The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-25
CHAPTER MI.

CHATTER VIIs
 The Flag of Truce.
 % ARLIEST dawn found the
 young man seated compOsedly @ upon one of the flattened out
 croppings of the hill of stone that lay like an island between the outer plain and the sheltered cove. Both the dugout and the cabin of ce- dar logs within the cove were as silent and as void of movement as the rocks behind them. The young man watched Grst one, then the other, as tfreless and vfgilant as if he had not been awake for tventy-four hours.
 It was the dugout that first started from it's nights repose. The door was thrown away from the casing, and great uncouth man, strong as giant and wild of aspect Rs 8 savage, strode forth, gun in hand, his eyes sweeping the landscape in quick flashing glances. Almost instantly he discovered the fig ure perched on the, granite block over- looking his retreat. He raised his gun to his shoulder.
 The young man fell sidewise behind the rocks, and bullet clipped the edge of his barricade. Remaining supine, he fastened his handkerchief to the end of his whip and waved it above the rampant. Having thus manifested his peaceful intent, he rose, still hold ing. the flag of truce above his head, and remained modonless. Brick Will lock stared at him for q moment in hostile indecision, then strode forward. At the same time an old man, thin, tall and white haired, issued from the dugout, evidently attracted by the gun shot, and soon after the cabin door opened, and the girl of the cove looked out inqufringly.
 In the meantime the young man slow ly descended the hill to the oval valley, while WiIlock hurried forward to meet him.
 Don't you come no fu'theri' Will lock commanded, threatening with his gun. Keep your hands above your head until I can ship your .cargo.'
 Obediently he stood while the great whiskered fellow took the weapons from his belt and dived into his hip pockets.
 .That'n do Now, what do you want?"
 Its hard to put it into few words the other complained 'I'd like to have a little talk with you.'' stYou are one of them fellows that come here to, run us out of the coun- try, ainit you? Are your pards out side there, waiting, for message?'
 Nobody knows I'm here or thought of coming. Let me put that affair in it's true light. The boys are all under our boss, and when he lays down the law it isn't for us to argue with him. We carry out orders'-
 Unless there's a Brick Willock in- volVed in them orders,'' returned the man, with a grim smile.
 But it's our duty to try to carry out the orders, whether we like 'em or not. So you won't hold that against me that little scrimmage bf last month, especially as you came out best man.
 q used to have a boss myself Will lock spoke uneompromisingly but when he give me certain orders one particular night that recoIlect I knocked him on, the head and put out for other parts. I guess your boss knowed this wasn't t his land, didn't he2 Whats going to become of this country, when a man, isn't satisfied with what is his'n? Well, now you've had little talk with me you can just mosey along. I'll send your weapons after you by a messenger
 The young man cast a despairing glance toward the girl, who stood in her doorway graveIy~Hstening The man with the bushy white hair had drawn near, but evidently with no thought of interfering.
 "Willock'.-the voice came so eager, l so impetuous, that the words were somewhat incoherent-tIsve got to talk to your daughter. Hold on; don't shoot; Estenl That's what I've come for, to see her and-and meet her and h, T1 T /E 70 It's been two long years since I left home back east, and in all these two years I've never seen anything like your little girl, and-and what harm can it do? l say, have pity on a fellow, and do him the biggest favor he could enjoy on this earth when it won't cost you a penny or turn of your hand! Pm just so lonesome. so homesick, so dead killed by all these sand hills and alkali beds and nothing to talk to from one years end to the next but men and cattle.''
 Willock glared at him in silence, fn- gering the trigger thoughtfully.
 "There Pve sat on that hill,'' he con- tinued, since ? o'clock last night wait ing for daylight so could ask you to help miserable wretch that's just starving to death for the sound of a girls voice and the sight of girls 1 smile.r 'It is kinder lonesome,Y remarked the other grufdy. He lowered his gun 1 and leaned on it irresolute1y You've l sure touched me in the right spot, son. for knows all you mean and more that you ain't even ever dreamt of: 1 but, you see, we don't know nothing about your name, your character, if l VOT,VA COf one 171i. ha Haf7 raoIIV intends.''
 My name is Wilfred Compton III have a letter or two in my pocket that 1 I got a long eime ago. They'd tell l something about me, but I'd rather not I show 'em, as theY're priYaten-