f !
Ttof ttlltf tales f L m
A w(fi ilcifsi ii?
Fres
rom
By Annette Angert
N'oc
Yawk
j
p i
1
foj
X. !
n
KM
T tho time of tbla tale
I was opcratln' u
stagecoach between
the railroad and it
little mlnln ' cHnip
called Yellow
Creel;, whleh was
at the lower cud o'
the Catallnns yon
dor, and on tho
edce o' the doner!.
U7 WV CVl(Vu
I hard y ever had a full load nf turn.
ficngcrs, and on thin particular trip I
had but one. Ho climbed up on tho
scat with roe. Ifc wan n nihil little fel
low, pink of cheek and hluo of cyn; his
gray clothln waa One and cut to flf,
and bo had one o' them thorn little
so-lo-holl college hals ou bin head. He
wan mighty quiet until we'd got well
away from the railroad, and then ho
opens up midden with this:
"'Havo you any bad men In thin flec
tion?' '"Wo'vn cot one,' nays I, which was
tho truth. 'Ills name's Bill Klnic: but
wflVo took to callln' him King Hill on
account o' his ways. Big man, he is,
"with a King of England beard and
hrarln'; perfect hot; haa never killed
nybody, but haa lots o' holdups to his
discredit. And, I odds, 'he's got a
notch In the upper part o' each car to
provo that he's been shot at pretty
hard.'
"'A notch In each earl" orl'cc Ihc
lioy, oettln' up an straight au a prnlrlo
dog. By Henry, tho first crack!"
"What's that?' mijs I.
"I said, answers Ihc kid, 'words
meanln' that I'd found him the first
thing.' And a glance at him dhows me
that hip blue eyes lo all fire, and that
all o' tho pink is goon out o' bin
chocks.
" 'Might I inquire where you're from,
stranger?' I cays.
"'N'yawk,' says be. And wheu I
looks like I don't exactly get him, he
soes on fractious: 'New-w-w Yaurk
in that plain enough?'
" 'Yes,' I nosweri. 'But ay for tho
plainness of the ml. It ain't. I don't
somehow connect. Know Bill King?'
'"No; but I will.' And with that he
takes a little nickel-plated gun from
the suitcase at his feet, and transfers
it to u bandy coat pocket. When I
sem that pistol, I was too tickled to
Ittugn honest. Tho boy goes on, with
his voice bard: 'How does It cotuo
that the officers have never arrested
mil King?'
"'It's simple,' says I.
" 'Woofs simple?'
"'They can't catch nlm.'
"The hoy turns up bis nose, 'Stuff!
Stuff!' eayp he. 'But I'm glad they
haven't caught him. I want hlru my
ti'lf. And Jot tbls down in your Jlttlc
memoranda I'll get blm.'
'"Look here,' nays I, 'you take a
blamed fool's advice, and forget it I
mean forget jour crazy determination
to rope lo mil King. Why. you little
tadpole, you couldn't wake Bill King
IT you wa3 to nnd nlm anlocp!'
"The boy turns on mo hot. It seem
cl like hln madness was about to
obokn him. 'Listen hero,' says he. 'I
bad a big brother who came to this
country it few years ago to hunt for
sold. Ho was u good brother. Ho was
the best brother any muu ever bad.
This Bill King killed him robbed him.
and then killed him! I I've talked
t
U15 two women bad
discovered a nest
of berries ond were
tilling their pails,
when a young farm
er observed them
from behind a
clump of bushes,
"TrcepasBors, that's
what they arc. I'll
teach thorn.
"Heh. jou." showing himself to the
surprised mother and daughter. "Can't
jou read tho slgus around here, they
y, 'No Trespassing!'"
"But I am not trespassing, thin is
my own property."
"Yours, Huh! How long bincc? I
reckon I know tho boundary lines uf
my lands."
"Is that so. Joe Now ell. Well. Uncle
Si left this placo to mc. I thought I
T wag the mobt ador
able house Jubt a
bit of hi white cot
tuge on tho hill
hide, bowcrod iu
roseo. Tho .roof was
a wft green blend
lug In with tin. sur
rounding scemry.
The tiny porch wan
shaded liv low
trees. The whole fair, little hill pre
fcenttd an appearance as charming as
any plctura.
The bride clasped htr new husband s
-'.Tr.v'li.
