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HESPER
...BY...
HAMLIN^ GARLAND
COPYRIGHT. 1005. BY HAMLIN GARLAND
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CHAPTER XIII.
T HE: little room to which Mr*.
Kelly couducted Ann w»* hard-
tf larger than a steamer state
room and was very primitive
am regards It* furnishing*.
“tf* a small piece and a rough place
Mm each as you, but It's the best we
MrnmT said Mrs. Kelly.
Aon responded to the humility which
■Med the hearty voice of her hostess,
*■4. though she shivered In the chill
aBr, answered cheerily: “I'm sure this
fevtry nice. The bed Is tempting.”
Bfcsitatlngly, with many misgivings,
BsuKelly withdrew, and Ann hurrled-
% disrobed and leaped Into the bed,
wUch. was white as snow and almost
■a sold. It was like a plunge Into the
■makers at Magnolia; It fairly took her
host*, away, and there was no escape
■oat this Icy contact, for the air was
am hitter as the sheets.
Sot the joy of the meeting with I.ouls
sad the unexpected glow of confidence
amdl pleasure with which she met Ray
nsaad’a. anxious, piercing eyes came
lack to warm her heart.
How changed Raymond was! How
Maptr brown) He looked as vigorous
as she saw him first at the ranch, and
pal different—years older; and with bis
, his resolution, something new
mingled—something graver and
Ho was handsomer In the
alut'i heavy boots than In the cow-
Rag'fe.spurs and kerchief.
Her mind took up again the singular
ity of her position, lying there In a
Matty bed In a miner's cabin. She
■ached. “Am I to meet my death by
Massing?" Bat at last a glow of com-
MrS began to steal.over her, a delicious
■oguor, and then—she was awakened
by a grinding sound and by the shout-
Ibe at cheerful children, and a few
■rim tea later the gentle voice of Mrs.
Kelly sounded at the door.
“Are-you awake?" Ann threw back
Mm coverlet to find the room fall of
smnshlne. "May I come in?" asked
Knu Kelly.
“Certainly,” said Ann, and the pale
■Ml pretty little ' housewife entered
tsKb a pitcher of warm water.
“Good morning. How did you sleep
Mr night T'
*T don’t know. I haven’t the slight-
imt idea where the night went to."
differ .dec. hostess left _hor_Aim lay
staring at the'rough walls lihdTB’e sfTl
more primitive celling in wonder. "It
must be real,” she thought, “for I
couldn't possibly dream It" With a
realisation of her own sloth, she sprang
out upon the cold floor and began to
dress with a vigor and celerity she
did not know she possessed.
During breakfast she studied Mrs.
Kelly and began to understand nt last
that the little mother bad not merely
’washed and dressed the boys and
cooked the breakfast, but had served
as waitress and mold of all work, and
now, calm and sweet and self con
tained, was presiding over the table.
If any dish needed replenishing, she
sprang up to get It, and this put the
robust daughter of wealth to shame.
"Don't you feel tired some mornings
and lie abed?" she asked.
Mrs. Kelly smiled. “Indeed I do, but
I can't afford to lie abed. When Matt
makes his next strike, sure I'm going
to hire a girl and sleep till I'm weary
of It, If it takes a week.”
“You must let me do something while
I am here,” said Ann. “Let me pro
vide a tnald for you.”
“Oh. no; I was only Jokin'. Sure,
you couldn’t hire n girl on the hill to do
housework. Besides, tho best of them
are not fit company for you, and In n
smnll hut like this you’re cheek by
Jov. 1 with your help.”
Ann had not thought of them as com
pany, but she gravely replied: “I might
bring a maid from my cousin's house.
At any rate, you must let me help this
morning. I can sweep and dust—in
deed I can."
“Mighty little dusting the shack needs
In this air,” said Mrs. Kelly. “Good
luck to me. It’s tiny."
