The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-28
CHAPTER TX.
Peaceful Returns

That afternoon when tn. four.
thirty-five aid TO a painting halt
beside tho station platform. Peace
full Hart emerged from the smoker.
and nodded thru the open window
to Miss George. Behind him per.
spired Baumbcrger.
"Howdy. Miss Georgier' he
wheeEcd. as he passed the window.
Ever see such hot weather In your
iife' ! never did"
Miss George glanced at him
while her fingers ratified her key.
and Il struck her that BaumberEer
had lost . good deal OF his oily
amiability since she saw him last
She gave him a nod cool enough
TO lower tho Thermometer several
degrees. and leaned forward 20 that
she could see Peaceful just turning
TO 60 down The stops
"oh. Mr.. Hart. WIN you wait a
minutsf' she called clearly above
the puffing Of the engine. rive
something for you here. Soon as
I get this train out" She saw
him stop and turn back 10 the office
and lie, II 20 at that for the present.
Il sure have got my nerve" she
observed mentally. when the wheels
were beginning to clank. But she
smiled at him brightly. and waited
until Baumberger had gone lumber.
ing with rather uncertain steps 60
the store.
Il lied to you. Mr.. Hart" she con.
fesaed. engagingly. Il haven't a
thing for you except a lot OF CUES.
lions. I'm not just curious, you
know. I'm horribly anxious. I've
been waiting to have n little talk
with you. and simply couldn't let
the opportunity 10 by" She talked
fast. but abe was thinking faster.
and wondering n this calm, white.
bearded old man thought her a med.
dlesoms fool.
You just about swear BIZ old
Baumberger. don't your" she began
presently. fiddling with her lead
pencil and going straight 10 the
heart Of what she wanted to say.
We'll. dunno. rye kinda learned
10 fight shy OF swearing by any.
body. Miss George" His mild blue
eyes settled attentlvely upon her
flushed face
That's some announcement,
anyhow" she sighed. because he's
the biggest old blackguard In Idaho
and more treachcrous than any In.
dian ever could be II he tried. I'm
certain as can be OF anything. that
he's at the bottom OF this placer
claim fraud. and he's just digging
your ranch out from under your
feet while he wheedles you into
thinking he's looking after your In
terests. I'll bet you never got an
Injunction against those eight
men," she hazarded, leaning toward
him with her eyes sparkling as the
subject absorbed all her thoughts.
I'm bet anything he kept you fId.
ding around until those fellows all
filed on their claims. And now it's
got to go TIL the case In finally
settled in court, because they are
technically within their rights In
lawful improvements on
their claims"
Yes. they've all filed-twenty
acres aplece-the best part OF the
ranch. There's n forty runs IN
over the bluff; the lower line takes
in the house and barn and down
into the garden where the man they
call Stanley run his line thru the
patch. That forty's mine
yet. It's part uh the homestead"
Peaceful spoke slowly, and there
was n note OF announcement I'm
his voice which II hurt Miss George
to hear.
We'll. they've got to prove that
those claims OF theirs are lawful.
you know And n you've got your
patent for tho homestead--you have
got patent. haven't your" Some.
thing In bis face made her fling In
the question.
"Y.es-or I thought had one"
he answered dryly. 1T seems now
there's a flaw In Il, and It's got to
go back to Washington and be rec.
titled. 1t amt legal tn that's been
done"
who found that mistaken" she
"Baumberger?"
Yes, Baumberger."
They talked awhile longer. and
then Peaceful went In search OF
and together they
drove away In the direction OF the
Hart ranch.
Tho cloud NJ duat m load no hat.