Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-02-06
UNDER The HEML0CkS
Nv LOUIS MERRlFIELD.

the river trail. For the minute he had
forgotten all about "Hemlocks' the
timber and rock bungalow that had
been closed for two years.
Man come back" he said brieny
over one shoulder to his Shoshone
guide.
mo man, squaw," answered the In,
dian. Girl squaw."
you have been up there?"
See team go by"
He knew by the dropping OF Lame
Bears eyelids how useless 1t was to
get any details about girl or team.
So he had turned about, sent the
guide back to his own place and rloaen
I'D toward "Hemlocks" alone.
She was washing when he arrived,
washing out dish towels on the table
under the hemlocks.
She lifted her head as she heard
his pony's tread.
I'm Darnton, the forest ranger
around these parts" he announced. i
saw your fire, and just rode up to be
sure. / knew that Mr.. MarteI was
not here"
Were you worried?" she asked,
smiling not exactly in a friendly way,
but as if she found this official super
vision amusing. And no explanation
did she make. He went away without
finding out why she had come there, or
what connection she had with Martell
He only knew that she was an artist
and her name was June Campbell.
That had been two months ago.
Hardly a day had passed since that he
aad not ridden within sight of Hem
locks"
Bruce Darnton knew before the first
month was up that all the happiness
of life lay up at "Hemlocks" for him,
and Just as he was getting acquainted
fairly we'll, and she would ride with
him for hours through the forest
trails he loved, there had come TaWny
Phillips. Tawny had ridden many
trails. Darnton knew him as young
California timber broker. Every once
in so often Tawney would ride through
the country, sizing up general pos
sibilities.
Tawny was wealthy, buoyant, COM
radely, and most undeniably hand
some. He found his way up to "Hem-
locks frequently. June liked him.
One day she took Lame Bear to task
for the way he had treated Tawny.
The Indian had come on an errand for
Darnton, and Tawny had told him to
hobble his pony for him as he slipped
from the saddle. Instead Lame Bear
had turned and saunrered away.
"You were rude to my friend, Lame
Bear" she said. "Why?"
~'No friend" said Lame Bear stolid-
". HE cut, burn, kill. He set fires
for revenge. Lame Bear know. He
want you for squaw. He think my
man no good, no get girl for squaw.
Het set fires for trouble"
How do you know?" she asked
quickly.
Lame Bear see. You bring black
devil box. Take him pictures, yes?"
June saw what he meant. 1t seemed
unspeakable that this man who had
come to her for days, frankly Wooing
her, should really choose so diabolical
means Of revenge.
Lame Bear kept his word. The next
day he came and told her to get her
pony and follow him. Miles they rode
over the narrow trails. Lame Bear
told her that Tawny started fires to
keep Darnton away from "Hemlocks,'
and that he had boosted he would set
tie the ranger If he dared to go near
the lodge.
All day they were gone, the girl and
the Indian. When she rode back,
wearied and heartsick, and yet ex-
ultant,. she lay awake hours, wishing
she might share the fight of Bruce
Darnton against the creeping serpents
of flame set on his track by the other
man. -.
She had meant to develop the films
and show them to Bruce the next day.
It was almost dawn when she saw the
great rich glow Of orange overspresd
the. sky to the west CT her. Tawny had
made good his threat. She dressed and
waited-her pony sadd'ed-for the
daylight, but when the first streaks
of light came, they were c!ouded over
by the mounting pillars Of smoke, and
Tawny himself came at dead galiop
towards her.
He told her that Darnton was dead,
killed by a smashing tree trunk, as
he fought the fire. He told her the
only way to safety lay In flight with
him along the open trails away from
the fire, and when she stood her
ground, he laughed, and reached for
her.
It was Lame Bears bullet that
caught him. Sent by Darnton to pro-
tect the girl, and assure her the ire
was being checked, he had watched
silently his chance, and paid back old
scores when Tawny lost his head.
And when, hours later, Bruce rode
up, blackened, bruised and lame, he
found the Indian in lone vigil beside
his prisoner, with June calmly de-
veloping the negatives that told who
set the forest fires.
We'll take him down to the sheriff
tomorrow" Bruce said. I'm glad to
get the goods on him this time. It
was mighty fine of you to take all
that trouble to help me, Miss June. I
don't see why" He stopped just
there and met her eyes. They looked