JUl-a-drcjm.Ar a ,-m-
If
' I
I 111
too much. I sec. But I've got to have
a friend hero, and It might as well bo
you as anjbody else. I'romlso mo on
your word that you'll keep things (o
yourself until It's all over, and I'll tell
you tho rest.'
".My curloully was well out o' hanks
by now. I promised on my word of
honor.
"'The reason I want to keep it a
seeret Is,' he continues, 'because I
want to kill Bill King mjsclf. If the
fact that I'm after King gels up u stir,
the law Is likely to make a now effort
tn get King. I've got more against
him than the law has. 8co7 Well,
hcrc'a the rest. A cowman, a fow
months ago, found a skeleton ou ti
desert, and close by It n small bottle
with a letter In it. The letter was to
mo. Tho cowman very kindly put Jt
In an envelope and mailed It. Hero's
tho loiter, noud It.
"'If you can drive mluute,' says
I; and ho takes over tbc llnoo In hln
pluk-und-wbltc halds.
"Tho sheet o' paper was yellow and
soiled. But I could make out In n
clear, bold hBndwrltln' in pencil this:
"'Mr. Robert Solford.
'"1141 I'rajther HI., New York.
"Dear Brother:
"'I am "writing this in the hope ilia
Homo merciful soul will find It and
mall it to you. I am miles from anj
where, and within an hour I'll be gone.
A brute of an outlaw robbed me of nil
the gold I had found In eight mouths;
and when J followed him out Into .ho
desert to trj to recover it, he turned
upon mo. aud wo had a long tight, lie
got mr at last. Through ihc Iuur. Bui
ho didn't get mc before I'd notched
each ear for him with bullets. I -ell
you this because I want tou o know
that I went down like .1 Pclfonl nnd
like a man. And now, little hroilier.
heaven bless von. and aood-bj.
"THORNTON SELKOBD.'
"'Tho "owniHti burled the Opinion,"
says the boy, almost sobbln'. ns 1
handed him the faded letter 'ind took
tho lines. He goes on: "Tho wn
man's name was Lute Ardmorc; he
works on the Crossed L Ranch.'
"Tho Crofsed L 1s about two hun
dred miles to the west of hore,' says I
"Til find Ardmorc nnd thank him.
before I go hack,' says he. 'You was
mistaken In your Idee that Bill King
had no blood on hln hands."
"'H'h clear,' I nays, 'llet blm. son,
If jou can. But let mc offer some good
ndvloe you throw awny that little
popgun of jouro Into sorao kindly
bunch 0' bcrub, and get real, roau
slted bun.'
"'No.' objects Hobert Selford. 'Yon
see, I'vo beeu practicing with this for
a month, and I'm used to It. I can hit
a dlnncrplato at fifteen yards, every
crack."
"'Poor boy! jou rau do that," Hays
I, 'by tnkln' a good aim tnd holdln' the
popgun In both hands. But Bill King.'
says 1, 'cun put six bullets Into one
bullet hole at fifteen yurdo. without
almln' at all.'
"'Stuff! Stun"!" csclalmu young Sol
ford, not 11 bit convlncd. He takes
his little pistol from his coat pocket,
and gives It 11 caress such as fnw
things but tho firstborn of woman n
or know. 'This boy,' sajs he, mighty
proud, 'throws IlK bullet sideways, mil
they'll put a hole in a imin big nough
to hide a dog In.'
Hers
might make a few dollars plckinn tho
berries."
The man had beeu scanning her
face, which seemed familiar to lilm,
and when she spoke his nume. he, too,
recogulied her. "Molllo, I've beeu
wondering If It might ho you." IK u as
then ashamed of his outburst, for ho
noticed the shabby clothes of tho pair
before him. Aud when be knew It was
Molllo, a sweetheart of former dajs,
bo was more than ashamed.
"You see. Mollic. Aunt .Suiiiiu died
last winter and hor will left this prop
erty to me. but If the berries can be
of any service to you, why jou are
welcome."
With bead tossed high, Molllu an
swered, "Very well, I can HI afford iho
expense, but I will have the title ex
amined. Until then t will pick the ber
ries, and if I And the place In rightful
Home An
Jubt that darling nook in the hill-aide
and what a lovely view It must
have! Aud such roses! Oh, Dick, I
wonder If It's occupied!"