“I must help or I will not stay,” 111-,
slated Ann. “At least X can amuse tho
children.”
Louis shot through the door like n
stone from n sling. His eyes were
dancing. “Good morning, everybody!”
he shouted. “Ilnven’t you brenkfnsted
yet? Why, we've been done ten min
utes. Isn’t this bully —this life up
here? IIow do you feel tills morning?”
Ann laughed to sec him so elate, so
vigorous. “What n child you ore!” she
exclaimed In wonder.
Raymond followed nt n little dis
tance. “Good morning. Miss Rupert.
Good morning, Nora. Hello, yoimkcrs.”
and he~gaHief5d a'boy under earif arm.
He looked very capable and entirely
self contained as be put tbe-Iads down
and addressed himself to Ann. “I sup
pose your baggage went to Bozle, but
we will get that today. And. Mrs. Kel
ly, If you need anything to make Miss
Itnpert comfortable let us know. To
the limit of onr resources command
us.” ^
Ann, with unaccountable lightness of
spirit, qntckly protested. “Now, please
don’t make company of me. I am go
ing to earn my living by helping Mrs.
Kelly about the house. My bed was
very comfortable and my breakfast de
licious. What else do I require? One
needn’t ask how you are. You look to
be perfectly well again.”
Loots stared at his sister and was
about to make some revealing remark
when Raymond Intervened. “We are
very glad to have you In camp, but you
most not suffer Inconveniences.”
“I’ve been thinking perhaps It would
do me good to suffer hardship,” she an
swered, with a reflective glance.
He considered a moment before chang
ing the subject. “Everything seems
qnlet up street this morning, so our
trouble may blow over. I nm going
up by and by and will report on what
Is brewing In the saloons. They are the
storm centers. I’m sorry Don started
to come In, and I hope he will go quiet
ly back and forget the whole Incident.”
‘Tell me about the camp. What Is
the trouble nil about? I cau't under
stand.” she said.
"It’s quite simple,” replied Raymond.
The county Is ubout equally divided
now between the miners of the peal:
and the citizens of the plain. The
peak's Interests are not those of the
Springs, and It has resented for a year
the domination of the Springs. Hie
owners of the mines are either resi
dents of the plain or of the east and
violently opposed to the politics of the
camp. Barnett’s man, Muckay, at
tempted to reorganize the working
hours of the camp and failed. You
know of the mishandling bo received.”
“What are they going to do now?”
“I don't know. As the case stands,
the camp Is hot against any Invasion
by the sheriff and ‘a mob of hirelings,’
as they call his deputies, and Ills at
tempt to overawe the camp only creat
ed more furious resistance. I will be
able to tell better what the outcome
will be when I learn wbat the union
has decided to do. Thus far it has been
a game of bluff on the part of a dozen
men who are not strictly miners at all,
and the question of wages has bad lit
tle attention. I am going up now to
see what Is going on.”
As Raymond entered tho street the
peace and beauty of tho Kelly home
and the vision of the two women bent
peacefully above tbetr sewing stood
away In radiant contrast above the
reeking saloons, the reckless crowds
and the rows of di;lnk Inflamed men
lounging along each bar.
The lover's senses, sharpened by
Ann's presence In the camp, detected
n more sinister change In The temper
of the men. Up to this time all that
had taken place had been Jocular, at
least on the surface, but the sheriff's
threatened Invasion with a hundred
hired thugs stirred the red fires of
wrath In men like Hanley, Brock and
CoMngwood, who bad hitherto been
but onlookers,, and they were now the
inciting centers of men talking loudly
and with Undisguised fury.
Hanley, perceiving Raymond at the
door, approached to say: “One of Mun-
re’s vedettes Intercepted that kid of
yours last night and got word that Don
Barnett was on his way up here. You
better warn him off."
Raymond resented his tone, but cold
ly replied: “The boy was mistaken.
Barnett turned back at Grand View."
