Lorimer of the Northwest

LD

ection men acquire in that land, I pushed on for the big coulée-one of those deep ravines that fissure the prairie and much resemble a railway cutting. This one was larger than the rest, and Carrington Manor st

on the prairie, which is not greatly to be wondered at. Fifty yards from the lighted homestead in wintertime there is only an overpowering loneliness, where Death with his ally the Frost King reigns supreme; while, living closer to nature, we learn that there are even yet many mysteries, and man plays b

though the antelope had departed south, the settlers said that both from the bush of the Saskatchewan and beyond the Cypress hills the lean and grizzled beasts had come down into the prairie. Nevertheless, their noiseless passage harmonized with the surroundings; and at last I grew thankful for a slight drowsiness which blunted the imagination. But there were other riders out on the waste th

heeled their horses on either side of me, while another, who spoke with authority, grasped my bridle. Even in that darknes

raiding Coombs lately ye can pass, friend. Seen no one on the 79 prairie? I'm sorry. Four cattle-lifting rustlers held up Clearwater Creek, and we're goin

ce with death, keep watch and ward over the vast territories. We do not rear desperadoes on the prairie, though some few are sent to us. Neither do they take root and flourish among us, because ours is a hard country and there are not many men in it worth robbing. However, there had been trouble over the border when the rich Cattle Barons strove to crowd out the poor man, and the hardest hit among the latter, with murderous Winchesters,

whip. There were cypress among them resembling solid masses of gloom, and the wind howled weirdly; but at last I blundered up the winding trail into sight of Carrington Manor. The big log-and-frame-built house was dark and silent, and though I knew that at least the majority of its inhabitants were at Lone Hollow the sight depressed me. Then, just as we drew clear

ifle. Then, recalling what Sergeant Macfarlane had said, I knew that while the police rode hot-foot toward the boundary the rustlers had doubled on their tracks to hold up Carrington Manor. It also struck me th

that a humming bullet might not overtake me, and reached it safely with a heart that beat at twice its usual speed. It is one thing to face danger 81 in hot blood, but it is quite another and much more unpleasant matter to slink through the darkness wondering whether a foe one cannot see is following each movement with a rifle. Neither is there any chance of hitting back in such

gry voices now reached me, and I knew that if I raised myself and the watcher had changed his position he could see me. I reached the sill at

ther sign n

uler of Carrington used as an office or study. He sat in a basket chair with a frown on his face and disdain in his eyes, while a burly man muffled in wrappings leaned on the table opposite him, holding a rifle, the muzzle of which was turned toward the Colonel's breast. But there was no sign of fear about hi

that check, with a letter vouching for the bearer and explaining why you want so much in a hurry. Then, as I said before,

and I could fancy his thin lips curling u

ntee. Again, I will neither sign nor tell

s range. Still, we've no time for fooling, and if Jim finds the chest without you we'll risk putting up the price a thousand dollars or so.

at good that would do. My handwriting is peculiar; you couldn't imitate it

felt sure I could drive a bullet through one of them. Still, even in the circumstances it looked too much like murder, and to this day I have never taken the 83 life of a m

we'll make sure of that. I'll help him to cinch it on the horse if we can

ess, heard the scout answer their hail, and then I crawled back swiftly-toward the door this time. A glance through the window in passing showed me that the remaining outlaw stood with his back toward the entrance, and his eyes fix

s face, and I felt something crunch in under it. He staggered sideways, there was a crash as the rifle exploded harmlessly, and before he could recover I had him by the nec

g the lamp close beside the door. "Now, stand here in the shadow. I am m

d vindictiveness in his tone which made me realize that it was as well

y in the other room. They took me by surprise-in Western parlance, got the drop on me. Of course they'll come back, but all t

im short, and a hoarse, part

it said. "Open, and be quick about it, before we smash tha

d the light under the door. Well, the first man across the threshold will get a bullet through

am," cried another voice, but though the assailants had possibly not caught all the answe

aid Colonel Carrington. "They will try a fresh move next time. Mr. Lor

was a time when I should not have stepped aside to let death pass. But I apologize, Mr. Lorimer, for inflicting such talk on you. Hope we shall be friends if we come out of this safely. The check?-

nded different when he spoke of Grace, w

people with her to help at Lone Hollow. So, unless you are inclined to stalk them, which I should hardly

d excellent tobacco. But the vigil grew trying. The house seemed filled with whispers and mysterious noises. My throat grew dry, and the Colonel laughed when once I moved sharply as a rat scurried behind the wainscot. Neither of us felt

ent that the outlaws had heard them, for we saw two men busy with the horses at the stable door, while two more disappeared behind the bank of sods that walled off the vegetable garden. What their purpose was, unless they meant to check any accession to our strength while their comrades escaped with the coffer,

, but I could imagine the Winchester barrel resting on the sods while a steady eye stared through the sights, a

r your life

neither knew nor cared whether he noticed me, for I felt suddenly dizzy, wondering whether the bullet had gone home. Neither did I hear any report at all, for my whole attention was concentrated on the black shapes of the riders breast high beyond the wall. Then one beast rose into the air, and I saw Ormond swing a rid

empty saddles, and one seemed to help his companion. Then they vanished into the whirling haze, and Colonel Carrington's Winchester rapped as he emptied the mag

nd he told us he had seen four men he thought were Stevens' gang heading for Carrington, so we

I was willing, but Colon

lives away. The snow is coming in earnest, and it strikes me they

flesh and no fault of his own, was despatched to prepare breakfast, and it was a merry

th of you," he said. "You will make the b

atisfaction Grace and her train arrived in the Lone Hollow sleigh early the next morning, and on hearing the story her eyes glistened as she th

ers lifted a heavy burden out of it. The thing, which seemed a shapeless heap of snow and wrappings, hung limply

s had fooled us, and ye'll mind it's no that easy to fool the Northwest Police. He's one o' the gang, but the poor soul's got several ribs broken, an' after lying out through the blizzar

her Grace bent down over the drawn white face with

ck something that yielded when he made a landing. Y

ompassion shining in her wet eyes

im if it can be done. We shall do everything possible for him, anyway. Bri

do whatever pleases you, Grace," the ru

race Carrington transfigured for a moment by a great pity that added to its loveliness. Still, the coming of this unexpected guest cast a gloom upon us, and we seldom saw Grace, while Ormond, who seemed to know a little of everyth

ond called me in. The daylight was fading, but I could see the limp, suffering shap

asking for you. Do you feel any easier now? Here's

very good. Hope you don't bear malice. You oughtn't to anyhow-nearly broke my neck whe

even I could read death in his face, and t

that's a long story, and some of it might scare you. A big man froze me off my land, and some one rebranded my few head of stock. Law! we don't count much

hing I could not catch, but the man smi

down on one's partners; kind of mean, isn't it? And if it's true what you're saying I'll just accept

that was never still. Then he said softly: "You are only exciting him, and had better go,"

epiness pervaded everything when he j

. There was some fine material wasted in that man. Well,

w lay in state in the homestead he had helped to rob, until the Northwest Polic