Tho new husband viewed tho pietty
place crltlcall1.
A gray-hatred woman came to the
door, wiping ber floury bands on her
clean apron. Her face was pleasant,
and her voice and accent refined as
she asked:
"What can I do for you?"
The bride spoke eagerlj, blushing a
little
' We ro Interested In that llttlo house
on tbo hill. You see. we're well,
wf'r li
T TiTYiWlifiiiiib&if m Till
"Well, in them dajs there wus lu
Yellow Creek a saloon und hotel com
bined under the hcadlu", 'Tho Dew
Drop Inn.' It was run by a fat. bald
pale I man named Ulvorsett; aud It
had tho faithful patronage of over a
hundred miners and cowmen at least,
the saloon half did. Hubert Solford got
a room lu tho hotel half. After he'd had
his supper, he walks into the saloon,
which was crowded, as usual. He goes
here aud there among the little poker
tables, lookln' for a man he don't Und,
a man with each car notched.
"Of course, ho d rawed itttcntlou. A
big minor by tho name o' Shanks Mar
tin finally thrown down his poker hand,
rises, and lakes the boy by one arm.
"'You've give nurso the slip,' says
ho; and u big, whoopln' laugh goes up
from the other fellows. 'Don't you
think you'd better get back home?"
"Now, doc. little .Solford begin to
tremble and whine? Ho don't, believe
mot Ho flicks that little popgun from
his coat, and Jabs its nose iisalust
Aim tin's ribs, and says with his icetli
together:
" You can't poke fun at mc il'yo
understand, .1011 big berf? Keep quirt!
If )ou don't, I'll send jou howlln lo
.ho great majority'
"Martin watched the hammer o' the
popgun. Ho saw that It lacked a good
deal o' bclu' at the dangerous point.
H knocked the weapon down v fth one
hand, and grabbed It with the other.
"'Hon,' saja bo, 'you ain't got no
jonse; but you Imve got some none.
So I'll forgive you. und give your pop
gun buck butt first, like 1 gentleman.
Thrco siiuiillo. boys, for the Popgun
Kid!'
"Then and there. In i baptism of
noise and powder smoke from n few
dozen forty-fives, tho kid gol n name
that stuck to him as long as he lived In
ihnt corner jf ,ho globe.
"Robert Helford got behind a bunch
o' cowmen v)io was throwln' dleo on
one o' .he roar ,abeR. ind commenced
to watch tho door. Kate answered his
prajern short off. In walks a big.
bearded man with his hroad-brlnimed
hat pushed up In front nnd a pair o'
the biggest forty-fives on earth nt his
hips :ind his right hand rested ready
nn (ho butt of his right-hand gun. He
keeps hlo eye on the crowd, backs up
tO' the bar, and with hlo left hand
tosses it llttl" silver "oln across.
" 'A bag of lobacco,' he growlu.
"Then the Popgun Kid steps from
behind tho dice throwers; uud I'vo
never seen another such a look ou 11
human's face as I sccu ou the face o'
Bill King twhen he seeu Robert Eel
ford. Robert Bclford begins io .shoot
as fast as lit can work ihc trlgRcr
Bang! Baug! Paug! Bang! Bang!
Bill Klug, man of steel nerves and ,1
brother to the devil himself for durin',
done a thing that almost knocked us
down with surprise: he broke out at
the door, jumped on hlo hoss. ind
burnt up the wind gettln' nway from
Yellow Creek! Ills pistol onipty.
oung Selford borrowed iwo forty
fives from convenient nolsters without
Hskln' for 'cm, run to the loor, and
stood thero blazln' away until they,
too, were empty!
"B cry body recovered quick. It
wasn't good polio J to Inqulro Into 111
other imiu's affairs in them duys. The
miners nnd cowmen simply set the lit
tle Knslcrner on the bur 'ind rsivo him
And
His
ly yours, I will refund the money io
jou."
"Oh. come now, Mollic, don't bo
angry with mo, I didn't know it waB
j on when I yelled. Where's Joe?"
The widow would have left him In
Ignorance, but the daughter gave blm
the desired information, "Papa's
dead."
A gleam of hope shot Into the man's
oyes: "Where Bre you Muylng?"
"Come, Mary, our palls arc ful'. we
must get to the barn with them. ' and
little Mary was hastened along betorc
she could give any answer.
