The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-24
ur hack You're an Infamous scoun-

by CAD, we're in country where man
can claim the satisfaction of gentle
man, and YOU can have it when you
like. l amt afraid of you, if Bassett
was"
II don't want to shoot you," said
Jack, land you sha'n't shoot me if
can help it You will hardly deny that
have a right to ask the reason OF your
conduct VIII yCu kindly tell me why
YOU call me scoundrel?"
- Because you are one" cried Wealth
erley. The two doctors. each with a
tin pannkin in one hand, and Il lump
of black bread in the other, were staring
out of the hut doorway at this remarka-
bic scene.
Come, come. SIR" sad Cameron,
sternly. Explain yourself, if you
please"
'.Oh! don't you bully me, sir re-
Piled the Polish Legionary. Il ain t
afraid of YOU No, By George"
Your courage outruns your discre-
ton, Mr. Weatherley," said Jack. look
ing somewhat grimly at him. Explain
yourself, # you please"
Every well, SIR" said Weatherley.
who began to feel uncomfortable under
the others stern GOODNESS of demeanor.
IF you will have it, you shall, by lingo.
You behaved to Miss Bassett like a
hound, sir, and by gad. sir, I'd tell you
the truth about yourself if you were as
big as Nelson's Column, by George [
would"
"On whose authority do YOU make
that statement, Mr.. Wcatherley?'
ION the authority of the lady's
father. sir," cried Weatherley, ruil'ing
with Indignation. and the sense that
it was necessary 10 look as brave -
possible.
Not on the authority of the lady?"
mo. sir" answered the lad. for
getting himself for the moment, and
speaking with more dignity than h.
had ever worn in his life before. ''And
| think it rather bad taste on your part,
and rather like Won altogether sir, to
bring in the lady's name ut all. y
"Oblige me, Mr.. Weatherley,' said
Cameron, slowly, .'by giving the lie, in
my name, TO Mr. Ba>sett's statement To
MIR. Bassett personally when you see
him next"
do YOU mean to tell me that you
didn't throw Miss BaSsett over the day
after yoar engagement with herr"
asked Weatherley.
Is that Bassett's story?' Cameron
asked, in turn.
1t is a recognized rule of civilized
men to deal gently with the names OF
women in affairs of this kind, and Mary
Bassett's whilom lover was stanch sup
porter of that law. But there are times
when man must become law unto
himself; and the artist, in the bitter
race that stung him at the cOntempla
ton of this new iaiury. fc.t himself
justified in speaking the whole truth.
Il received my dismissal at the
hands OF Miss Bassett, Mr.. Weatherley,
and was informed that L was rejected
in your favor. / can not deal with Mr.
Bassett myself, but l shall eiuest n
Withdrawal of the injurious words You
have used concerning me, and | shall
leave you to deal witc your informant
as Your own sense dictates. He owes
you something for having placed you
in a position so humiiiating."
Jack Cafneron's manner rather stag
gered the voungster, but then he held
too much evidence against him. Mary
Bassett'S Illness of which he knew the
cause, made the artists story unbe-
lievable.
That won't do for me-" said
Weatherley. Thrown over i'll my IA
vor? Why, what the dooce do you
think brings me here, by CAD? Iou
might have found cleverer lie than
that, by George you might"
This so filed Cameron with astonish-
ment that he had not even mental
standing-room for anger.
Miss Bassett did not accept yOu?'
mo, she didn't" cried young
Weatherley, almost with tears in his
eyes Dye shink I'd be here, Polish
if she had. by CAD? No,
sir, she broke her heart over a scoun-
drel, that's what she did, poor thing. [
want no more to do with you, sir, if
you'll excuse me. But if you want to
fnd me out, you can do it very easily"
With that he turned to 60.
DliT, CI.CI CdCh, L luuSI INV .
this out" His heart was beating like
a sledge hammer. and a tho"sand feel
ings were running riot in it. Was it
likely that both he and Weatherley had
been abused? That Mary, too had
been mislcd? That he had falsely mis-
trusted her?
You can have it out when you like
said the other, misapprehending him.
Send your friend, sir, and L shall be
glad to see him.
"Tnis must lie settled here, and now,
if YOU please" answered Cameron, in
NO him. You know Bassett's
handwriting? Come with me"
Weatherley followed, and Cameron,
entering the hut in which his horse
was stabbed, drew little tin case from
one of the holsters, and extracted from
it Bassett's letters.
Observe the date of these letters.
Mr.. Weatherley," he said. land read
them both" Weatherley obeyed, and
looked from him to them with a face of
CONSERVATION.
Il say, look here, by gad," he stam-
mered ut last; ''HIl tell what it is, by
George. BasSett's been fishing for my
money, curse him! and he's been lying
to both of us and the poor girl as we'll"
The young fellow broke out with great
oath, and went raging up and down the
uneven mud floor of the hut. '.I'll tell
you what it is. Mr.. Cameron. he cried,
Il can't GO back from this war with
out fighting, as man of hOnor-can [
now? And never meant to 90 back
alive at all. by CAD, though I've got lots
of money and all that, and everything
to MAKE a fellow comfortable. But if 1
DO Get back alive, I'll shoot that villain,
if get hanged for it. l will, by George
| will. And if you've been served out
n,,t l;l-o th;S AIr. Gannrnr i m rnr.I-