Heppner gazette-times., March 03, 1927, Page PAGE THREE, Image 3

HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1927.
PAGE THREE
he
What's Gone Before.
It is 1868 and the Pacific Railroad
has reached its newest "farthest
west" Benton, Wyoming, a town de
scribed as "roaring," as each new
terminus, temporarily, was.
Frank Been on, a young man from
Albany, N. Y., comes here because
he is in search of health and Benton
is considered "high and dry."
Edna Montoyo, a fellow passenger
on the train from Omaha, impresses
Beeson with the beauty of her blue
eyes and the style of her apparel.
Equally she astonished him by taking
a "smile" of brandy before breakfast.
A brakemttn tells Beeson she has "fol
lowed her man" to Benton,
Jim, a typical western ruffian whom
she knows apparent well insults and
is floored by Beeson whose prowess
impresses the passengers.
Col. Lunderson and "Bill" Brady
volunteer to entertain young Beeson.
Frank avoids being caught by any
of the numerous gambling games, but
is robbed of all his money.
At the "Big Tent" Beeson agnin
meets the Lady of the Blue Eyes. At
"Monte" someone turns up the cor
ner of the winning Queen of Hearts
and Beeson, his whole $22 bet on it,
turns the card which instead of be
ing the Queen is the Eight of Clubs.
Awakening.
My fingers left it as though it were
a snake. The eight of clubs! Where
I had seen, in funcy, the queer, of
hearts, there lay like a changeling
the eight of clubs, with corners bent
t.s only token of the transformation.
"We cun't both win, gentleman,"
the gambler said. "But I am willing
to give you one more chance, from a
new deck."
What the response was I did not
know, nor care. My ears drummed
and seeing nothing I pushed through
into the open, puinfully conscious
that I was flat penniless and instead
of having played the knave I had
played the fool, for the queen of
heiirts!
The loss of Borne twenty dollars
might have been a trivial matter
to me once but here I had lost my
all, whether large or small; and not
only had been bilked out of it I
had bilked myself out of it by sink
ing, in pretended smartness, below
the level of a mere artful dodger!
I heard My Lady speaking beside
me,
"I'm so sorry." She Inid hand up
on my sleeve. "You should have been
content with small sums, or followed
my lead. Next time "
"There'll be no next1 time," I
blurted. "I am cleaned out."
"You don't mean ?"
"I was lirst robbed at the hotel.
Now here."
"No, no!" she opposed. Jim sidled
u us. "That was a bungle, Jim."
He ruefully scratched his head.
"A wrong steer for once, I reckon.
By thunder, I want revenge on this
joint and I mean to get it. So do you,
don't you, pardner?" he appealed to
me.
As with mute, sickly denial I turned
away it seemed to me that I sensed
a shifting of forms at the monte ta
blecaught the words "You watch
here a moment"; and close following
e slim white hand fell heavily upon
My Lady's shoulder.
It whirled her about, to face the
gambler. His smooth olive counten
ance was dark with a venom or rage
incarnate that poisoned the air: his
syllables cracked.
"You devil! I heard you, at the
table. You meddle with my come
ons, will you?" And he slapped her
with open palm, so that the impact
smacked. "Now get out o' here or
I'll kill you."
She flamed red, all in a single rush
of blood.
"Oh!" she breathed. Her hand
darted for the pocket of her skirt, but
I sprang between the two. Forgetful
of my revolver, with a blow I sent him
reeling backward.
He recovered. With lightning move
ment he thrust his right hand into
his waistcoat pocket.
I heard a rush of feet, a clamor of
voices; and all the while, I was tug
ging, awkward with deadly peril at
my revolver.
His fingers had whipped free of ihe
pocket, I glimpsed as with second
sight (for my eyes were held strong
ly by his) the twin little black muz
zles of a derringer concealed in his
palm; a spasm of fear pinched me,
they spurted, with ringing report, but
just at the instant a flanneled arm
knocked his arm up, the ball had sped
ceilingward and the teamster of the
gambling table stood against him, re
volver barrel boring into his very
stomach.
