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Soon they reached the outskirts of the village Here their approach bad been watched for or had been already reported Jean sawfrom behind cabins and froures of ardens and running north, toward the center of the village Could these be friends of the Jorth crowd, on the arnings of the approach of the Isbels? Jean felt convinced of it He was learning that his father had not been absolutely correct in his estiarded by their neighbors Not ithan in cattle, had an honest leaning toward the Jorths Sos that were dishonest in deed if not in sincerity

Gaston Isbel led his clan straight down the middle of the wide road of Grass Valley until he reached a point opposite Abel Meeker's cabin Jean espied the same curiosity fro the road But presently, at Isbel's call, the door opened and a short, swarthy man appeared He carried a rifle

"Howdy, Gass!" he said "What's the good word?"

"Wal, Abel, it's not good, but bad An' it's shore started," replied Isbel "I'm askin' y'u to let me have your cabin"

"You're welcome I'll send the folks 'round to Jim's," returned Meeker "An' if y'u want me, I'm with y'u, Isbel"

"Thanks, Abel, but I'm not leadin' any more kin an' friends into this heah deal"

"Wal, jest as y'u say But I'd like daht"

"Ted! Is he daid?" ejaculated Isbel, blankly

"We can't find out," replied Meeker "Jim says thet Jeff Caht Greaves allus was friendly to Ted, but Greaves wasn't thar--"

"No, he shore wasn't," interrupted Isbel, with a dark sain"

Meeker nodded with slow comprehension and a shade crossed his face

"Wal, Campbell claimed he'd heerd from some one as thar Anyway, the Jorths were drinkin' hard, an' they raised a roith Ted--same old sheep talk an' somebody shot him Campbell said Ted was thrown out back, an' he was shore he wasn't killed"

"Ahuh! Wal, I'm sorry, Abel, your family had to lose in this Maybe Ted's not bad hurt I shore hope so An' y'u an' Jiht, anyway"