The record-union., 1891-12-12

r. Il
FRANK was standing up IN the old wagon
which did duty as a stage. his eyes gilt
tering with hate, and his whole face work
ing with jealousy even now; but he failed
to raise even the least spark of anger in
Dams face.
Then the whip cracked, the horses
sprang into motion, and the numbering
tage wa gOn rolled out of sight.
Dan did not appear at Simpsons saloon
Tor some days after this, and we were get
ting to wonder what he was doing, when,
one evening, he walked into the salt
Flat General Store," where / and some
others were sitting at the stove, and said:
Boys, I've struck it,"
We jumped to our feet, and shook his
hand cordially. Public feeling had had
reaction. Most of us thought, after that
day when. Frank went off on the stage,
that Dan would have made Jenny the
better husband, while all the camp was
in a ferment over the discussion as to
Whlchiwas the best man." for that Frank
and Dan would fight some day-unless
one or other should show the white feath-
er-there was every livelihood. Bets and
Wagers were freely made, and Dan was
made tavorite-with pistols at three to
TWO. So that we Were not sorry that he
had got slice of luck at last.
'Taint much, boys" he went on: but
L wish 1t had come sooner. / reckon it s
the end Of the old lead Myers struck last
fall down by the creek"
Ii was not many days after this that
Frank and Mrs. Menner came back to the
Flat. They had spent some time together
at Oretown, and old Bollen had given
Jenny twenty head of prime cattle to take
back with her. For some time all went
smoothly. Jenny was not demOnstra-
tive, but on the whole they were an affec-
tionate couple; but toward the end of
winter things began to tone down. Jenny
was observed to fail in her spirits, and
Dan, of course, noticed it. He seldom
spoke to her, and when he did, it was
only as any other of US. But she made it
very clear that, next to her husband, she
looked upon him as her best friend in
Salt Flat. Frank Menner was consumed
with jealousy. At last the first meeting
took place. 1t occurred of course, in the
Salt Flat saloon. High words had passed
from Frank to Dan, and Dan had quietly
slipped the abominable mixture that was
sold as whisky-finest old rye-and said
nothing. At last Menner, emboldened
by the others silence, threatened him.
And see here, Dan Hunter, if l catch
you sneaking around my wife again pll
cut out your liver where YOU stand. You
may do as you like about other fellows
wives, but you shall not hang after mine"
Dan dropped his glass to the floor,
where 1t broke into twenty pieces. For
moment his hand sought the pistol at his
side. Then he withdrew it quickly, while
his face for once showed signs Of greater
anger than he could command. With
clenched fist he strobe to where Frank
was standing. The latter was not slow
to seize his advantage. In an instant he
had drawn his revolver and fired. At
the same moment Dan struck him. There
was a dull thud as a heavy body fell to
the ground, and, as the smoke cleared,
we saw that Frank lay stunned upon the
sandal floor. Of bo Ia h;
left arm hanging limp and shattered to his
side, stood above him. Planting one foot
heavily on his antagonists body, he
strobe over him, and in total silence we
saw him walk toward his claim by the
river till the last house in Salt Flats one
street hid his retiring form.
CHAPTER II.
After the row at Simpsons saloon,
there was truce to open hoStilities for
some time. 1t was generally felt, and no
doubt Frank knew it himself, too, that
Dan could have killed him if he had
wished. The lightning-like rapidity with
which his hand, dropping his glass, had
flown to his revolver, before Frank had
had time to make movement, was evil
dence enough of this. But there was an
other reason for the deceptive calm that
fell over the camp. Western morality. is
lax, and its law, in many cases, entirely
in the hands of Judge Lynch; but we were
not disposed to allow any but fair fight
ing. Dan kept himself very much to
himself. He never referred to the cause
of his broken arm; and though he could
not at present work his claim he had al
ready taken out q very tolerable pile, and
had no need to do so. Frank came down
twice week as usual to the store to see
if any beef was wanted, but his reception
was never very hearty one.
1.-The b0VS h1V bppO Upttinp amOnCr tbn
deer lately. We shan't want beef again
till black-tail and elk play out"
So Frank thrust his hands little deep
er into his pockets, and went off whist
ling to his cabin by the creek. But some
times, though he would deny it to him
self furiously, the thought would strike
him that he was not at home with his
wife; that he had married too far above
him. Neither in word nor deed could he
find reason to reproach Jenny, however.
She was not as atfectionate as she might
have been in her ways, perhaps; but he
did not look for that. Indeed it would
have bored him. But he felt that he was
too rough for her, and even in his lau-
guage he would sometimes forget that he
was not in Simpsons saloon, and shock
the poor girls ears with some profanity.
At such times he would remember how
her father had fought against the match
had threatened never to speak to his
IdllSAlSI dllll HOW SGe,
much and braving all, had yet married
him in her fathers teeth. Then he would
throw himself paSSionately on his knees
by her side, strong man as he was, and in
broken words beg and implore her to for
give him. The very vehemence of his re-
pentance frightened the girl and made
her even more afraid of him; and she
would sit leaning back, with her hands
clasped tightly over her heart, and look
ing with far away frightened eyes at him
kneeling at her feet.
''Oh, yes, yes; but. Frank, don't say
such things to me again."
And there was a deadlier danger yet;
worse than Damocles' sword hanging
over his head, a demon that whispered
mockingly in his ear: ''All this is moth
ing; wait-wait till you have hurt her
worse, and you will be powerless to seek
the forgiveness that she could never give
you.'
Day after day he had passed the sign,
simpsons Forty Rod Whisky" outside
Salt Flat saloon, and tried to accustom
himself to looking on the burning letters
and the laughing crowd within, to hear
the clink of the glasses and the rattle of
the dice, and to think of them as things
that had nothing to do with him. He had
long ago finished the little keg of finest
old rye in his cabin, taking it sip by sip
when temptation became too strong for
him; but the last few days total abstem-
iousness had told upon even his power
full constitution, and this evening, as he
was walking home, sickness overcame
him, and he staggered and fell heavily on
the esnow-covered ground.
There we found him and carried him
back to the saloon he had been so anxious
to avoid, and forced brandy between his
lips. 1t was long time before the many
doses administered had their effect and
Frank opened his eyes at last.
His eyes stared blankly before him, so
they gave him more brandy; and then
when at last he rose with their helm TO