Year: 1877

came TO see me. | never shall forget the
smile with which she turned to answer.
1t pretty nigh disarmed me. We were
sitting somewhat close. too; her flowing
! silk gown touched my knees Altogether
| began to think OF those useless pegs in
my house down in Rouge River Valley.
But what she said pulled up my wander
ing thoughts. and turned them to present
things "Shall you be surprised to hear
that | have come to do you real SER
vice ?" she said. And she went on to re-
late that, having to pass the previous
night at place not many miles away, in
IL house where partitions were thin, she
had chanced to overhear a plan Tor nv
murder and robbery, the vilain-in-chief
OF the plot being the starved and naked
wretch whom l had sheltered and sent
away rejoicing not many DAYS previous.
| Al, IN moment, while ] was pondering
on the doubtful problem OF gratitude y
| lancy came over me that she might not be
telling truth; that it might be Just an ex-
| cuse got up to justify her own entrance,
and | playiully hinted so. "A woman
does not triie with subjects like these, nor
deceive when she goes out of her way to
do a SERVICE" she answered "I rode off
from that house the other way this morn
| ing, made a detour, and came here to
warn you. And, now that | have done it,
ii you will please to get my horse, will
ride away again" All fair, that. /. full
of thanks and repentance, asked her to
stay longer if she was not perfectly rest
ed; but she declined, and brought the
| steed round and helped her to mount him.
Once in the saddle her humor changed;
! she smiled, and reminded me that | had
not been polite enough to invite her to re-
turn. A week OF reading, talking. riding.
trout-tishinS and romancing UP in those
splendid mountains would be very charm
ing; perhaps she might come ii asked
her"


And did you ask her ?"


81 did not. A young man, with rep
utaton to sustain up there in the noun
tains, couldn't invite a young lady to stay
IA week with him. could he now ?" cried
Elam quantity, which set us both laugh
ing.


so parried the question "a easily as
could, and she rode away. In going
| slowly down the trail. she turned and
kissed her hand to me with gracious
sweetness. | assure you the struggle
within my own mind was great at that
moment. and dom know whether have
forgiven myself yet tor what happened
alIerward."


What did happen p


"She came back again. She came back
again, and drove her away. That is, |
made the best excuses | could for not re-
admitting her, saying we should perhaps
have fighting and murder--and what not
in my fort that night, and it would be
no place or scene tor a delicately-
woman. The pretty and modest girl, who
was TO come from Wallamet Valley and
hang up her pink garments on my pegs,
had rushed into my mind. you see-bnt
never like to confess to this part OF the
story, because | get laughed at But
don't you think | did right ?-having my
reputation TO keep up?"


| While we had our laugh out, Elam was
pushing his soft, fine light hair off his
| brow with those slender fingers, that
looked as if no rough work had ever come
near them--and what must they have been
before it did come? He went on thought
fully.


"She finally rode away, not having been
invited to get OH her horse, leaving me in
anything but pleasant frame OF mind.
From telling myself | was bear, |
turned to the other suhject-my promised
robbery and murder. Had she simply
| invented that little fable, or was il true
bill ?'


| Il telt inclined to believe it the latter.
| Any way, deemed it well to be prepared
ior all contingencies, barring aud boiling
my tort against intruders, aud sitting up
late over the fire. This was Sunday night.
On Tuesday morning three or four mount
| ed men rode up. One of whom was the
traitor, my former naked and hungry pro-
tege. He no longer attempted to conceal
his true character from me, but said he
and his comrades were intending to clean
out the Chinese camp, and he asked me
to join them in the raid. | was on my
guard in answering him, simply saying
HAT | would have nothing to do with rob-
bing the Chinese. that they were my
| friends and customers. and thought they
had best be let alone. With that he went
| off. That same afternoon Edwards came
in, having recaptured some OF the horses
lie was very tired, and asked leave TO
stay with the horses at my place till next
day. said nothing 10 Edwards OF the
gang just gone away, or that (what | sus-
pccted) they had talked of making raid
on the Chinese only to throw me off my
guard, that it was my fort on which the
attack was to be, and hoped the fellows
did not Know OF The arrival of the horses.
as they would be an additional temptation


tor them


"rd not live in those wild. lawless re-
gionS for the whole world, cried out Mary


dusk came on. | sent Edwards. dead
tired to bed made a great fire in the
tent, and sat by il facing the window. My
expected visitor came, the villain He
made believe 70 have been drinking, and
put that forward As plea for asking shell
ter until the morning. The instant be
was inside. made the gate fast, driving
the big wooden pins home with an axe.
| caught CLEAN from his eyes as | WAS
doing this, which


But why not have made the gate fast
before he entered ?''


because he was safer inside than out
\ conviction had come over me that this
man was some desperate character. His
comrades were no doubt waiting near, and
his plan had been quietly to opea the gate
to them"


Had you no arms but Your rifle ?''