Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-09-17

ed Berrie.
"Why, it seems that after ! left yes
terday Settle rode down the valley
with Belde.l's outfit. and they all got
to drinking. ending in u row, and Tony
beat one of BeldCn's men almost to
death. The sheriff has gone over to
get Tony, AMI the Beldens declare
they're going to railroad him. That
mems we'll I'll be brought into it.
! BelGan has seized the moment to pre-
! fer charges against me for keeping
/ Settle i'll the service and for putting
a nonresident on the roll as guard.
The whelp will dig up everything he
can to queer me with the Office. All
that !.e"t Aim from doing 1t before
was Cliffs interest in you"
lie cant make any of his charges
stick" declared Berrie.
! "Of course he can't. He knows that.
But he can bring US all into court You
! al / NJ. No?crCsS viii both be called
! as witnesses. for it seems that Tony
| was Cofcndin~ your name. The pa
/ pers call it n fight for a girl Oh. it's
J Il sweet mess. You and Berrie and Mrs.
/ Mctarlane must get out of here before
! you are subpOenaed."
An ,aavH yea to fight it out alone|
exclaimed bis wife. Il shall do moth
ing of the kind. Berrie and Mr.. Nor
cross can 60"
"That won't o." retOrted McFarlane
! quickly. THAT won't do at all. You
must 90 with them. | can take care
of myself. i will not have you drag
ged into this muckhole."
Berrie now argued against running
nway. Her blood was up. She joined
her mother. I'VE won't leave you to
inherit all this trouble. Who will look
after the ranch? Who will keep house
for you"
McFarlane remained firm. ''Tll man.
age. Don't worry about me. Just get
out of reach. The more l consider this
thing the more worrisome 1t gets. Sup
pose Cliff should come back to testify? 2"
HE won't. II he does I'll have him
arrested for trying to kill Wayland,"
retorted Berrie.
"And make the whole thing worse!
No; you are all going to cross the
range. You can start out as If for a
little turn round the valley and just
naturally keep going. 1t can't do any
harm, and it may save nasty time in
| court"
zone would think we were lot of
criminals" remarked Wayland
THAT'S the way you'll be treated"
retorted McFarlane. "Belden has re.
tanned old Whitby, the foulest old brute
in the business, and he'll bring you
all into it if he can"
But running away from it will not
prevent talk" argued his wife,
Not entirely, but talk and testimony
are two different things. Suppose they
call daughter to the stand? Do you
want her cross examined as to what
basis there was for this gossip? They
know something of Cliffs being let out
and that will inflame them. He may
be at the mill this minute"
Il guess you're right" said Norcross
sadly. "Our delightful excursion into
the forest has led us into predica.
ment from which there is only one
way of escape, and that is flight"
McFarlane was again called to the
telephone. LandOn, with characteristic
brevity, conveyed to him the fact that
Mrs. Beden was at home and busily
phOning scandalous stories about the
country. IF you don't stop her she's
going to poison every ear in the val
ley" ended the ranger.
You'd think they'd all know my
daughter well enough not to believe
anything Mrs. Belden says" respond.
ed AIcFarlane bitterly.
"All the boys are ready to do what
Tony did But nobody can stop this
old fools mouth but you. Cliff has
disappeared, and that adds to the ex-
element"
THANK the boys for me-" said Nc
Farlane, "and tell them not to fight.
Tell 'em to keep cool. 1t will all be
cleared up soon"
AS McFarlane went out to order the
horses hooked up Wayland followed
him as far as the bars. I'm conscience
smitten over this thing, supervisor, for
am aware that am the cause of all
your trouble"
Don't let that worry you" respond
ed the older mail But lie spoke with
effort. ut can't be helped 1t was all
unavoidable"
'"The most appalling thing to me is
the fact that not even your daughter S
popularity can neutralize the gossip of
. woman like Mrs. Belden. My being
an outsider counts against Berrie, and
I'm ready to do anything-anything, "
he repeated earnestly. 81 love your
daughter, Mr.. McFarane, and I'm
ready to marry her at once if you think
. best. She's a noble girl, and | cannot
bear to be the cause of her calumnia-
ton"
There was mist in the supervisor
eyes as he turned them on the young
, man. I'm right glad to hear you say
: that, my boy" He reached out his
, hand, and Wayiand took 1t. 81 knew
you'd say the word when the time
came. | didn't know how strongly
she felt toward you till today. l knew
she liked you, of course, for she said
, 50, but l didn't know that she had
! plum set her heart on you. | didn't
expect her to marry city man, but ]
{ like you, and-well. she's the doctor
= What suits her suits me. Don't you
be afraid of her not meeting all com.
] ers." He went on after a pause
l "She's never seen much of city life,
} but she'll hold her own anywhere, you