war with Germany. These young women were
over there too, as nurses, ambulance drivers and in other wartime
occupations. When we returned to the United States, we decided to take a
vacation in the saddle each season until we tired of it. The first
season we rode over the Apache Trail in Arizona. Last year we crossed
the Great American Desert in the west. This season we decided to come up
here and combine business with pleasure."

Thompson's under jaw, Hippy observed, was sagging a little.

"An uncle, among other things, left me some mountain property on White
River Ridge. I have never seen it, but I am now on my way to look it
over and see if it is worth anything. That is the business to which I
referred, and is the only business I have in the Kentucky mountains. Are
you satisfied?"

"If Ah ain't, Ah'll give you-all warnin' that somebody'll shoot ye till
you-all's daid!" warned Jed Thompson.

"That is a game two can play at. I have played at it myself," chuckled
Lieutenant Wingate. "You have given me a timely warning, and I'll return
the compliment, old dear."

"What's that ye say?"

"I have not said it; I am about to say it. Listen, Jed! Bat Spurgeon's
gang has planned to come over here on the twenty-third and shoot up you
and your crowd until you-all are 'daid,'" was Hippy Wingate's solemn
warning. "Put that in your pipe and smoke it."

CHAPTER XXII

JULIE BRINGS DISTURBING NEWS

"Is that right, Loot'nant?" demanded the mountaineer, leaning forward
and peering searchingly at his informant.

"It is my information."

"Whar you hear it?"

"I overheard it one night. Another thing. That friend of yours, Lum
Bangs, I should not trust too far were I in your place. Mind you, I
don't speak with any knowledge that he isn't your friend, but I should
advise you to keep your eyes on him."

"Ah reckons you-all ain't such a fool as ye look," grunted Jed Thompson,
turning abruptly and striding away.

"Whew! That was a blow below the belt," muttered Hippy. "I am glad that
Emma Dean didn't hear that."

Lieutenant Wingate heard Thompson getting his horse from the barn, and,
a moment or so later, saw him riding away, rifle thrust in the saddle
boot. Jed did not return until late that night, after all were asleep.
The doctor had decided to remain all night with his patients, so
Elfreda and Grace made up their beds in the barn for a much-needed
night's rest.

Before they were awake next morning, the mountainee