The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-01-10
UNDER THE REMLOCkS
evLOUIS MERRiFiELD.


rising feather Of smoke with appre-
honsiye surprise as he rode along
Tho river trail. For the minute he had
foreotten all about "Hemlocks,' the
timber and rock bungalow that had
heen closed for two years.
MAN come back" he said briefly
oyer 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 it was to
.et any details about girl or team.
So he had turned about, sent the
Guide back to his own place and ridden
up 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 ponS's tread.
"Im Darnton, the forest ranger
around these parts" he announced. Il
saw your fire. and just rode up to be
4sure / knew that Mr.. Martell 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 day had passed since that he
had 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 well, 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
n 20 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 sauntered away.
You were rude to my friend, Lame
Bear" she said. "Why?"
No friend" said Lame Bear stolid-
II 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 get fires for trouble"
How do you know" she asked
quickly.
Lame Bear see. You bring black
eeyil box. Take him pictures, yes?"
June saw what he meant. 1t seemed
1nspeakable that this man who had
eone to her for days, frankly wooing
~, should really choose so diabolical
z means of revenge.
4 Lame Bear kept his word. The next |
~ he came-and told her to get her |
pony and follow him. Miles they rode
ever the narrow trails. Lame Bear |
'sea her that Tawny started fires to
1eep Darnton away from "Hemlocks,"
M that he had boosted he would set
~ ne ranger if he dared to go near
~ lodge.
~ day they were gone, the girl and
- Indian. When she rode back,
eefied and heartsick, and yet ex-
lsaQt she lay awake hours, wishing
sae might share the fight of Bruce
anton against the creeping serpents
name set on his track by the other
m
re had meant to develop the films
- enoW them to Bruce the next day.
8 - almost dawn when she saw the
= Elcn glow Of orange overspread
TO the west of her. Tawny had
90 e0od his threat. She dressed and
-her pony saddled-for the
qsnt but when the first streaks
= snt came. they were clouded over
~ mounting pillars of smoke, and
80 himself came at a dead gallop
srds her
tcld her that Darnton was dead,
- " smashing tree trunk, as
nt the fire. He told her the
7s ~ TO safety lay in flight with
'ong the open trails away from
and when she stood her
ne laughed, and reached for