The Red Cloud chief., 1913-10-30
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lAURIE'S SCApECRACE
By iZolA FORESTER.


Laurie. riding up the winding noun.
ascending pillar of smoke above the
trees and carried the news back to
the village.
Anybody come on the night train.
Waltz" she asked the express agent
at the little wooden depot.
Walt recalled two. but they were
village people. He listened to her
news with shrewd smile
Guess they must have run up In
a machine. Which one would ye rath.
er II was. Laurie"
Laurie flushed. and tossed her head
In much the same way as the mare did
when she was restive. As though she
cared which one came up to the
Lodge. She knew what Walt meant.
For two summers. and In the long
hunting season, both OF the Gregory
brothers had made no secret OF their
reason for coming up to the Lodge.
II was not the deer that led them, nor
the partridge and quail. II was Laurie
Carrolton
When she reached her own home a
horse stood at the gate. uuhitched. II
raised his head whinncring to Yer
mont Belle Very deliberately Laurie
| slipped down TO the stable door.
Standing within was Emmons Gregory
talking 10 her young brother
It's so mighty good to see you
again Laurie" hc said, taking both
her hands in his She drew them
back
Il saw the smoke above the trees
and knew someone was there"
And you wished IL was not me.
Under the bantering tone there was
an underlying touch OF bitterness
Il didn't wish at all. only won.
dered who was there"
Malcolm is with me and few Of the
men servants. We expect more the
end of the week. VIII you ride with
me along the river road after lunch?"
1t was on the tip OF her tongue to
! say no, but Hardy forestalled her.
He was only eighteen but he stood
two inches above Gregorys head.
Mother wants you. Laurie" he said
with side glance at his sisters face.
I'm sorry. Mr.. Gregory, but
can't"
You mean you wont" His tone
was almost rough. Shall send NAL
colmn down."
You can both keep away" Hardy
spoke up suddenly, his face darkening
with quick. boyish anger. What's 1t
to Laurie whether you come or go?"
when you get past the cub age.
| you will understand that the issue lies
with her. not you. lad" smiled back
| EmmOns. with aggravating courtesy
He raised his cap to Laurie and went
out to his mount. Laurie stood watch
ing him ride up the road.
Something In her quiet face, and the
| expression OF her dark eyes checked
Hardy's hilarity.
mo. don't. not specially. but you'd
better keep out Of 1t, dear I can
managed them both"
You'll have your hands full, then"
grumbled Hardy.
She smiled then at his emphasis,
but during the next few days his
words, boyish and crude as they were.
came true. The Gregory boys. as
everyone around Mount Ranzer called
them. had been left with plenty Of
money, and few restrictions. Their
father had treated them experimental.
ly rather than with any affection or
real interest. They were twins, and
had come into their Inheritance at
twenty.four. when their father died.
Five years had been granted them
under this will. II at the end of that
time they had used their freedom
recklessly. and had squandered their
money, trust fund was to be set
aside for each. taking In all OF the
Gregory interests and properties and
limiting the boys to q moderate In.
come each.
There was one clause In the will
which had been held back. and was
not to be told until the expiration of
the five years or In the event OF either
one marrying.
Laurie had always felt a certain re-
sponsibility in the matter. She was
like her mother and 1t was well known
around Ranzer that Mollie Carrollton
could have married the millionaire
even In her widowhood. They had
been sweethearts long before he had
found that fortunes grow from using
other peoples brains for fuel. Yet
she had chosen Laurie's father. the
local editor OF the little four-page
sheet, in preference. Laurie and
Hardy remained to her after their
fathers death. And oddly enough,
the twins whenever they were at
Mount Ranzer, had come to her with
all their boyish scrapes
But now, In manhood, they fought
their battle out alone. Malcolm had
first right. He was the steadier of
the two. and by far the better look.