Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-01-02
The mysterious
Englisllman
And How He Was Brought
Back to His Own
BY cLARIssA r1AcKIE

GAO0r IVY WNAG 4RAtS- tNrt7NA aim
Prole, Mason Pepper. Tony Golf, Jack
Raymond, Bob Hazen, the mysterious
Englishman," and. little in the fore
ground, Boss Carwood himself
"Who comes here?" queried Jack
Raymond lazily.
The others followed the direction of
his curious eyes and saw horse and
rider flying up the straight trail that
was plainly visible for half mile.
Zone of the Manning boys remark
ed Carwood carelessly.
"Rides reckless-lilSe Petite" observed
Jink Probe. "Taint him. though
''Why not?"
"'Tain't a Manning horse.
mo more it amt" muttered Jack
Raymond. arousing himself to watch
the rapidly approaching horseman.
The horse was beautiful creature,
a deep cream color with name and tail
a dark bay. Its rider was mounted on
a high Mexican saddle and wore cordu-
roy trousers belted around soft white
silk shirt, a crimson scarf knotted at
the throat a broad brimmed gray felt
hat pulled well down over the head
and half concealing the eyes. gray
gauntlets and high heeed spurred
boots of tanned leather
Kinder ladylike looking" remarked
Tony Golf under his breath.
Looks as If he meant business just
the same" returned Mason Pepper.
"Howdy?" said the stranger.
"Howdy?' they all CALCULATED in
chorus, all except Hazen, the English
man, and he muttered, How dye
do?" all the time gazing at the stran-
ger with puzzled frown on his hand
some face.
"Get off and stay awhile" invited
Carwood cordially. Have some sup
perT He arose and bawled an order
to the cook.
Don't care If l do" returned the
stranger, dismounting easily and turn
ing his horse over to Mexican Pete.
"Are you Mr. Carwood?" he continued,
folding his arms and looking up at the
burly cattleman.
That's my name"
II have letter for you, and--er-
perhaps I may have 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 / read the letter.
Cooks getting some supper for you"
look like toy terrier and mas
tiff" remarked Raymond as the two
figures vanished in the dusk.
"'Pears as If he might sew little
now and then. P'r'aps he'd turn to
and be member for the outfit"
Like as not he's little fire eater
and could ride you clean off a horse"
laughed Mason Pepper heartlessly.
Tony Golf Joined in the laugh at his
own expense. Once there had come
to the Twin Star ranch a greenhorn to
saddle and lariat, so he said, and so
his delicate appearance confirmed.
The Twin Star outfit had proceeded to
put the newcomer through a hazing
that would prove the mettle of any
man.
The greenhorn had proved his met
tie and had given the laugh to Tony
Golf, the chief hazer Since then Mr..
Golf was secretly suspicious OF all
"ladylike' looking strangers.
So they talked idly now, watching
the moon rise above the fairness of the
plain below. They had not noticed
that Mexican Pete had slipped away
from the edge of the group and had
made a cautious detour of the ranch
house. Pete loved to be the first to
impart bits Of news to the catttlemen,
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
and the stranger, Jim Gray.
All at once he appeared in the midst
of the group of cowpunchers, chuckling
suggestively.
me, l have news" he whispered.
"That Jim Gray mamie detective
looking for some man-Lionel Frary-
think maybe
The Englishman leaped to his feet
with a muttered ejaculation of wrath.
"Oh, say, chaps, can't stand this
fellows tattling gossip. For sixpence
I'd give him sound druhbing. What
do you think, eh?"
Mexican Pete, who was an arrant
coward, squealed shrilly and disappear
ed in the direction of the stables.
Bob Hazen growled inarticulately
and walked away down the trail. The
others watched him until he was swal-
lowed up by the distance. The rather
taciturn young Englishman was given
to solitary tramps, and his companions
respected his apparent desire to be
alone from various motives.
Wonder what makes all these Eng
lishmen so kinder moody and down
cast" unused Mason Pepper. breaking
the silence.
81 reckon it's because they come over
here and see what a great country this
is and realize they can't come up to it
back home," ventured Tony Goff
why can't they come up to it back
there?" demanded Mason argumenta-