The Lamar register., 1918-05-01
A Mountain
Maid
By Margaret Daisy Jameson


Money will solve the problem. Use
It freely. The company must and Will
exterminate the Boyce-Grinnel raiders.
Thus the manager Of the Brittin
Iron Works TO Adrian Burgoyne, who
had been surprised Mt the strange mis-
sion Indicated, but gratiiied at the con-
fidence reposed in him and the signal
discretion.
81 shall do my best" he said. mod
estly. although 1t seems a hardship
TO legitimate business that a few law
less men can block the wheels of in
dustry. Half the amount you are au-
thorlzed TO spend might bribe the
gang to let us alone. but the policy
and principle of the company is to sub
nit to no blaclImail extortiOns."
The word determination" had n
tragic sound, but, according to the in
structions of Adrian Burgoyne, in
volved only the suppression of the
lawless group to whom the manager
had alluded through isolation or cap
ture.
The Brlttln Iron Works had n mag
nestle mine at Tilson. n little town
back In the widest part of Tennessee.
In the rugged mountains beyond II
some ten outlaws represented the REM
nant of two notorious moonshine and
bandit gangs defied the community.
They would ride furiously into the set
Elements, and shoot them up and ter
rorize and rob their inhabitants.
Recently they had been after bigger
game. Wherever there was plant or
business Of any pretentious proportions
they would first threaten trouble
through anonymous letters. In most
cases the smaller companies timidly
submitted to paying regular tribute.
The dealings of the band with the Brit
tin Iron Works were on n large scale.
Their epistolnry menaces were dlsre-
garded. Within week two explosions
occurred In the pits. Some timld
worllmen gave up their positions.
Burgoyne reacher Tilson and looked
over the situation. He found 1t decid-
edly serious. The workmen were In
undated, and the timid police officers
were reluctant TO have anything to do
with the hunting down of the outlaws.
Burgoyne went back to Leesburg,
the nearest city. Here he approached
n private detective agency. Its pro-
prietor was amenable to the liberal re-
wards offered.
"0nce we can get the gang rounded
up into a court of law" observed Bur
goyne, 'there is evidence to land them
in the penitentiary for the rest Of their
lives. / will pay one thousand dollars
for the apprehension of each minor
member OF the band, and five thousand
dollars for their leader, Budd Grin
NELL"
When Burgoyne got back to Tilson
he went over the mines and inspired
the workmen with confidence and cour-
age by raising wages and organizing
IN armed group of special watchmen.
In this he was signnlly aided by man
named Zed Balnes, who had lived in
The district for years. was fearless and
independent and whom the outlaws,
after several encumbers with that sure
shot. left distinctly alone.
II was the second week of his So
lourn at TilsOn that Adrian started to
see Baines at his home n little beyond
the limits of the village. 1t was n
warm day he missed his way. sat down
against a tree TO rest, and the drowsy
summer air led him into profound
slumber
''What is this !" he cried vaguely, as
ne awoke at the consciousness Of hu-
man contact. He stared in wonder.
At his side knelt n veritable fairy Of
the forest, young girl. bronzed. tawny
haired, in rough frontier garb. She
held his right hand in firm clasp. To
its back her lips were glued.
Don't stir till tell your she or
Tered.
Then she disclosed steely blue
mound on the back of his hand, and
pointed to n writhing object in the
grass a few feet away.
"A rattlesnakei" breathed Adrian, a
thrill. once he comprehended the sltu-
alton.
His grateful eyes fell upon the bent
head of the intrepid girl. who had
probably discovered him just as the
fangs of the vemenous serpent had
sunk into his hand, had dispatched the
snake. and probably had saved his life.
"Come, quickl you must rum" she
urged. "Our house is less than half n
mile away. Fight OF the drowsiness
until we get some medicine down you"