Ten years before Joe and Mollis had
been sweothcarts. Then Joe Lane, a
j oung man from the city, uppeared aud
carried Molllo away almost before she
knew her own mind. Later she found
cause for regret for her hasty mar
riage, and little Mary wns the only
The woman looked at her a trifle
curiously.
"Won't you come in?" sho asked.
"Tie your horso and sit here on tho
corner of the porch where we can ,icc
the house,"
"We're i bridal couple." Ulek suld
I'rauklj, "as jou'vo probably guessed,
and we're looking for a little home iu
the country, from which I can com
mute. This little house appeals most
strongly to both my wife and myself.
It's quite convenient lo the railroad
Me cogld buv this horse and buggy
which we hired in the village, and Bat
ty could drive roe to and from the sta
Happiness
three big cheers for bavin' thuBundln
his gizzard to shool seventeen times at
King Hill of the f'atalluas.
"A few minutes later Robert Solford.
as whlto as u ghost, climbed t'own
from Ihc bur aud went off to bed.
"That night after I'd hit this liny In
my little shackbousc. I says lo myaelf:
"BUI King Iiub got 11 conscience yet.
Tho only murder he's ever committed
Is still on his mind. Ho knowed
Thornton Selford was an Kastorner.
When he seen Robert Helford, dressed
In Eastern clothes, he knowrd an
avenger had come. nd ho wan ho
upset about It that ho didn't take Into
consideration, the fact that the aveng
er was a tenderfoot, and Just 11 boy uf
that
"You'll see how near right I wns In
my reasonlu' after I get a little far
ther aloug with the talc.
"The ne.Nl mornln' whllo I wa.i wa
.torln' my stock, Robert comes io mc
and says lilec he means It:
"'I must have one o' your bosses
Mr. Oillahuu.'
"'HosscsV says I. foollsh-llke.
"'Yes, tays he 'and 11 couple uf
them things you carry water In.'
"'Canteens.' I explains. "Hut most
uf ill you want a real gun.'
"'No,' he objects. 'As I've nlrcady
told ou. I've practiced with thlM lit
tle follow, and I'm used to It: I can hit
a dinncr-philc at fifteen yards with It,
every crack.'
'"The only ovtra hoss I've got,' I
says, 'la u calico pony that's so mean
he's ilways boon kuowed by ho name
0' Plcu. If you think .vou can ban
illo him. he's nt jour disposal. Also
the two canteens, and a blamed yood
saddle. But when jou start, kid, tell
mc goud-bj : because I like you n
whole devil of a lot. nnd 1 don't be
lieve I'll ovt set eyes on you alive
again.'
"Stuff! Stuff I" says he. 'Let's havo
the boss, caddie, and canteens.
'"All right.' says I. 'It's your
funeral. Remember, kid, that Bill
King nln't likely to run trom jou any
more.'
"Ho mounted the boss, with water
and grub tied to his taddlo, and rode
straight toward tho red-hot C'atallnas,
with all of Yellow Creek atandlti' In
the main street and wutchln' ifter hltn
rcgretful-llkc.
"'What inado jou let tho little Tool
havo them 'loutrcrucnts, Webb?" some
body asked mc.
"'You go uud usk iho kid!' I snaps.
"'No, Bill King won't run from him
any more' says Klversctt, as he wipes
tho bar with an imaginary rag for Im
aginary spilled liquid. "I've always
heard as how the Lord sets n special
angel to stand guard over foolt. And
I'm certainly lu hopes it will turn out
to bo so this time.'
"That day passed, and another day
come ami passed. 1 had made 'ny
trips to tho railroad In a deeply trou
bled state 0' mind. Just 'js I was un
hltchln' on the evcnln' o' the second
dnj-, In rides Old Man Oliver, of ihc
Oliver Ogdcn Ranch, the Llnktd-O:
ho comes straight to me mil dis
mounts. "'Web,' sajs he, 'you know that
there calico wo sold to you some limn
back, the one tho boys called Plzen?
( coine homo a few hours ago, with .1
saddle on him. a bridle, and water and
qrub lied to tho. saddle. I'd 'i' brought
comfort that sho received from her
short married life. When the daugh
ter wiib only five years old, Joe Luno
answered the call beyond this world,
and Mollic and Mary took up a strug
gling existence. They louud the road
one of many hardships, and when Mol
He's uncle died they thought that lack
ing berries In tho beautiful couutrj
might benefit tho health of them both.
