The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-01
Selwood Of Sleepy Cat

found you. Are you In business here,
Mr.. SelwoodY
"Why-yes."
what is 1t, may ask?"
He answered haltingly-glad it was
dark. swell. I'm mixed up in differ
ent kinds Of business here-that's
what got me into trouble with your
father He spoke with laugh-or
tried to. II run this Russell and
Wentworth freighting OUTFIT he con-
tfnued. Il suppose If I called myself
anything, 1t might be mining man.
What has happenedT'
She was so confused and overcome
now that she could hardly summon
the words she wanted. Nothing has
happened. I feared what might hap
pen-tonight You didn't tell me-"
she ventured, lust what you were
going to do about the store" Then
she added, disconnectedly, Mr.. Star
buck came over again"
SelwoOd looked keenly at her
''What did he want?'
First he safd," she began broken
~, ''he wanted to turn the store
back to father"
''Was that alli"
"No."
''What else?'
Eff
"If-what?"
"The same condition he named be
FORE"
IF you'd marry him, eh?"
Yes
''Well, what did you say?"
Il said-what I said before. Then
he made threat. He said that any
body who went near the store without
him would get killed."
"And you wanted to let me know?"
She fingered the fringe Of her
scarf. but looked steadily at him.
"To be careful" she said.
He took her back to the tent and
parted with her. hard as it seemed
to do, at the fly. "Why did you want
to warn me?' he asked.
ITO repay your kindness They
spoke in low tones.
'Well," Selwo0d said lightly, 'ff
get hurt, youll know it was while
l was trying to follow your advice"
He was still laughing as she
slipped hurriedly into the tent.
Shortly after three o'clock that
morning two men with the barest of
shifts for disguise, and followed by
two dogs, whining and leaping at
their heels, left the stage barn. One
man carried three common axes, Of
the heavy type used in the tie camps
along the river; the other carried a
sledge of Il size and weight that
would have rendered it useless in the
hands of an ordinary man. But Par
daloe, Scott and their companion in
the adventure were not ordinary
men, the first was a giant in ply
sique. the second dangerous in en-
counter, and the third fertile in re-
source.
AS the two men neared Fort street,
Selwood. stepping out of the shad.
ow of the building, joined them. He
wore like the others, bandanna
tied with little ceremony across his
nose; flat wagoner's hat shaded
his eyes. "You brought the right
dogs?" asked Selwood, looking at
them.
II did," muttered Pardaloe, as
Chloe and her mate tangled them.
selves up between his legs, "n if airy
one of 'em gets killed, somebody's
goin' to get dumped right down on
the rock pile along with EN-"
Fort street was quiet as a grave
yard-not a soul was stirring and
the party reached the store unob-
served. They halted in the shadow
thrown on the north side of the low
building. Selwood tiptoed to the cor
ner and inspected the front doors
they looked substantial. The whole
front was exposed to the blaze of
the moonlight, and it appeared like
suicide to attempt a forcible entry.
Every aperture, he well knew, was
barred or nailed and would give only
before a determined assault.
ITO Pc CONTINUED