The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-11-24
BLAKE'S THANKSGIVING.
BY CHAS. MOREAU HARGER,

IN TINS country or
tn hui lot OF us is goin' ter smash"
emphasized the one next him. as he
swung his lariat nervously around his
head and bringing it down with a
'sswish'' on his pony's TANKS caused
that animal to leap supposedly for
ward, only to be viciously jerked back
to it's place.
II don't know, boys, about this
hangin' business" spoke up a swarthy
figure near the porch. He was q
southerner and his voice had cool
incislveness that commanded atten-
ton. "There's such a thing as going
too fer, an am in favor OF investi-.
gatln' little before we take any rash.
measures
'sWe don't need ter watt" said
Markham, the first speaker. "The
case is clear. Sixteen head OF cattle
air gone from the Occidental Cattle
'Comp'ny's herd an Jim Blake sold
Jest sixteen head at Wakenny on
-SaJ'd'y. That we know, an he's cot
ter swing. We're goin' ter see that he
does ter-night, too, ain't we boys?'
The dozen wide-hatted COWBOYS
nodded approval and one or two
snake whips were snapped with re-
ports like pistols, as if the sound we're
exclamation points to emphasize the
decision.
They huddled closer together and
were SO busy discussing their plans
for the proposed vengeance that they
did not see the white face that peen-
ed around the corner of the store
building.
1t was Merl, the l8-year-old
adopted daughter of the store-keeper.
Born IN an emjgrant wagon, she was
made an orphan by one of the old
time Indian raids, and Fleeele had
drought her up." She was comelv
and graceful, but neglected, and she
had little companionshiD among the
young people OF the settlement. Blake
had smiled on her and petted her on
his frequent visits to the store. but
week before she had seen him walk
ing with the new school-mistress of
the nelghborlng settlement and her
heart was filed with bitterness to-
wards him. Now, however, she was
frightened and had a vague wonder
what she ought to do.
Tile halnt no use fer me an never
did have" she exclaimed half defiant
iy as she slipped away from the group
an the fast-falling prairie twilight.
but he didn't take 'em," she con-
tlnued as she brushed ailnlesslv
through the brown grasses. IL don't
know where he got what he sold but ]
know he couldn't her. done that
The crime of cattle stealing seemed
to her to exceed in Nervousness any
'otLer in the catalogues. The battle
ragged in her heart all the while she
was setting the scanty supper table.
and 1t was not decided until she
heard the group of horsemen canter
away from the front of the building
and she realized that they had start
eb for the rendezvous.
go in an: tend store, Merl, while /
eat" said Fleegle angrily, coming into
the room. He had wanted to ioin
the party but could not leave. His
wife was i'll and the children were
small.
The girl was off on her errand in i an
instant and before Fleegle had taken
ms seat ut the supper table was be-
hlnd the counter awaiting q custo-
mer. il such an unlikely thing as
ones coming should occur.
.2 The frame building shook in the
wind and the floor was whitening
about the door where a fine sleet
came through the cracks.
Selling some heavy boots she drew
them on, and throwing an overcoat
from Fieegle's stock around her, she
gllded noiselessly through a side door
and stood alone in the night.
The nenrest house was two miles
way She could see its lamp