"btnnd pat, Mister, I call you!"
In a trice all entry of the unpleas
ant emotion vanished from my antag
onist's handsome face, leaving it olive
tinted, camrn, inert. He steadied a
little, and smiled, surveying
teamster's visage, close to his.
"You have me covered, sir. My
hand is in the discard." He composed
ly tucked the derringer into his waist
coat pocket again. "That gentleman
struck me; he was about to draw on
me, and by rights I might have killed
him. My apologies for this little
disturbance. "
He bestowed a challenging look up
on me, a hard unforgiving look upon
the lady; with a bow he turned for
his hat, and stepping swiftly went
buck to his table.
Now in the reaction I fought dss
perately against a trembling of the
knees; there were congratulations, a
hubbub of voices assailing me and
the arm of the teamster through mine
and his bluff invitation:
"Come and have a drink."
"But you'll return. You must! I
want to speak with you!"
It was My Lady, pleading earnest
ly. I still could scarcely utter a
word; my brain was in a Bmother.
My new friend moved me away from
her. He answered for me.
"Not until we've had a little con
fab, lady. We've got matters of im
portance jest at present."
I saw her bite her lips, as she help
lessly flushed; her blue eyes im
plored me, but I had no will of my
own and I certainly owed a measure
of courtesy to this man who had
saved my life.
We found a small table in a corner.
The affair upon the floor was appar
ently past history if it merited even
that distinction. The place had re
sumed its program of dancing, play
ing and drinking as though after all
a pistol shot was of no great moment
in the Big Tent.
"You had a narrow shave," my
friend remarked as we seated our
selves. He then proceeded to tell me that
the whole thing was crooked.
"And the woman is the main steer
er," he concluded. "That purty piece
who damn nigh lost you your life as
well as losin' you your money!"
"You mean the lady with the blue
eyes?"
"Don't you savvy that your 'lady's
Montoyo's wife his woman, any
how?" "Montoyo? Who's Montoyo?"
"The monte thrower! That same
spieler who trimmed us," he rapped
impatiently,
"She's bound to Montoyo. He's a
breed, some Spanish, some white, like
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as not tome Injun. A devil, and as
slick as they make 'em. She's a pow
er too white for him, herself, but he
uses her and some day he'll kill her.
You're not the first gudgeon she's
hooked, to feed him."
Kow I saw all, or enough. I had
received no more than I reserved.
"Jest why jtontoyo struck hts wo
man 1 don't know," the tenmster went
on. "Do you?"
"Yes! She had cautioned me and
he must have heard her. And she
showed which was the right card. I
don't understand that."
"To save her face and egg you on.
Shore! Your twenty dollarB was
nothin'. She didn't know you were
busted. Next time she'd have steered
jou to the tune of a hundred or two
and cleaned you proper. You hadn't
been worked along, yet, to the right
pitch o smartness. Montoyo must
ha' mistook her! Well now what are
you going to do?"
"I don't know," I replied. "I must
find and earn enough to get home
with." To write for funds was now
impossible through very shame.
"Home's the only place for a person
of my greenness."
"Let me make you a proposition,"
he said. "I'm on my way to Salt Lake
with a bull outfit and I'm in need of
another man. I'll give you a dollar
and a half a day and found."
You are teaming west, you mean?
I asked.
Yes, sir. Freightin's across. Mule-
wheakin'."
"But I never drove spans in my
life; and I'm not in shape to stand
hardships," I faltered. "I'm here for
my health. I have "
Stow all that, son, he interrupt
ed. "Forget your lungs, lights and
liver and stand up a full-sized man.
In my opinion you've had too much
doctorin'. A month with a bull train,
a diet of beans and sow-belly, and you
can look anybody in the eye and tell
him to go to hell! This roarin' town
life it's no life for you. It's a bob
tail, wide open in the middle."
Sir, I said gratefully, "may I let
you know in the morning? Where
ill I find you?"
