Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-12-19


MR.. RANSOM was evidently in the
early thirties, distinctly handsome
Ava in a we'll bred way. Of a little above
average weight. but not ~menacingly big
and clad so perfectly as to look cut
out OF a colored art advertisement.
He raised his hand Smartly to his
that smacked of of1cialdom.
NO. The Lees are in Europe. I'm
Miss Lloyd Mrs. Lees .
ward"
Are you in charge here. Miss Lloyd?'
Not exactly but If there's
something you want p"
We'll. there is, and I'd rather deal
directly with the family than with Mrs,
Lees lawyer over in town. I'm Ran
som. Got a horse farm next to this
estate. My pastures played out and
my breeder doesn't like the hay we've
been getting up river. Thought I'd
see if l could arrange for grazing
privileges for my brood mares here on
Powhattan Head. Your grass is going
to waste, no stock IN It,"
That ought to be all right, Mr.. Ran
SON." Roxie said.
III pay whatever you think right,
Miss Lloyd. It's pressing, though. If
you say the word I'll turn 'em in and
pay whatever Judge Case says is right.
He's your top lawyer, they tell me-"
This time Roxie did catch her breath.
1t was Judge Case who had sent her
to The House of Guidance.
That will be all right, Mr.. Ran
som. You turn in your stock and send
a check for what you think it's worth.
After all, the grass might rs well be
used"
Thanks" His eyes went over her
with appreciation. Perhaps you'd like
to see my stock. l can take you to
look EN- over and back by dinner time"
I'D love to. Won't you come in? I'll
take Nanny Ann with me, if you don't
mind"
Right He followed her into the
house.
To RoXie's surprise, the old servant
was delighted. Mr.. Ransom, thus
viewed, wore to Nanny Ann a differ
ent face.
Roxie took a light coat and went
back to find Ransom walking about
the ROOM, examining its details. He
gave a close Tipped smile and said,
Some house"
Isn't it? And nobody but Lees ever
lived in it,
Out of my class" Ransom said.
But then 1 was a sailor until after
the war. Mate of a British ship. Never
had two dollars to clink together. Pro-
hibition changed all that"
"How?" Roxie asked.
Rum running. That's how I rolled
up my pile"
You must have run quite a lot"
Roxie said.
Certainly did. And I had luck. Got
away for a flying start. Beat the pistol,
as you might say. Got a friend to
stake me with a schooner running to
Bermuda, and in a years time I had
a fleet. Second, third, and fourth years
l had EN- all over the shop. Bermuda
II Nassau and Cuba and West Indies
in general. Then Bermuda got re-
formed. BY that time it was nearly
time to quit"
DO the peonle down here know
that?" Roxie asked.
They suspect. l finished up the last
few years in the stock market. All
this must sound pretty raw to YOU"
mot SO raw. I'm not a Lee"
He gave her another encompassing
look. "Relative?"
Sort of. I call myself a ward of
Mrs. Lee. That means that she sup
ports me. She's kind and charitable
+. warm hearted, like this house.
well, it does strike a chap that way.
Who else is here with your"
only the old caretakers. I'm all
alone"
Ransom shot her a keen look. He
seemed then a little puzzled. "Is that
allowed? A girl like you alone in this
big house,"
There were a number Of things she
might have said, pretexts, explanations.
But she remained mute, looking at the
floor.
Nanny Ann came in, picturesque In
q kerchief and an cid Paisley shawl.
They went out and down to the land
ing, got aboard the last model of high