The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-05

sgatn he frosted Pete to cheering glass OF
whisky. Pete was not us d to freqnanting the
saloon; he did not In the least apyrovs Of It;
but y happened that about this time this
evil bird OF prey SOUGHT his company moro
persistently than did any more respectable per-
son. And Whettles YVES socia BILE fellow |;
be could tell more stories IN half an hour
than any sly 1ot the, honest people Pete
cludea, nobody's enemy bnt his own. Itwould
take more time than yon are willing 70 give,
and deeper knowledge OF mental intrtcscies
than possess, to detail the process through
which Pete was brought to the point OF prom
Using to creep into the Poysett farm house and
ting-room windows The grocer's bill was
growing longer, his wife was palor, and she
worried him BY entresties to let Whsttles alone
and forsake Toppan's; the aggregate Of such
st, avs IL not small G'e3
Tho opportunity came, fitting the mood ~
Poysett was going to Boston to meet John Will
ley; the women folks" would be alone.
You take Poysett's," said Whettles; '.you
kacw the lay Of the land there; and the same
night I'll try Turner's, over on the hill. Wen
meet somewhere about !, down there under
the big elm, and divide. After that Ill make
tracks across lots and take train somewhere;
nobody'n think Of you"
Tinker Pete wa. equally sure Of nobody sus-
peclipg him. he had always been honest this
Ao suou6ut Will pauee-anQ, DelnR 6llnpie-
minded sort Of fellow, he never calculated the
effect in other peoples eyes Of having been
seen with Whettles.
ssBut s'pose my courage gives out" he said
uncertainty 81 don't knows can do it, after
all. It's easy enough to got in, but what if
SOMEBODY should see me?" II might end in
what's worse"
"Man alive" said Whettles, impstiently.
"Afraid at yonr time of life? Well, here's
what I'll do. They 60 to bed early; you can
have it over by midnight Now, I'll come back
that way, and il you're there and afraid to stir,
I'll 60 in and do it myself. But, mind, don't
expect you're going to back out If Ihave to
"Oh, mean to do it fast enough" said Pete,
dogsedly. 'rhings can't be much worse of
Sand il amt there by ~, you'll know
somethin's happened aud I can't come; so
you'll have to 60 on your own hook. But be
sure you're at the big treo by l."
Whettles. like many another skillful tactician,
did not tell his catspaw all his plans. He had
no intention OF doing what might be done for
him 1t was only polite to assure Pete of
helping him out should his courage fail for
fear, under too great dread, that he might
break away from the plan altogether. Whettles,
who had as little right to this name as to MANY
another article he had possessed at various
timee, was as truly an arrant coward as viii
lain. All his i'll deeds, and they were numerous.
had been done, as far AZ he could manage 1t, at
the expense of somebody else II the robbery
at Turner's seemed feasible without too much
danger, he would keep his word; if not, there
or prevented, and Pete could be coaxed or
treated into sharing what spoil he had from the
Poysetts'.
That evening Mrs Poysett and Linda had an
| ear y tea, and, having done tho indoor work,
sat down for one Of the quiet talks that had