We arranged to meet next day and
I reutrned to the hotel, having paid
in' advance.
Gazing neither right or left, I
trode resolutely for the exit, but at
the door I was halted by a hand laid
WWTa-rrrtM MM
m
7W
Forgetful of my revolver, with a blow
I sent him reeling backward.
upon my arm, and a quick utterance.
"Not goin'? At least say good
night!" I barely paused, replying to her,
"Good-night."
Still she would have detained me.
"Oh, no, no! Not this way. It
was a mistake. I swear to you I am
not to blame. Please let me help
you. I don' know what you've heard
I don't know what has been said
about meyou are angry "
I twitched free.- With such as she,
a vampire and yet a woman, a man's
safety lay not in words but in un
equivocal action. '
"Good-night," I bade thickly. Bear
ing with me a satisfying but some
how annoying persistent imprint of
moist blue eyes under shimmering
hair, I roughly stalked on and out,
free of her, free of the Big Tent, her
lair!
In the morning w I left the hoel
the clerk handed me a note.
It could have been sent by only one
person the superscription, dainty
and feminine, betrayed it. That wo
man wa- still pursuing me!
Couldn't she understand that I was
no longer a fool, that I had wrenched
absolutely loose from her and that
ihe could do nothing with me? I
was minded to tear the note to frag
ments, unread, and contemptuously
scatter them. Had she been present
I should have done so, to show her.
But around a corner, I tore the en
velope open. The folded paper con
tained a five-dollar bank note.
That was enough to pump the blood
to my face with a rush. It was an
insult a shame. With cheeks twitch
ing I managed to read the lines ac
companying the dole:
Sir:
You would not permit me to
explain to you to-night, there
fore I must write. The recent
affair was a mistake. I had no
intention that you should lose,
and I supposed you were in more
funds. I insist upon speaking
with you. You shall not go away
In this fashion. You will find me
at the Elite Cafe, at a table, at
ten o'clock in the morning. And
in csae you are a little short I
beg of you to make use of the en
closed, with my best wishes and
apologies. You may take it as a
loan. I am utterly miserable. E.
Half unconsciously wadding both
money and paper in my hands as if to
squeeze the last drop of rancor from
them I swung on,
"Mr. Beeson! Wait. Please wait."
I had to turn about to avoid the
further degradation of acting the
churl to her, an inferior.
"I've been waiting since daylight,"
:-he panted, "and watching the hotel.
I was afraid you wouldn't answer my
note, so I slipped around and cut in
on you."
"I know where you're going. George
Jenks has engaged you. You don't
have to turn bull-whacker or mule
skinner! It's a hard life; you're not
fitted for it never, never. Leave
Benton if you will. Let us go to
gether." "Your husband, madam," I prompt
ed "Montoyo? He is no husband to
me. I could kill him I will do it yet,
to be free from him."
"My good name, then." i taunted.
"1 might fear for my good name more
than I'd fear a man. '
'But I'm not asking you to marry
me," she said. ' I'-n not asking you to
!ove me as a paramour, sir. Fltase
unJerstand! Treat me as you will;
a a sister, a friend, but anything hu
man. Oh, I'm so tired of myself; I
can't run true, I'm under false colors.
And there is Montoyo bullying me,
cajoling me, watching me. But you
were different I foolishly wished to
help you, but last night the play went
iong. And Montoyo struck me me,
in public! Oh, why couldn't I have
killed him. You'll say I'm in love with
you. Perhaps I am quien sabe? I
only ask a kind of partnership the
encouragement of some decent man
near me. I have money; plenty till
we both get a footing. But you
wouldn't live on me; no! I would be
glad merely to tide you over, if you'd
let me. And I I'd be willing to wash
floors in a restaurant if I might be
free of insult. You, I'm sure, would
at least protect me. Wouldn't you?
You would, wouldn't you? Say some
thing, sir." She paused, acquiver.
"Shall we go? Will you help me?"