Borne one plucked him by the arm,
and, following his guide, Raymond en
tered the room used as the office of the
uuiou, where he found Carter, the
president, and Larned, the organizer,
In the midst of a hot argument with
Munro, Smith and a group of others of
their sort. Ijirned was shaking with
excitement and rage, and Carter, the
little president, looked white and
scared.
Munro, with a grin, said: “Come )n,
Rob. This is a council of war.”
Raymond entered calmly, his bead a
little bent, his keen eyes studying ev
ery face. “What’s It all about?”
Lurucd explained, bis bands quiver
ing, the veins on his forehead bulging,
Ills eyes restless and fevered. “If they
do It.” he said, “I leave—I get out. I
will not countenance lawlessness of
this sort. I’m not a fool. I know what
the effect will be. If they turn back
this posse the state militia will be
called out. I came to organize a union
to meet the coming question of labor
and capital. I did not come here to
form hiobs. I refuse to sanction It. I
will not have a thing to do with it. If
you make this raid I leave the camp.”
Raymond spoke. “I’m not Involved
In the present disagreement, so- that
my advice is disinterested, but as
you’ve ridden up and asked me I give
It as my opinion that Larned Is right
You can stand off a sheriff once or
twice, and you might even stand off a
regiment of militia, but you con't stand
off the United States army, and that's
what you'll run up against in the end.
Jack, you ought to have sense enough
to keep out of this.”
Munro smiled. “I'm only the mili
tary arm of government. I’m not mak
ing laws; I execute them.”
“Why not call a meeting and put It
to a vote?” asked Smith.
“I know why,” replied Brock. “Lar-
ued is afraid It will carry."
Larned leaped to his feet. “I admit
It! I don’t want the word to go out
that this raid has been voted on by the
union. With the camp boiling with ex
citement. It might carry. Outsiders
must he tnught.tbe difference between
the action of the mob and the will of
the organization.”
Smith was .brutally plain. “It Isn't
-rsrz
yodr "Bay. You're 'ollly'ah outsider
yourself. It’s Carter’s place to call tW
meeting and discuss what we are to do.
*A half dozen of us'bsve laid ourselves
liable by doing duty for the union.
Now, the question Is whether the union
Is going to stand by us or sneak and
leave us to eat dirt In a valley JaiU’
“You bad no sanction from' the un
ion.”
“I know we didn't—no official sanc
tion—but you know perfectly well that
the men were wit)i,u8 then, and they
are with us now, every one of them.”
A rap on the.door startled them all.
It was like the tap of the finger of
fate. Munro opened the door, and Do
lan, the reporter, entered. “Hello, lads,”
he called easily. “What’s doin’?"
They all shouted, “Hello, Jim!" and
Lamed, storting forward, exclaimed:
“Any news?".
■'Well, rather. The sheriff, with a
hundred men and a special train. Is at
Trincberu. Ho means business this
time, lads.”
The roomful of meu now gathered
Into groups to discuss the certainty of
war. Dolan, gay with excitement drew
round him Carter, Larned and Colllng-
wood. Smith and Denver Dan were
the center of unother squad, while Ray
mond took Munro aside and earnestly
pleaded: “See here, old man, you must
keep out of this. It Isn't your funeral,
but It will be if yon don't vamoose the
ranch.”
"I can't go back on the boys now,
Rob. They need my military training,
and, besides, I am in It I won’t sit
back and see the district done up by
these thugs who never earned an hon
est dollar In their lives. And your
friend Barnett—what good Is he on
Carth? Just a bloodsucker on the bare
back of labor. I'm with the boys, and
It my experience can do ’em any good
I’m ready.” , -
“I know bow you feel, Jack, but this
Is desperate business. A fight with the
sheriff will set the whole country
against the miners.”
Munro smiled contemptuously. “He
won’t light. A round of shots In the
air will send him hotfooting it back
to the Sprlugs. It’s all a farce."
