The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-01-28

| ldtHeI muSL nave EemOFcu tuObo Vi III
! portance.
Possibly he carried them with
| him?''
| She leaned her head on her hand
her eyes thoughtful.
| Il think he once told me they were
| left in charge of banker at Charles
| ton-an old friend. 1t 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. 81 was away at 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- l learned of his feud with
Cowan by accident"
1T was feud them"
ION one side at least. My father
was shot at, and several of our out
houses burned. The trouble arose
over the title to property. Cowan."
she explained, was squatter on land
which had belonged to our family ever
since my grandfather first settled here.
w q Adu liLlC 1lOlu II 6thias bot thO
tract granted had never been properly
surveyed. My father had it dune, and
discovered that Ned Cowan and two of
his SONS occupied part of our land
with no legal right"
Her eyes uplifted to my face. and
then fell again, one hand opening and
closing on the back of the chair. She
laughed pleasantly.
Il hardly know why / am telling you
all this family history" she continued
almost in apology. 1T is as If talked
to an old friend who was naturally in
terested in our affairs"
perhaps the manner of our meeting
accounts for it," | ventured. But
truly am more deeply interested than
you imagine. 1t may prove of mutual
advantage for me to know the facts.
Did Major Harwood try to force them
from his land?"
"Oh, no." hastily, my father had no
such thought. He tried to help them
to purchase the property at a very
small price, and on long time. His
intention was to aid them. but he
found himself unable to convince either
father or sons of his real purpose. They
either could not, or would not, under
stand. Do you realize the reckless,
lawless nature of these mountain
menu"
Eyes, to some extent; they trust no
one"
THAT was the whole trouble. Seem
ingly they possessed but one idea
that II my father was killed they could
remain where they were indefinitely.
Their single instinct was to fight it out
with rifles. They refused to either
purchase OF leave"
There was silence. as though she
had finished She had seated herself
on the wide arm of the chair, still fac
ing me, and could hear the rain beat |
ing hard against the side of the house. |
Suddenly she looked up into my face.
How odd that l should talk to you
so freely" she exclaimed. why l do
not even know your name"
Charles H. Raymond"
1 could not be certain that the ex-
of her eyes changed, for they
suddenly looked away from me, and
she stood again upon her feet.
Raymond, you say!" the slightest
hardening Of tone apparent, ION re-
,ruiting service from the Army of the
ootomac?" She drew a quick breath.
II think have heard the name be-
ore. Would you mind If l did ask to
Zee your orders?"
mot in the least" l answered. not
Wholly surprised that she should have
leard of the other, and confident the
,apers | bore would be properly exc
uted. IT prefer that you have no
oubt as to my identity"
She took them, and noted slight
trembling of her hands as she held the
,aper open in her fingers, her eyes
lancing swiftly down the written
ines.
~ have become quite a soldier of
ate" she said, and handed the pack
ge hack to me. And l cannot doubt
our credentials. | am very glad to
,eet you, Lieutenant Raymond" and
he held out her hand cordially. las
have admitted already. l am Noreen
[arwood." [
Whom / shall only be delighted to
erve in any manner possible" l re- {
lied calamity, relieved that she was ,
} easily convinced.
ooh, l think the service is more '
kelly to be mine. You confessed you =
roke in here seeking after food and
re. Down below we may find both,
i'd 1t will be my pleasure thus to
,rve a Federal officer. You have a 6
mp Without" a
ION the stairs?" Il
She led the way like mistress In t.
,r own home, and / followed. There 8
as a force of character about the girl o
It to be ignored. She chose to treat o
g as a guest, unlimited, but none the b
IS welcome, position l was not re- e
Giant to accept. l held the lamp as :
, went down the stairs together. the F
US Of light pressing aside the cur d
In of darkness. u