For an instant her appeal, of
swimming blue eyes, upturned face,
tensed grasp, breaking voice, swayed
me. But I resolved not to be snarled
again.
"Impossible, madam," I utterer.
"This is final. Good-morning."
She staggered and with magnificent
but futile last flourish clapped both
hands to her face. Gazing back, aa I
hastened, I saw her still there, lean
ing against a wall.
(Continued next week)
DATES OF PLOWING.
Morrow county farmers are, on the
whole, completely sold on the system
of early spring plowing. Farm re
sults check very closely with the re
sults obtained from 1913 to 1925 at
the Moro Experiment Station, where
April 1 plowing shows an average
yield of 28 bushels per acre, May 1
plowing 26.2 bushels, and June 1
plowing 22.2 bushels.
The Morrow County District Po
mona Grange will meet at Morgan,
Saturday, April 2 at 10:00 a. m. An
open meeting will be held in the af
ternoon and a good program is being
iined up by the Pomona Lecturer.
TO
o
Sale
uraie
at what is known as the CHAS. HUSTON PLACE, 3
miles north of Eight Mile Postoffice on
Saturday, March 5th
Beginning promptly at 10:30 a. m., the following will be sold:
Bay Mule named John.
Bay Mule named Kit.
Brown Mule named Mutt.
Black Mule named Matt.
Black Mule named Francis.
Brown Mule named Bunny.
Brown Mule named Jude.
Bay Mule named Bell.
Bay Mule named Jack.
Brown Mule named Skukum.
Black Mule named Kate.
Brown Mule named Jack.
Grey Mare Horse named Ruth
Blue Gelding Horse named
Blutch.
Bay Mare named Lady.
Bay Gelding named Ginger.
Blue Mare named Bally.
Blue Gelding named Prince.
Spotted Mare named Spott.
Black Gelding named Sharkey
Black Gelding named Demp-
sey.
1 Black Mare named Colley.
1 10-ft. Double Disc.
1 16-ft. Wooden Harrow.
1 20-Disc Empire Drill.
1 22-Disc Superior Drill.
1 4-Section Weeder.
2 Iron Truck Wagons.
2 3-in. Winona Wagons with
Racks.
1 3 1 -4 in-Winona Wagon with
Rack.
1 2 Sets Hip Strap Harness.
14 Collars.
1 Blacksmith Outfit comptele.
2 Three-Bottom Oliver Plows.
1 5 Sacks Bluestem Wheat.
49 Sacks Forty Fold Wheat,
treated.
Part of Stack Wheat Hay.
1 Bay Horse named Pete, 5 yrs.
old, wt. 1100.
1 Bay Mule named Mollie, 7
yrs. old, wt. 1000.
1 Black Mule named Nettie, 7
yrs. old, wt. 1 200.
Black Mule named Buck, 7
yrs. old, wt. 1000.
Sorrel Mule named Babe, 7
yrs. old, wt. 1200.
Sorrel Mule named Red, 6
yrs. old,wt. 1000.
Grey Mule named Rose, 5 yrs.
old, wt. 1000.
Black Mule named Nibbs, 6
yrs. old,wt. 1000.
Black Mule named Bobbie, 6
yrs. old, wt. 1 000.
12-ft. Peoria Disc Drill.
3-Bottom Oliver Plow.
1 6-ft. Iron Harrow.
1 8-ft. Disc, Clark.
1 Hero Fanning Mill.
1 Set Blacksmith Tools.
1 Winona Wagon and Rack.
1 Weber Wagon.
1 500-gallon Water Tank.
9 Sets Chain Harness.
LUNCH SERVED AT 12:30
TT-i-rvio rf Co1ik Cash in hand, all sums of $20.00 and
lenilb Ul OdlC under. All sums over $20.00 secured
bankable notes, due on or before Sept. 1, 1927, at 7 p're't interest
W. H. WEHRUNG, Agent
B. F. Sevdy, Auctioneer Victor G. Peterson, Clerk