The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-06-08

him?
SAs Leased her heaA o. her hand
hsr eyes thoughtful
= think hs once told ~ they yer
left In charge of . banker a Charles
too-sn old friend It vouIA be to-
dangerous to carry them about viii
HIN In the 6elA Yea So ! DO no
knew very much about his Affairs.
she explained = vas away At schoo
whea the var broke out. and we hav,
only met briefly since. Ny father dit
not talk freely Of his personal matter,
even to me. learned OF bis feud with
C0wan by accident"
1t was q feud them"
"Oa one side at least Ny fathel
was shot At. and several OF our out
houses burned. The trouble arose
over the title 70 property. Co~an.
she explained. was q sQuatter on land
which had belonged to our family ever
since my grandfather first settled here
We had title from Virginia. but the
tract granted had never been properly
surveyed. My father had II done, and
discovered that Ned Cowan aud two OF
his sons occupied 4 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 II l talked
to an old friend who was naturally ip-
terested In our affairs"
Perhaps the manner of our meeting
accounts for it," ] ventured. but
truly am more deeply interested than
you imagine It 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 . 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
men?"
Yes. 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 1t out
with rifles. They refused to either
purchase or 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 should talk to you
SO freely" she exclaimed why l do
not even know your name"
Charles H. Raymond"
could not be certain that the ex-
preston 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, "on re-
cruiting service from the Army of the
Potomac?" She drew a quick breath.
IL think | have heard the name BE-
fore. Would you mind If did ask to
see your orders?"
mot in the least" answered, not
wholly surprised that she should have
heard OF the other. and confident the
papers l bore would be properly exc
cuted. II prefer that you have no
doubt as to my identity"
She took them. and ] noted slight
trembling of her hands as she held the
paper open in her fingers. her eyes
glancing swiftly down the written
lines.
81 have become quite a soldier OF
late" she said. and handed the pack.
age back to me- And | cannot doubt
your credentials. | am very glad to
meet you. Lieutenant Raymond" and
she held out her hand cordially. las
| have admitted already. ! am Noreen
Harwood."
Whom | shall only be delighted tc
serve in any manner possible" l re
piled calamity. relieved that she was
so easily convinced.
"Oh. l think the service Is more
likely to be mine You confessed yor
broke in here seeking after food and
fire Down below we may find both
| and Il will be my pleasure thus Il
serve a Federal officer. You have
lamp Without"
On the stairs?"
She led the way like mistress II
her own home. and followed. There
was force of character about the CIR
not to be ignored She chose to trea
me as a guest. uninvited. but none thu
less welcome, position was not re
luctant to accept. l held the lamp a
we went down the stairs together. tn
rays Of light pressing aside the cur