The daily Alaskan., 1914-04-09

very dubious transaction. Barton had been one of his most relentless accus- CTS; he had really believed the man guilty. There had been a lynching stopped at the critical instant by news of the capture of the guilty man, and Roger had been set free, but his stern attitude toward his aCcusers had told them that he had not forgotten the in- suit and injury their unjust accusa- tiOns had brought upon him.
 James Barton had made handsome apology for the injustice, and in more ways than one had he been of service to tue young rancher but quite un- known to Roger, for it is probable that that stern young man might have re- fused the aid that came from un- known sources. Then BartOn's cOntrI- ton had an added bitterness, fOrARog- CT had fallen promptly in love with Nancy and tBere might have been a romance there on the Texas plain had not the unfortunate affair come up to blight 1t in the bud.
 Now, this very evening Barton had discovered something in NanCy's tone that betrayed her secret She loved Roger after all. That was what had worn upon her during the past year, although she had maintained her cheer ful demeanor He swOre softly under his breath as he thought of how be had failed after all to make his moth erlcss daughter entirely happy, and that was all he lived for.
 So James Barton waited for the en- cmy to come and burn his home, If they could. but his thoughts travelled side by side with the gallant young form speeding through the night sur rounded by unseen dangers.
 
 The lower trail led away from the rhcsmut grove and it's concealed plot. ters. The trail sklrted the foot of a hill and then followed the dry bed of Cinder creek, plunged through the narrow confines of Cinder canyon and emerged on Roger Dare's north range.
 Nancy Burton leaning low in the saddle. rode the miles uniinchingy. Her pride must suffer in going to ROg CT Dare for help. But what mattered: Sue thought of her brave, gray haired father standing Olr the crowd of dcs- perudocs single handed, and she spur, red Judy to greater effort.
 The stones rattlcd in the dry bed of the creek, and then the dark plunge through the little canyon was accom- plished with heaven only knows what hairbrcadth escapes from death or dis aster and then Judys feet pounded over the grass of Roger Dare's land.
 A dog parked in the distance, light hared in window, other lights sprang out around the house, and when Nancy arrived on the almost winded mare she was at once sur rounded by a circle of excited men. with Roger Dare in their midst.
 What has happened" asked Roger, his hand on Judy'S neck.
 In a few broken words Nancy told him. and then. reeling in the saddle, she murmured:
 I'm not going to faint. never fairted in my life" And she straight way proceeded to drop into Rogers outstretched arms.
 "Shc has fuintcd away" said Roger as he laid her on a sofa in the sitting room. Eliza" turning to his grim featured housekeepcr, there is trouble at the Barton ranch, and l must go, but watch over Nancy. You will know what to do, and guard her as you would your own child. Ben and Gal lagher will remain with you"
 With a last glance at the sweet, pale face on the pillow, Roger turned and rushed out into the yard, where his men were gi,iug on to their horses. In a moment twenty of them were ay- ing toward Ciudcr canyon, and the dis Eyuullcd Gallagher and his companion were left behind.
 Long uftcrward old ucpsy tried to describe the battle of Barton's ranch, but words were inadequate.
 "Lawsy, chile" she told her listener, "I jest wish you could hev been dere and seen how Marse Barton pinged dcm snakes wid his gun, and right in de midst of it dere was a rarin' shout from de lower gate, and I deClar' if lIarse Roger Dare and his men didn't come skyhootin' erloug, and-welI, de war ended right off! Marse Roger and de rest of 'cm jes driY dat SingsOng Pete and de odder snakes clean off de place, and 1 heahs dey went Ovah de bO'der inter MeX'co, and a good place for 'em, too. wid de greasers! Uh, huh. Marse Roger am sure a brave man. but he ain't no brayer den Marse BartOn-no, suh,"
 Roger Dare, coming back from that wild chase over the border in pursuit of SingsOng Pete and his band, rode into the Barton yard and met BartOn's hearty hand clasp with one equally warm No one heard the few words they uttered as they stood there side by side, but that very instant the feud