Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net [Illustration: KILMENY'S ALERT EYES SWEPT AGAIN AND AGAIN THE TRAIL LEADING UP THE GULCH. HE DID NOT INTEND TO BE CAUGHT NAPPING BY THE OFFICERS. Frontispiece (p. 67)] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE HIGHGRADER BY WILLIAM MacLEOD RAINE Author of "Wyoming," "Ridgway of Montana," "Bucky O'Connor," "A Texas Ranger," "Mavericks," "Brand Blotters," "Crooked Trails and Straight," "The Vision Splendid," "The Pirate of Panama," "A Daughter of the Dons," Etc. Illustrations By D. C. HUTCHISON G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY Publishers New York ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright, 1915, by G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY The Highgrader ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Campers 11 II. Mr. Verinder Complains 18 III. Night Fishing 28 IV. Fugitives From Justice 44 V. "I'm Here, Neighbor" 56 VI. Lord Farquhar Gives Moya A Hint 71 VII. Moya's Highwayman 84 VIII. The Bad Penny Again 102 IX. "An Out and Out Rotter" 113 X. Old Friends 123 XI. A Blizzard 141 XII. Out of the Storm a Man 157 XIII. Shot To the Core With Sunlight 170 XIV. "Prove It!... Prove It!" 180 XV. A Highgrader--In Principle 189 XVI. One Maid--Two Men 201 XVII. A Warning 218 XVIII. Two Ambushes 237 XIX. Mr. Verinder Is Treated To A Surprise 243 XX. Colter Takes A Hand 250 XXI. Spirit Rapping? 264 XXII. The Acid Test 274 XXIII. Captain Kilmeny Retires 284 XXIV. Two In A Bucket 291 XXV. Homing Hearts 309 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Kilmeny's alert eyes swept again and again the trail leading up the gulch. He did not intend to be caught napping by the officers _Frontispiece_ 67