid me. SO bC
It. Let me state once and for all thai
your conduct Is despicable. came
here personally to tell you TO keep Of
my land henceforth and forever.
win not repeat this warning, but vii
instead. II you persist, take such sum
mary measures sas would bent a per
son Of your instincts. trust you vii
feel the Importance Of keeping off.
To this his lordship bravely signed
himself.
There" he muttered. again holdinf
his watch and fob up for close lnspec
ton. "he'll not soon overlook whai
I've said in that letter. confound him'