The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-01-10
CHAPTER II-Continued.


3
With an awkward gesture Libert,
stretched forth hand, caught DraceI
and wrung 1t warmly. you're like
Ike Hamlet!" he exclaimed. "Pll d.
my best to help you, Hamlet. Let ms
be your Horatio as well as your slave
BRACE returned the fervent hand
clasp. MY Horatio" he agreed. Ant
then. solemn again, he added: ITS
worthy cause, Liberty. It's not alone
my private vengeance, but the wrongs
of a whole community that the ordi
nary machinery of justice can never
right. Why, Liberty. dozens OF mer
were murdered by those drunken
fiends; little children were trodden
under the hoofs of their horses, and
women Near our house, Liberty, an
old couple live in poverty. At the
time Of Stepho's raid their son md
his young wife lived next door TO
them; they were well-to-do and pros
porous. The day of the raid the son
had received fen thousand dollars from
the sale Of some lands. When rumor
of the raiders came. he hurriedly hid
the money somewhere in the neighbor-
hood. scrubbed on piece of paper the
location of that treasure and gave 1T
to his wife before he went out with the
other men TO fight. Next morning he
had been shot: and the young wife
had been carried off by those devils
her child with her, after the Indian
custom. to keep her from suicide. No
one knows what became of her Nor
has that money ever been found. Liner
ty, II could find Stepho, get him in
my power, I believe l could at least
learn what became Of that poor young
woman-possibly find that paper and
poor people so sorely need; for once,
some years ago. a mysterious fellow
was caught digging about their yard.
But I've talked enough, Liberty.
Action, Do you know any more about
La VitteY
"Not much" replied Liberty. 81 be-
lleve he Is often seen up the River,
and sometimes down on the coast. He
has his friends, and nearly everybody
else Is afraid of him. So you've
must keep dark till we get our chance.
And you mustn't show yo,.r feelings
in your face Remember. master
you're just a young man out to see the
world. H'm-here comes Colonel
Josh. Suppose we talk to him. He
was mule-huyer In the war and may
know something about Stepho."
The door was darkened. In came
Joshua Mortimer. the man whom Miss
Lucy had piled with questions con-
corning Drace. He had lodged in for
smoke, he said. when Shottle had
introduced him TO his master, and il
was evident that It was his aim TO i'm
press BRACE with his military bearing
He had not been actually In the army.
but had acquired the title Of colonel
from his adventurous work of buying
mules for the Confederate government.
The Colonel took 1t" that Drace was
from the North.
"YeS, hut some of my people were
from the South"
"Ah! | congratulate you, sir. have
q match. thank you"
brace had offered him light. He |
flied his pipe with tobacco crumbs dug
out of his breeches pocket, and, long |
legs crossed, sat back TO enjoy him.
self
swell. sir. Mr.. Drace, the war has
been ended some years; and II we for
get an evil as easily as virtue. sir. 1t
will soon be. only dim memory.
had enough Of It"
"But you were not really In the
army. Colonel JOSH" the slave smoke
Up.
The Colonel pulled at his pipe.
stretched his neck and appeared to
ish for something down in his collar.
Liberty. my duty was scouting and
he incidental picking up of mules. as
he records of the War Department
viii he pleased to exhibit. sir"
After few minutes more conversa-
ion the Colonel rose. II will now 60
NICK to the ballroom" he declared
himself. Liberty. came aboard to.
light with your third cousin. Miss
lucy Sanders
"That so? Come down, Marse brace,
nd I'll introduce you to her."
az think. sir. that she has retired"
he Colonel was quick to interpose.
ealizing that he had thoughtlessly sug-
ested IN invasion of his own terri
Dry.
"Not while there Is fiddle going"
aid Shottle. tome on"
Into virgils heart few the hope that
be slaves cousin might be the bar
aric girl WITH rhe roses; there could
e no installing her, after meeting her.