The Highgrader

gether. But Lady Jim insisted that dinner should be a civilized function. Unless there was to be night fishing the whole party usually adjourned from the dining-room to the river-front porch, wh

sight. They halted among the trees, where one dismounted

general, and again and more

you, but my men haven't had a bite to eat since early this mo'ning. Thin

l have the cook make som

ed. Just anythin

ward. All but one of them were heavily armed. That one walked between a 30-30 and a 32 spec

lips and she swayed in her seat. The prisoner was Jack Kilmeny. Farquhar, sittin

ce murmured so th

ad and splendid shoulders of the prisoner. Never in his gusty lifetime had he looked more the vagabond enthroned. He was coatless, and the strong muscles sloped beautif

-born aristocrat," thought Farqu

er, and smiled genially at India. For Moya his look had a special meaning. It charged

h Sheriff Gill won't let me stop for

spirit. "Verinder will be glad of that. I fancy m

o was just coming out of the house. She looked at the young miner and at the rifles, and her eyes dilated. Under the lowered lights o

sked in a low, swee

antly. He stared at her in silence from fascinated eyes until

l, but he happened to be their cousin. It would hardly do to send him to the servants'

w enough of the West and its ways not to make a mistake. Such food

, the sheriff returned to the porch to apolog

his regrets by asking him h

nd. She was gone for forty-eight hours, and everybody in the district was on the hunt for her. Up there the mountains are full of pockets. Looked like they weren't going

she leaned forward, spoke vivid

rung the bell. He found her and brought her down to the ranch. It just happened we had drapped in there ten minut

natches of cheerful talk between the prisoner and his captors.

J K ranch. I was lying on a ledge close to the trail. You discussed wheth

for the kid, I don't reckon we ever wo

ed miles away in Routt County over in yor

caught anyhow. Now you've got me you wan

istake about that and try any fool br

said to the party on the porch. "If I were a

ayman, I tell you

" India confided in a whisper. "For wha

tain nodded, between tr

announced his sister with a det

d definitely accepted the American as a relative with the obligation that implied. Both girls waited for Ned Kilmeny to declare himself,

uld stand by his cousin. In her heart she knew that if he did not-no matter how right his choice might be in principle-she never would like him so well again. He was a man who carried in his face and in his bearing the note of f

t Captain Kilmeny asked him if he

ng you want t

e embarrassment tendered to his cousin the use of his

h hard unflinching eyes. "Why a

quite t

hat you have a cousin in the pen, is that it? Anxious t

swer India flamed out. "You might have the

ther. "I am. Beg your pardon, captain. As for your offer, I would accept it i

s Dwight has just been telli

hat were so like his own. "I wasn't so sure of it myself,

plied. "But I've a notion Miss Kilmeny will stan

ins, lifted a broad-brimmed gray felt hat from

ight,

ilar in appearance to the first, but much more worn and dust-stained. She opened her lips to speak

nd moved with his guards to the clump of trees where the horses had been l

impossible to discuss the situation openly, yet it was embarrassing to ignore the subject in the thoughts of all. After a de

ding?" Miss Kilm

nd put it on the table. "I didn't know it was y

ny that he had taken Ned's hat b

t wasn't b

t would he want with

. You see, I had started myself to tell him about the mi

ve brain busy. "It would be absurd for him to wan

ers before they lock them

head. "I don't

shine. "Now suppose there is something a

d turned it round slowly. "It's worn and a bi

f the outer ribbon. This told her nothing. Next she examined the inside. U

id I te

nt-what could there

enough to see that there was writing in

ted in her turn. "Perhaps i

He wanted to tell us something when the r

ere penciled on the t

rf abo

eps below

k three yard

zled eyes looked

it mean?"

know, u

ess

rection for fin

his hat? Besides, he would have no chance

t isn't a messa

'At wharf above camp.' That p

ou going to

Ned to help me fin

now why. It was not doubt of her reckless f

hink we'd

rprise. In general nobody came t

tell whether it is something

hall we

mediately. "The wharf above the camp. It's not a quarter of

" Moya rem

't object if we take Ned a

thering for bridge pretty soon. Let's go

get Ned and we'll meet you on the

nspirators. The captain was rather inclined to pooh-pooh the whole thing, but he was not at

aid presently, as a bulky sha

ust below it. Didn't the paper say som

below big ro

ed off the dist

lled his sister. "There should b

laugh as he moved out in his waders against the

gs and could not help being frivolous even when she was greatly inte

t in. "I say. My foot's kic

a hold on something lying between two rocks at the bottom. When he straightened again it was with an effort. He did no

," India cri

s grave, but she was white to the lips. Both of t

she told

so full that it gaped. Silver and gold coins, as well as bills, filled it to the mouth. T

een merely a note of identification of the spot. He had taken the captain's hat merely because he did not want the officers to find the directi

on the deserted north porch. Kilmeny hid the sack of treasure in his trunk and divested himself of his fishing clothes. Presently

der back into the living-room with her. The millionaire had vaguely the sense of a conspiracy agains

diers, with the traditions of family and of the army back of him for generations, the latter offense was the greater of the two. He understood something of how Miss Dwight felt. She had let herself become g

ughing up his sleeve at her all the time. No longer had she any doubt as to his guilt. She visualized the hurried run for safety to camp, the swift disposal of the treasure in the river because of the cl

on her as no man ever had before. She had seen him through a glamour. Now his character stood stripped in its meanness. Her sweet trust was crushed. In the reaction that was upon he

s, became aware that she was weeping silently. His heart bled for her. He had

equately his feelings. Greatly daring, he let an arm rest across

I can't stand it." And

toward which she was being driven. Had she never met his American cousin she knew that she would probably have accepted him in the end. The swift impulse swept her to anch

. want me?" she

n, "Want you!" he cried in a low voice no words c

told him na?vely. "Lady Jim says that will come. I d

leap to his honest eyes. "By God

the time I want-no

set your

he round bird-like throat swell as she swallowed the lump that had gathered. Pity for her and love of her rose in him like a flood. He would h

.. if we didn't tell

as you say,

You're good. I ... I think I

ingers and she vanished rou

nge a fashion. He was to be her husband some day, but he was not yet her lover by a good deal. His imagination fitted another

ept to him as a hurt child does to its mother. There was no exulta