So tho berry reason found her lu tho
fields.
Joe Newell had lu nil the ten jeara
past never forgotten the awectheart of
his former days, and to her memorj ho
clung. H was no wonder that ho fail
ed to recognize Molllo In the berry
field, for although her beauty was not
entirely gone, time had wrought many
changes In her. He hoped that now
lhat she was again free that he might
offer bis heart nnd hand to her, and
anything about it."
"I certainly do." said their Hostess.
"As it huppens, I'm the igent for that
house. It was put In my core."
"Then It in unoccupied!" ;rh'd Bel
ly, cagerlj.
"Yes, it's unocciiplud," the other ad
mittcd. But-' then, suddeuly, "Did
ho say your namo was Betty?"
"Why, jes," said tho bride in aston
ishment "Would jou inlnd-I know it seems
u strange thing to nsk It's a mere
fancy, but would you mind telling mo
your maiden name?"
"Why. no," said Betty "It was
jj
him alons with me, but ho was a little
lame from n dog hole.'
" "We'd better hunt him up, I guosi.'
sajs Oliver. 'I'll start nil the cowmen
I can spare In tbc mornln'.'
"'And I'll utilize my filur stage
bosses In tho same way.' sajs I.
'whether the blasted old stagecoach
runs tomorrow or not. I can 'usy find
thrco good rldcrB among the mluors
here.'
"Well, the two pintles spent iho
next four days In huntln over lhat
barren, rod-hot cotintrj- lookln' for iho
boy. We didn't find oven a sign or
him. I was fully convinced that ho
had ndried ono nioro bleachln' skele
ton to the desi'il. Wc rodo back with
out tulkln' any."
"When mc nnd my throe men rodo
Into Yellow Creek, wc uecn Klvcrsott
hurryln' to meet us.
"'The boy's back!' he yells, scotnln'
as glad us If Helford had been his own
son. 'Bill King brought him In n few
hours ago. Both of 'nn wus mighty
near dead tho kid wus. nnyhow. Tho
kid owes Klug his life, now, and T
reckon it'll settle the account betwixt
'em, whatcve It Is.'
"I went up to Iho boy'a room, al
though 1 wus so dog tired that I could
liardlj walk. Robert waa lyln' flat o'
his back, starln' toward tho roof, rtlth
his sunbllstcred fltigcrs laced together
across his chest. Ho didn't scorn ,o
know that I wus anj where near him
until I stood over him nnd wan spenk
ln' lo him.
"'Do jou know who brought you in.
sou?' says I.
"'Do you think I nln't got no ejea?'
ho clips.
'"Did I mention jour blasted eyes?'
1 snaps, for he'd riled inc.
'"Do jou think I'll lot ;hat atuud be
tween mc and getting square for poor
old Thornton's aakeV nays ho. And
his blue tycn was shootlu' tiro nt
mine.
"'Don't you think you'd reoly ought
to consider that Bill Klug saved jour
life?' I iiayg.
"'Do you think I ought. Mr. "'nlla
ban?' He seemed now h tnlte &orry
that he'd been so shortbuoken with mo
a mluute before.
"I sure do,' says I. 'Ho let jou
shool it lilm seventeen times, without
nrln buck; aud at otic uhot bo could
n' fixed you easy! Ho found you half
dead, aud brought jou In at the risk or
his owu liberty. He could 'a' let yon
go on and die out there lu that red
hot haden, and had ono enemy less.
And death for lack 0' water In uomo
death, kid, believe mc!'
"'It reely roust be bad to die llko.
that,' says he, musin'; and I thought
I had Impressed hltn with my plea for
future peace. Ho goes on, still mus
in': 'I'll sec if I can't arrange It.'
"Er, how's that?' I snys, bcndln'
closer to hltn.
"'Ycf,' says he. 'I'll catch him
atlcop, knock him senseless, tlo him
up good and hard, und let him die with
water before his very eyes. Ilccatisn
ho killed my brother Thornton.'
'"ood-by. kid,' sajs I. 'I'm j,oln"
now, and I don't hopo to tee you
again. Bill King won't fool with you
any more, kid.'
"Ho smiles as he shakos liandj with
me, und mutters, 'You're a bloomln'
old woman!'
