The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-10
s0ID STEADY'S". GAME.
M EVELYN HUNT RAYMOND

BY EVELYN HUNT RAYMOND.
aSet thar, stranger. Mebbe you'll
a;0ht? MOI Humph! Life d be too
sornery fat without my 'baccy, an it's no
aret, anyhow"
aThat's as we take it; but this is a
lonely place. How did you happen to
settle here2'
tsNone o. yer-no matter. Only
falks round this canon don't ask too
many questions. 'Tain't considered good
luck, not ter say healthy"
s.Beg your pardon however, no offense
Sas intended"
ssDon't say no more-shake. Polly,
bring the victuals."
Polly obeyed, the traveller watching
her attentively. She was one of the sights
he had come to see; an institution of this
West which was so full of interest to him. i
Tall, 1.-THE, graceful, limpid-eyed, clear
skinned, spirited and ignorant.
She felt his eyes scanning her, and a,
flush rose under the tan of her cheek. For
the first time in her life she was I'm.
pleasantly conscious of her bare feet
brown and shapely though they were.
and the feeling gave her head a higher
poise. 1t may have been that that made
her stumble and spill the contents of her
earthen bowl over the guests knees, as
she passed him in the narrow space before
che deal table.
The flush deepened, and a quick tear
of anger sprang to the dark eye; she
daltered-haf meaningt to apologize-but
an oath from her father checked the in
eipient courtesy, and turning, she left the
cabin. A moment later Barr caught a
CLEAN of pink calico behind a pile of
rocks.
Old Stinson also saw it, and sighed.
stDon't wonder We say faint fit. My
gal, thar, amt no chance. She's smart
smart as a full-blooded FLY. She'd orter
ben sent East; but she won't leave her
old dad. Rough as / be, she sticks ter
sae. I orter be shot fer cussin' her.
Wall, I amt what I wus; settin' here
watchin' an keepin' gyard makes me
narvous.n &
The visitors eyes asked the question
from which his lips refrained.
The simple dinner eaten, the remnants
we're left to the flies, and the mems chairs
tilted back against the outside Of the
house. Something in the younger ones
frank face and manner had softened "Old
Grizzly to a reminiscent mood, and
made him strangely inclined to crafty an
ida curiosity.
Sage bush, rock, and alkali. The
shadow of the rude home stretched out
aDngers f-am its shelter John Barr looked
ever the wilderness, and wondered where
ID its vastness he should find the man he
sought.
STRANGER, I've took a notion to We.
YeIVs got motion bout We t minds me
b one ! knowed. Yelook like an honest
chap. SAY dye believe in ghosts2n
He pat the question suddenly, eagerly;
and q look Of grieved disappointment
ollowed the mot at all with which it
was received.
10 your
ssEep. I've seen 'em."
thought had come to the other.
qltyingIY connected with the CLEAN of
Naak calico.
There was a long silence. The keen
WI under the shaggy brows fixed them
sslsss intently on the guest Who-realizing
at ! godsend his chance visit must be
81 this lonely soul-submitted in pa
are.
Can't you tell me about it2n
ssEsa Dc glad ter-plagued gladt Eff
It'll sxaF Oh yer derringer t ye won't
Khs tslnptation to smile was banished
tfe thought Of that unshed tear in
kalls dark eye. Humoring the old man
IL hslp her.
ssal swear \ he said; and he did.
Deye see yender stun with the pile o.
I'D bfesh round ita an the heaps o.
Ass Jest beYand2n
tYes.u
sfhet's the spot. Thet's what I'm a.
NA5ehiA', an hev got ter watch till the
eNnzs1Iaes. Strangeri Tn a sure shot.
aasst bar no foolin' with. Ef We be-
t
81 shall not betray YOU"
FazI, Z amt easy mistook a-readin'
MsA III I'm a-goin's ter trest ye. I've
" ter, sonebuddY. o Thar's q
aasAk kind b pain in my side Y warns
'as Twict I've lost my senses, an
7aan come 10 T hednfso much stren'th
e : baby coyote. I'll lose 'em onct too
9iasa, and then
ainst never told Polly yit. I've
MfaaeE hated ter. Women is narvous,
~ Fve been a-gittin' that way myself
MMA ter know what d mis'able feel it is.
ned 3 pardner onct; as squar' a man
" sxoF handled d pick. He hailed from
kezlpa and twas quite a change, yell
se He never told-an + never asst
Ensfwua the prime cause Il druy him
% ase Rockies, Thar's alIus surnthin'.
Ms Warnt much alike. He WIS So
w ~ ! lodge, an T liked rum. .Ol'
Nss1lys an' sOP Steady, thet's what the
NsAsa gAaled u. uni we wus lucky.
y Peg we'd got a good pile we'd
AsSks M even divvy then I'd saddle my
#ssssn take the trail fer Frisco, but
s's atay here long d. Polly.
sssndsd the oil woman when she
fa an done more ter comfort
a asag ID an / could. sTwus bout
10 aaRaea her heyins two daddies.
a1lna sEoW some d the dust whar
,1A alhd Il AFTER I'm gone, AM then
saiF she boys Ger heg i good time.
AszleYsg 4 come baek-arter six weeks
$s s7AS Hnonths-Id find sOT Steady goin'
3zAt $40 aalae. But onctI see i'm d
ned struck his last payln'
4 KS