The Washington herald., 1914-08-02

As for himself he would never see his
niece enter family which she could
not enter as an equal He had seen
how matters were going with the young
people and had extracted a promise from
Duss that she would refuse the hand
OF Mordaunt.
Mordaunt tried to argue, but the
proud old man was obdurate. So was
Duss-
SquHtters.
Then Mordaunt took his surveying
party and plunged into the wilderness
Of Mooseridge. One day he strolled OF
with. surehint and became separated
from the rest OF the party.
Mordaunt and the Indian slept on
bed of leaves that night and In the
morning the Indian said that he had
heard in the still watches" the sound
Of a mill not many miles away.
No mill should be there Squatters was
the only solution.
Il will have a look at these squatters."
said Mordaunt and Surefiint guided him
through the wood until they came to
clearing and saw large sawnill sur
In the river were RATS Of boards ready
/ 10 float down 10 the Hudson.
All, said the Indian. him. Thou
sandacres they call him. He squat ev-
and make boards Of your trees"
Mordaunt boldly entered the clearing
and went to the house Of Thousandacres.
the professional sGuatter. Four strong.
young but lusty. had Thousandacres:
also daughter. wild Of looks but pretty.
and a worn and weary wife who had
oEce been considered the beauty of her
native Vermont hills.
Must Take The Consequences.
Thousandacres himself was a giant.
son of Anak. fierce and unscrupulous
that unsettled land and uncut forests
were any ones for the taking.
He asked no better title than his strong
right arm and the stronger arms OF his
sons. Rob Roy he might have been in
Scotland-in Central New York he was
merely a "squater."
When Mordaunt had announced his
name and demanded by what right
OF Mooseridge and cutting the timber.
the squatter said:
"Oh, you are for the law. are you?
Well. young man. l had hoped 70 AVOID
you. But since you are here you must
take the consequences"
The whole grim family gathered around
Mordaunt Resistance was useless.
He looked for the Indian, but Surehint
too. and said to his sons: Go after that
Indian. Bring him back alive II you
can II not. one dead Indian is no great
matter"
Prisoners of the Outlaws.
''I have 5000 worth of boards in that
stream" continued he to Mordaunt; do
you suppose / will readily give them up?
No. You will remain here prisoner
until the stream rises sufficiently so that
they can be fioated down TO the Hudson.
Boys. take the majcr to the storehouse
''% What iGtA could nii Mordaunt do? Into the
storehouse he went. 1t was an airy prison.
and through the chinks of the logs he
1Nz-nH HaWaGT
Pretty soon he saw the two young men
who had been sent after Surefiint return
ing with their prisoner. Surefiint Joined
the major in the storeh3use prison. -.
asked Mordaunt: surely you could have
got away"
The Indian let his face become wreath
ed with the nearest approach TO smile
which his Indian character would permit
and said that. having gone into the
woods he had met Jaap, who was out
looking for his master, and sent him
back to the main party for help
Another Prisoner.
They were to go TO The Nest get a
warrant for the arrest Of Thousandacres,
come with a posse and clear out the
place. releasing the prisoners.
Having made this arrangement. Sure
flint had allowed himself to be captured
BY surprise" Rescue would be certain
but would be SLOW, thought Mordaunt
It was the second day after. at day
break. when Mordaunt; through the
chinks OF the logs. saw Chainbearer cross
the clearing and begin to try to force the
lock Of the stOrehouse. But a sentinel 0f
the 50 latter was on duty. and Chain
bearer was captured.
Mighty angry now was Thousandacres
He summoned a family council and had
the major and Chainbearer brought be
fore him. The Indian seemed forgotten
Chainbearer managed to whisper to
Mordaunt that Jap and Duss were wait
ing in the woods on the outskirts Of the
clearing ard that the relief party would
soon he al hand. Duss had insisted upon
starting for the place as soon as she
heard Of MOrdaunt's Peril.
Able to Make Terms.
Chainbearer became the center Of the
scene. Against him. as a man who had
surveyed new lands. the chief anger OF
Thousardacres and his sons seemed di-
Tobias. a huge loutish surly son 81
Thousardacres, demanded the punishment
OF death upon him. Zephaniah. a milder
Of Ravensnest. counseled m.lder treat
ment.
Poor Zephanish, He admitted that he
had seen and fallen in love with Duss
Malbone; had even proposed TO her-and
had been rejected.
ThousandaCres considered. Here was
an idea. He shrank from taking human
life-unless Il was necessary in his bust
ness. To marry Zephaniah TO Duss would
be way out
He had the young patroon and the SUI
veyor in his power They must sign pa
pcrs holding him scatheiess for what he
had done.
Zephaniah married to Duss. the pa
troon would give them the clearing upon
which he had squltted-no doubt. He
was in a position to make terms.
At the Wrong Time.
Looking around. Thousandacres discov-
cred that Mordaunt was missing. Here.
BOYS, on the trail" he cried, and three
sons with rifles rushed out.
Mordaunt, seeing that he was unnU-
ticed. had slipped away and gone to the
DTss Then the silly fellow, instead Of
going farther. had begun to renew his
suit-taking the asitated girl at a dis
advantage.
Duss had just said that If Mordaunt
could get the consent of his father and
mother, his sister and grandmother. she
would become Mrs Littlepage-when in
came the boys" shouting Here, they
are-both Of them
That was a dickens of a time for love
making. and little sympathy need be
wasted upon Duss apd Mordaunt- as they
were taken back to the great iving-rOom
OF ThCusa ndacFes' house. where the fam
lily council was still in session.
Abruptly. brutally. threateningly. Thou
sandacres put his proposition before
Chainbearer. Filled with wrath Chain
bearer sprang to his feet and denounced
Thousandacres-
a tumult ensued-there came the crack
Of a rife and the old surveyor sank to
the floor A deep stiffness ensued. Then
the form OF the mortally wounded man
was raised and placed upon bed.
nfsS in hung OEeF him