"When I went out to wider and
By
that 3he would accept them,
Mollic. too, had for years held tho
face of Joe Newell close to her heart,
and almost hoped that when visiting
the old home town sho might find him
unmarried. But when ho had yelled
at her In bucIi a 'rough manner she
resolved to go ber wuy alone. Ills
name had slipped out unconsciously
and she wished that she had restrained
herself.
Morulng found Joe Newell at the of
Qco of Lawyer Cromble with his pa
pers. The old lawyer hemmed and
hawed over the papers, then said be
would "sec about It."
Later in the morning Molllo snatch
ed a few moments from her bi-rry
picking and visited Cromble. He again
vowed to "sec about It."
Among .loo's papers. Cromblo found
an old and faded sheet which read: "I,
-trange, how verj -what was jour
mother's name, chlldV
"It was the same as mineBetty."
"Aud your father's quick, child,
yourathcr's?"
did not want to go, but ho was blind
"John," said Betty proudly, for it
was a well-known name. "But they
are both dead." Aud her lips quivered.
But tho woman had gathered her in
to her arms and was weeping passion
ately whllo Dick leaned forward in
amazement,
"Betty Lathrop," she 6obbed "Bet
ty Lathrop's daughter Ob, it is too
good too good to bo true."
""" m-vln.
feed my four stage horses tho next
niornlu', I found that otic of 'em whs
gone. Also my saddle. Also two can
teens und u lot 0' grub from the hotel
was mlssln'. And when Klvcrsrit
knocked at the. Popgun Kid's door, ir
got no response
"This Is what happened to Robert
Helford the Easterner, as related 10
mc aftcrwnrd:
"He rode straight for the Catnl-uas
boln' guided by their peaks, which
loomed up ga'nt and black In Hie dim
starlight. Hln rashness was all wme
now, nnd in its place had conn the
cunnln' shrewdness of a red man.
daylight found him hldln' his hoss in
a big gully filled with gonsowood and
mosquito. Thcu ho crawlod out 0' the
gtillj-, and began to steal up a ridge
that afforded a Ano view of the rollln'
country nnd one sldo of the Catullnas.
When he bad reached the top 0 the
rldgo, ho hid himself In u nest 0'
bowlders, and begun to watch ill
points 0' the compiiHS for a luno man
on a libss.
"Ho lost himself lu the night a rlo.eu
times. The clumps o' desort scrub ind
the big bowlders, iho ridges and the
hollows, tangled htm up bad. It wasn't
until midnight that ho eiuiio In higlu
of a little pile o' live coals, the rein
nanls of a cookln' fire, which laid (n
front of it little hangout, under 111
overhungln" lodge o' rock. Ho milled
with his teeth shut, and his right hand
tightened Its grip on .lie popgun, lb'
kuowed that ho had found Bill King.
"He crept on his bands 'ind knees
as slow an a suall, but without maklu'
the least bit o' noise, to w hero 1I11 hud
man laid asleep. Bill was on his side,
w Ith his head on his saddle and his hai
over his faec. A big gun laid baud)
on the ground close bj, and another
blp gun was In tho holster lhat whs
turned up. The boy confiscated both
o' these weapons, and with one of ni
struck Bill ou tho forehead ind laid
him out for a while.
"'Now. by Hour?!' ho lubllatrp. bis
eyes on on car with a notch In It. "Now.
by Henry!'
"Bill King's suddlc.cluchee. of
course, wns made out o' short ropes,
With theso short ropes tho boy bound
the bad roan's wrists behind lilm, und
he also bound his ankles together. Ho
paid 'special attention to the knots,
and the result was that uo man ou
earth could 'a' got out of 'em unbclp
id. He throwed a llttlo fresh wood on
the live coals, and soon bad u llttlo
blaze. Then he takes up one o' tho
demijohns, and dashed a bit o' water
on tho outlaw's face.
"It worked. Hill King come around
with a lot of hoarse gaspln', and set
up with a good deal 0' difficulty. He
winked the blood out o' his cvcb, teen
the boy, and remembered,
'"Well, you've got me nt lant. kid,'
be says, und laughs low,
"'I suro havo,' replied Robert ftel
ford mighty haughty. 'And I'm ourc
goln' to fix you, too.'
" And I s'poso you'll burn mo at the
stake, in true Big Injun otyle, won't
you?" says Bill King.
