The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-29

sick-tent and taking him such little
delicacies as her ingenuity could sup
ply. She realized how close he was
to SelwOod, and whoever was trust
ed friend of Selwcod's Christie, some
how, liked.
Pardaloe, feeling that help was
needed in his efforts to straighten out
the differences that kept Selwood and
Christie apart, had taken Tracy into
his confidence, and the old man was
ready to do what he could to help.
On this Saturday afternoon ne held
Christie for a little chat, and as soon
as he could introduced the delicate
subject that Pardaloe had already
preached to her.
"Bill Pardaloe," he went on, con-
tinuing his remarks, "said you was
afraid of Selwood because you thought
he was gambler"
Christie's eyes fell-she would not
comment on it; besides, Tracy him
self was q gambler. "Mr. Pardaloe,"
she said impatiently, "says great
many things about matters that don't
concern him-or anybody else, for
that matter. How Is your back today,
Mr.. Tracy?"
Tracy was not so easily thrown off.
He said what he wanted to say. Il
don't call Selwood a cumberland
I've been trying long enough to make
him one. He amt built for the bust
40 TN fc fno
heart. Any old woman can come along
to him with a tale of woe and he'll
upset. the whole durn town over 1t,
He's, film in for me, at my place up
on the HILL" explained Tracy defenr
sively, that's about ALL" @ ,...t,
SelwoOd, knowing nothing of the
well-meant IL misdirected activities of
his two crude but stanch defenders,
started for the horse barn, after
Carpy's talk, and for Tracy's tent. re-
fiecting that with Tracy himself he
should have a delicate job on his
hands to induce the old man to move
at all would be triumph. He stopped
at the warehouse first to tell the
wagon boss, briefly, what he had
heard and what to do. "If there's
going to be trouble here I don't want
to get caught with warehouse full
of goods unprotected" he said to Le-
fever. "Get hold of every ,teamster
we've got in town and hold every man
here to protect company property.
Work fast"
"I'll have 'em all rounded up in
half an hour by the watch" returned
Lefever "What are you going to do.
yourself. John?"
1t was the second time Selwood had
been asked the question. He did not
know; but he flung some kind of an
answer to the wagon boss, and crossed
the street to the barn. McAlpin, in
the front gangway, was washing a
harness.
Selwood's orders were brief. "Get
up team of saddle horses, Jim. Hitch
'em to the light democrat wagon-the
one that's covered. Muzzle Chloe
carefully and put her under the seat.
And give me the best team in the
barn that's saddle broke"
"Nance and Jim," interposed Nc
Alpin, "and they're crazy to CO."
Saddle my horse" added Selwood,
"and put couple Of good saddles into
the wagon, fill the bed pretty we'll
with hay, and throw a couple of
clean army blankets over. it. Put in
two canteens and enough food for four
of us, two days." Pardaloe walked up
from the stalls. "Get hold of Bob
Scott, Bill" said Selwood to the mule
boss. 81 want to use him right away.
He'll drive" explained Selwood to Nc
Alpin. "And as soon as you find
Scott" added Selwood to Pardaloe,
report to me at Tracy's tent. But
don't talk before Dave-work quick,
will you, Bill?"
Pardaloe hobbled briskly out after
Scott, and Selwood spoke again to
McAlpin. II suppose you've heard this
talk that's going around?"
"Vigilantes? ....
"They've been talking good
WHILE" continued Selwood, purposely
ignoring particulars, "but Dave must
be taken where he'll be SAFE"
"He must, John"