Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-01-16
THE FREE TRADERS.

In hurried manner, repeated his
companions gestures. For several
moments the light Of the camp fire
silhouetted the calm faces of the girl
and Lee and the vindictive, scowiing
ones of the two men.
Then Pierre leaped to the ground.
by gar, it's de Teller dat tell me
'dat'll be all. +" he shouted. What you
t'ink you're doing here, you d--n four
tiusher?"
Maybe the same as you" said Lee.
"Ho, no, OATS good" roared the
breed. "You t'ink we take you in as
pardner. heinz"
Wouldn't go with you. I've got
my own hand to play" Lee answered.
You won't play it here, them bel
lowed Shorty.
Oaths poured from his lips. 'Pack
and vamose!" yelled Pierre. The two
advanced on Lee with belligerent GEES
lures.
Lee held up his hand as the fists
threatened him. Didn't / tell you l
don't fight?" he drawled deceptively.
you don fight? BY gar, you're
goin' to fight dis time or git" yelled
Pierre. You 'fraid of gittin' whipped,
| eh?''
That's about the size of II"
laughed Lee. That's why shoot in
stead-quick and straight ana sure,
gentlemenl"
His right hand made a movement
/ IN, L. ..4o In
was in the holster at the back of his
hip. and there was nothing in the
pocket more letha than his pipe.
But Pierre who was nearest,
changed color. The man was cur at
heart, as Lee had suspected. He
leaped back with snarl. Shorty
stepped back too, though not quite so
violently, and the two, withdrawing
out Of range, proceeded to hold a
Whispered colloquy, at the end of
which, turning away without another
word to Lee, they proceeded to set
1 UP their camp at little distance.
| Lee turned TO the girl who had
stood a silent spectator of the scene.
II ought to have explained, per-
haps" he said "You recognized that
man who insuIted you last night. A
little later happened to overhear the
pair of them speaking of a plan they
had formed for intercepting you to-
case they failed to appear. but that is
why proposed to camp beside you. /
think they are INSCRIPTIONS custom
ers, and you've probably reached the
same decision after the scene that has
just taken place"
Thank you, but l assure you that
am quite capable of protecting my
SELF" answered the girl, and Lee saw
her fingers stray toward a service
size revolver holster at her belt.
"Of course don't want to intrude,"
said Lee. "But as long as these men
are here, think l ought to remain"
She took step or two toward him.
looking at him fixedly. "Who and
what are your she demanded with
quivering lips. "How am l to know
that you are not those mems friend,
that this is not all part of an arranged
plan?"
II am not friend, or associate of
those men," answered Lee Indignantly.
81 never saw either of them until one
of them insulted you in the hotel yes
terday evening. l know that they are
planning to do you some harm"
well, and-you?" she asked, trying
to keep her voice steady.
"You suspect me?"
~ don't know. l trust nobody. l
ask you why you are here"
my object in camping here beside
you tonight is simply to protect you,"
Lee equivOcated.
She answered, with an effort at
irony. And nay answer to you is that
1 do not need protection, but that this
country is free for all--for those men
and for you"
She went back into her tent, leav-
! ing Lee stupefied. The pair were al
ready seated in front of their fire,
munching slabs of bread and raw.
bacon. They had been watching Lee
and the girl furtively throughout the
interview. Lee wondered whether the
girls demeanor had given them any
Inkling of its termination. He had
never felt so foolish.
If they persuaded her that they
were more to be trusted. the situation
would be a serious one for her. Lees
position was certainly far more en-
barrassing than he had anticipated
1t was almost as if the girl had de-
cide6 TO throw in her lot with the pair
of Free Trader agents. He had not
succeeded in convincing her that their