“Be careful. The farce may turn
Into tragedy at a moment’s notice.
These miners are Idle and full of liq
uor. Men like Kelly who have women
to protect”—
Munro caught at this. "By the way,
who was the ‘femme?’ My word, she’s
a peach."
Raymond’s tone was coldly Indiffer
ent “Miss Rupert Is from New York
city, Barnett’s cousin. She Is here to
look after her brother Louis. I was
not thiuklug of her so much as of Mrs.
Kelly and other women who can't get
away.”
Larned’s voice, rising high and cut
ting above the others, interposed. “Then
I leave. You are crazy. You can't hold
this hill with a million Gatling gans.
The national committee will not stand
for It Goodbyl” Clapping bis hap on
his bead, he walked out of Jhe room,
rnswLlte'face se'tln a-Turlous frown.
Brock roared out: “Call a meeting
Carter, and we’ll qarry it our way! To
blazes with the national committee:”
Carter, however, was scared blue by
Larned’s despairing retreat and re
fused. "We’ve g»f to go slow. \v e
can’t win without help. I won't wabe
the call.”
San Juan Bmltb, with flaming face,
shouted furiously; ‘Then we’ll do it
without your (auction. Tie exii-c.u-e
board will act.”
Raymond, on the doorstep, made a
last appeal to Munro. “Jack, you can’t
afford to go into this thing with Bmltb.
Keep out of It Ifa bad business all
around. It’s one thing to strike auj
another thing to resist authority.
this street!"
In some way word had already passed
along the ridge that the sheriff was ac
tually on the road and that be would
reach the end of the railway la mid-
afternoon, and a great throng was
packed round a man on horseback who
was good natnredly trying to force bis
way toward headquarters.
That’s one of my scouts,” said Mun-
ro, "with news of tho Invaders." And
he pushed off Into the crowd, while
Raymond, with serious face and slow
step, went down the path toward bis
mine.
‘They're going to fight,” he said to
Kelly.
“Fight? Of course - they’ll fight.
They’ll go down and drive the slierlCTs
men like sheep. But what then? The
crazy Jacks!”
“Do you think we ought-to tell the
women? Are they In danger?"
Kelly was reflective. "Not now. The
sheriff will hardly reach the hill this
time. He’ll go back. The authorities
nml the newspapers will chew the rag
for a couple of weeks, and then—we’ll
be up against Itt”
“All the same, Matt, I wear my guns
from this on, and one of us must stand
guard at night. The camp Is filling
with dangerous men.”
At Kelly’s invitation, Raymond and
Louis took noonday dinner with him.
It was a most delicious meal to Ray
mond and a pleasantly exciting one to
Continued on 8rd page.
Saved by Dynamite.
Sometimes, a flaming city is saved by
dynamiting a space that the Are can't
cross. Sometimes, a cough hangs on so
long, you feel as if nothing but dyna
mite would cure it. 55. T. Gray, of
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very aggravated cough, which kept her
awake nights. Two physicians could
not help her; so she took Dr. King’s
New Discovery for Consumption.
Coughs and Colds, which eased her
cough, gave her sleep, and finally cur
ed her.” Strictly scientific cure for
bronchits and La Giippe. At Vienna
Drug Co., store, price60c and $100;
guaranteed. Trial bottle free.
New lot of Picture Moulding just
received. Bring us your pictures to
frame. Vienna Drug Co.
TURNING YOUR BACK
ON OPPORTUNITY
You have heard Joel Chandler Harris’s story of the little chap who went rabbit hunting.
He tramped all over searching everywhere for Br’er Rabbit, who had cunningly seated
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There’s no need for you to hunt all over the country for your vehicles or harness. No
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All we ask is a show Come in and spend a quarter of an hour in seeing. Then buy
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The Buggy and Wagon People.
Surreys, Cabriolets, Depot Wagons, Runabouts, Buggies, Phaetons,
Anything, Everything.