The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-01-30
CHAPTER xxxvrII

CHAPTER XXXvTH
Ellen found it impossible to sleep.
After tossing in bed for two or three
hours she got up, dressed, and went
down into the hotel lobby. Roam AL
ford passed through it, on his way
from the bar to the street. The
gray-haired little mans beady eyes
fastened on the girl.
"What you doing up this time OF
night, Miss Elem" he asked.
81 can't rest, Mr.. Afford. I'm wor-
ried about father. I want to 60
back to the ranch, where I'll be
nearer him if anything happens.
Afford agreed to ride with her.
AS they rode up through the dark
ness to the ranch house Roam caught
at the rein Of Ellen's horse and
pulled it to halt.
"Wait minute. There's some
one thereon the porch"
Already Ellen's gaze had picked
up two horses at the side OF the
building, vague and shadowy in the
gloom. The object on the porch
stirred. It was man. Or was it
two men?
s'Who is it," Afford called.
calhoun Terry" the answer
came.
A pulse began to beat in the girls
throat.
SIS that father with your" she
asked.
Terry rose from where he had
been kneeling. 'No. Your father
is all right, Miss Carey. This is q
wounded man. He slipped out of
the Wagonwheel Gap Ranch with
message, and they wounded him as
he was trying to get through the
lines"
..The Wagonwheel Gap" she re-
peated.
eyes. Ellison's men are surround
ed there. They want a telegram
sent to the Governor.
.sHas there been a battle?"
'sNot yet. The settlers are be-
sieging the invaders, who are pretty
well forted UP. I'm afraid there
will be a heavy loss of life it the
troops don't stop it."
ssWhere is father?"
'sHe is with Bill Herriott's men.
We offered to mediate, but they
wouldn't let u.s."
Ellen looked down at the man on
the floor. 'sIs he badly hurt?" she
asked.
'sShot in the leg. Could you take
him in here, until can arrange to
have him moved?"
''Of course"
81 hate to trouble you, ma'an,"
Yancey said.
Don't worry about that" she told
him.
The men carried him upstairs and
put him to bed. They dressed the
wound as best they could, after
which Ellen joined Calhoun on the
porch.
'I'n rope one Of your horses, If
you don't mind" he said to her.
IT have to get this message of to
the Governor"
She took instant alarm. you're
not going back to Round Top?"
ssNo. I'll send the telegram from
Jim Creek. It would probably be
held up if I tried to get it off from
Round Top"
''Wil you send q wire to Doctor
Harris and ask him to come up and
look after our patient here?"
"Yes. He'll probably be needed
at the Wagonwheel Gap Ranch too.
On the way there he can stop here"
Ellen walked down with him to the
corral. Roam Afford was taking
care of the wounded man, and for
the time she could be spared. She
moved with a fine animal vigor,
shoulders and hips in q straight line
vertically. Calhoun noted the rhyth-
mic grace of the slender figure. He
had never met another woman like
her, SO fine and gallant and ami
mated with life. There strllmmed
in his blood a strong desire for her
for the dark beauty tempered as q
Toledo blade, for the sweetness and
the courage that she carried like a
banner. There would be gifts in her
eyes for some lucky man. but they
would not be for him.
Larry Richards and are buying
q slice Of the Diamond Reverse 3, !"
he told her. five been thinking we
might have place for JEFF Brand
when he gets able to work =
She flashed q quick look at him,
surprised. "po you think that would