The Holly chieftain., 1916-01-21

tAOAC SoNA0 bp8It NO esCoit'
who went with me must have been
traitor. for he guided me south into
the Green Briar mountains. Last night
at dusk We rode into camp OF guer-
riilas."
who commanded them? Did you
learn?"
"A gray-headed. seamed-faced noun
taineer. they called Cowan."
She emitted quick breath. between
closely pressed lips.
You know the man?" l asked.
YES; old Ned C0wan; he lived over
yonder. east Of here in the foothills.
He and-and my father had some trou-
BILE before the war He-he is vim
dictiye and dangerous" She stopped.
her glance sweeping about the room.
IL have some reason to suspect.
she added. AZ II half doubling whether
she ought to speak the word. that
either he. or one of his men. broke in
here"
I'm search Of something?"
"A paper; yes-a deed. OF course
I may be mistaken; only 1t is not to be
found. The desk in the library was
rided, and its contents scattered over
the floor when / came. put them
back in place, but found nothing OF
value among those that remained. My
father must have removed those OF i'm.
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. II 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. learned of his feud with
Cowan by accident"
1T was feud them"
"On one side at least. My father
was shot at, and several Of our out.
houses burned. The trouble arose
over the title to property. Cowap,"
she explained, was a 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 it done. and
discovered that Ned Cowan and two of
his sons occupied part of our land
with no legal right"
Her eyes uplffted to my face. and
then fell again. one hand opening and
closing on the back of the chair. She
laughed pleasantly.
\ Il hardly knoFswhy I am telling you
all this family history" she continued
almost in apology. 1T 10 as If 1 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
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 ! 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-