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

the river trail For the minute he haa
forgotten all about "Hemlocks,' the
timber and rock bungalow that had
been closed for two years.
Man come back" he said briefly
over one shoulder to his Shoshone
guide.
No 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 10
get 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 cut 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 l
saw your fire, and just rode up to be
sure. / knew that Mr.. Martell was
not here"
Were you worried?" she asked,
smiling not exactly in 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
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 saunlered away.
You were rude to my friend, Lame
Bear" she said. "Why?"
mo 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 woo1ng
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 heartsici, 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.
1t was almost dawn when she saw the
| great rich glow of Grange overspread
| 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 s'Feaks
of light came, they were c!clded over
by the mounting pillars Of smoke, and
| Tawny himself came at a dead Galiop
towards her.
| He told her that Darnton was dead,
| killed by a smashing tree trunk, a.
| he fought the fire. He told her the
only way to safety lay In fight with
him along the open trails away from
| the fire, and when she stood her
ground, he laughed, and reached for
her.
1t was Lame Bears bullet that
caught him. Sent by Darnton to pro-
tect the girl, and assure her the fire
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
rather tired and anxious. And an odd