Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-12-24

who vent with me must have been q |
traitor, for he guided me south into |
the Green Briar mountains. Last night
at dusk We rode into 9 camp of guer>
rillas."
Who commanded themH Did you
learn"
"A gray.headed. seamed-faced noun.
taineer. they called Cowan"
She emitted quick breath. between
closely pressed lips.
You know the mani" I asked.
Yes; old Ned Cowan: he lived over
yonder. east OF here In the foothills.
He and-and my father had some trou-
BILE before the war. He-he IL win.
dictive and dangerous" she stopped.
her glance sweeping about the room.
IL have some reason to suspect"
she added. as II half doubling whether
she ought to speak the word. that
either he, or one OF his men. broke in
here"
I'm search OF somethinge"
"A paper; yes--a deed. OF course
may be mistaken; only It is not to DO
found. The desk In the library was
rified. and its contents scattered over
the fioor when came. put them
back In place. but found nothing OF
value among those that remained, My
father must have removed those OF Inn
portance.
Possibly he carried them with
him7''
She leaned her head ON her hand.
her eyes thoughtful
Il think he once told me they were
left in charge OF q banker at Charles.
ton-an old friend. II would be too
dangerous to carry them about with
him In the field. You see do not
know very much about his affairs.
she explained. Il was away ut school
when the war broke out. and we have
only met briefly since. My father did
not talk freely OF his personal matters
even to me. learned Of hiR feud with
Cowan by accident"
1T was q feud theng"
ION one side at least. My father
was shot at, and several OF our out
houses burned. The trouble arose
over the title 10 property. Cowan.'
she explained. was a squatter on land
which had belonged to our family eveI
since my grandfather iirst settled here
We had title from Virginia. but ths
tract granted had never been properly
surveyed, My father had II done, and
discovered that Ned Cowan and two o
his sons occupied a part of our lanC
with no legal right"
Her eyes uplifted to my face, ant
then fell again, one hand opening an,
closing on the back of the chair. Sh,
laughed pleasantly,
81 hardly know why am telling yol
all this family history" she continues
almost in apology, 1T 10 as II talke
to an old friend who was naturally II
terested in our affairs
Perhaps the manner OF our meetin
accounts for It." ventured. "Bu
truly am more deeply interested tina
advantage for me to know the fact
4 Did Major Harwood try TO force theE
from his land?"
\ "oh. no." hastily. my father had n
such thought. He tried TO help thel
to purchase the property at n YER
small price, and on long time. HI
intention was TO aid them. but b
a found himself unable to convince eiSht
E. father or sons OF his real purpose. The
q. either could not. or would not. unde
3 stand. Do you realize the reckies
d lawless nature OF these mountal
a menu"
:. yes. to some extent; they trust Z
one"
!. THAT was the whole trouble. Seer
ingly they possessed but one idea
= that II my father was killed they cou
: remain where they we're indennltel
: Their single instinct was TO fight II Of
with rifles. They refused TO eth
g, purchase or leave"
:. There was silence. AZ though ri
"a had finished. She had seated herEe
10 on the wide arm Of the chair, still Re
:, ing me, and could hear the rain bel
ing hard against the side Of the houa
\. Suddenly she looked up into my face
.sHow odd that ! should talk TO y.
so freely" she exclaimed. Why .
IN not even know your name"
Ia Charles H. Raymond"
Oh could not be certain that the :
preston OF her eyes changed. for th
ly suddenly looked away from me. al
I'd. she stood again upon her feet.
a Raymond, you sayi" the slights
". hardening OF tone apparent. ION
- cruiting service from the Army Of {
ID. Potomac7" She drew ; quick hreai
We I'll think have heard the name
IL. fore. Would you mind IL did ask
Do. see your ordersf"
mot In the least" ] answered. .
az. wholly surprised that she should ha
70 heard Of the other. and confident |
q. papers | bore would be properly 9,
lis cuted. Il prefer that you have
m doubt Is to my identity"
m. She took them. and noted slis
ne trembling Of her hands as she held
be paper open IN her fingers, her ey
ed CHANGING swiftly down the writ
err lines.
me Il hase become quite a soldier
late" she said. and handed the pa
IRE age back to me. And l cannot dot
re your credentials. am very glad
Al meet you. Lieutenant Raymond. .
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of editor observes that Lafayette. Kos