"'No manner o' death is qulto bud
enough for a man who could bring
himself so lowdown as to take the llfo
of 11 fellow llko my brother. Thornton
Helford!' exclaims the llttlo Eastern
er. And his bluo eyes was hard and
plercln',
Walt Gregg
Susan Adams, do give my rights in the
Blueberry Tatch to Silas Munioe."
And among Molllo's papers ho found
a paper of tho samo date which read:
"I Sllou Muuroe. do give my rlBlits
(he Blueberry Patch to Sussn
Adams."
A further perusal of iho county
deeds showed that formerly Silas and
Susan had owned tho patch in oucs
tlou In a Joint deed, but ou considera
tion of their marrlugo each bad un
knowingly transferred their title to
each other. Then they had not mar
ried aud lived out their days lu elngln
blessedness. At their deaths they hud
bequeathed their rights in tho ratch
to their nearest heir, tblukiug that tho
old papers were of no value because of
their failure to marr)
"Well, they both owned It." the law
yer scrutched his head, "and they both
By Joe Busche
plo.
"My dears, forgive roe. but It ia so
sudden. Listen, while I tell you all.
She took Betty's hand In hers,
and made her yield. She left the W;
"Llttlo bride, you will bo happy.
think, when I iell you ihls. Years
ago. when I had not lived hero long.
young man brought-hls bride to this
little cottage. They lived here for 'i
brief year or two and were so happy
so happj-. They made the cottage
what It lo The little bride trained the
climbing rose and cared for the other
dowers. She loved It eo, and I loved
her. Then the young .man became
CSftj
""uth. before I i?J
"Sth0riD,Z"
nun n' 11.. j 111 h
"ou're mi.-,.."
"I H!8hl Iht ? '
I'liatic-IIKc, l"s
Once more Bill r,.
JS5
II"'" Khoncl u.?.11
NtHiidln' out mL?
li" 1 said It.
'''How much tKv,L
Ijlilr a. I.. .1 . .."IT
Itobcrl Ftlbrii,,
the question. twJ?.'
jwrrj: -Ahrthig
" -JMt 1 twnt
1 iii """""Wii
; urj niitit,,
.011 when jou jo
h"i. iciiitsiaii(T
ui rouric ml cj.1
lllltl filinlil I. f. " l
UI"
"'Not much!' tftu
" 'When jou Ihmj
hi jou, lajitiiam
UllloflhcCitiUuV
"Itobort turn v, h
uettlcs hlmitlfhtlip
Ul SIODt.
"'Kid. I hivrtii'm.
cc. I used tolivtkib
om here to but tag!
ewer to the cill !
couldn't findtniKJSpa
alive, ami Itttltipa
mil 1 MMlrcaWi
when I tried to rlnlfj
done Vint too fir. I-
" Oil that oifwil
'our hrratb! Tnttirl
h mr&thlci bjr is;tqS
Kineci moroiou ,i
got 10 nr for it
"Bill Klot'njiir.1
their blood; trcuaa
mile, and totiortt
"'Then idtdMst:
outlaw that I'd f)4
way. The only iv)i
wns afraid n; pk;W
Jlncl It out .indbedSfia
'"I said cut tat ft 1
boy. DuttheWtus!
continued:
'Sol rlifticii
u-..i 1 UPilta'tJ
.MMi it'll I'l'Vldll
found by scoctt
cone aowa "
A ,MliiMli tX 1
notch out el '
cars before 01 n";
...l.l. a,,I ,l tum
means of bulltti tea
i,., intuit! Li'jlie
1 . a maw ndn:
any i"v uv --
with a beard,
vears neiwun-
'Thornton, bf 5
cau't be! Ob,ltf
"But it w;
back to New YofiW
man we had tiMjJ
CalallpafoW,r"
him."
D
hidrlMtttV
how it'll eow fl
the wWBrtdJa
future IIvm-..,
joevlsieoi'ly,!
inc. and niucb
alone. "It :;t'l
had finished e
7.0, ,' ;,.
tallelie,
"Collie. I "?''1
cause I Iff J".
tu be o'
wai""
.'.'.. it Inside -ji.
smiie U'... i".
little hou .V'ull
KlS
.""" nt wuwfta
! 4 1
iwMnnmigm
S -. TSHKflaaaaa