St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-11

yellow. His light eyes had all the
brightness without the restlessness of
the mongrel race. They leisurely took
in the whole cabin, the still open trunk
before the major, and then rested de-
liberately on the major himself.
"WeH," said Maj. Overstone abruptly,
what brought you here?"
''Same as brought you, I reckon" re-
sponded the man almost as abruptly.
The major knew something of the
half-breed temper, and neither the re-
tort nor its tone affected him.
You didn't come here just because
you deserted" said the major coolly.
You've been up to something else"
II have" said the man with equal
GOODNESS.
81 thought so. Now you understand
you can't try anything of the kind here.
II you do; up you go on the first tree!
That's rule l."
II see; you amt pertickler about
waiting for the sheriff here-you
fellers."
The major glanced at him quickly.
He seemed to be quite unconscious of
any irony in his remark, and continued
grimly: "And what's Rule 2?''
II reckon you needn't trouble your
self beyond No. l." returned the major,
with dry significance. Nevertheless he
opened rude cupboard in the corner
and brought out rich silver-mounted
cut glass drinking flask, which he
handed to the stranger.
Il say!' said the half-breed, admir-
lng g6erta naG1EST
Certainly now-but before, eh?"
Rule No. may have indicated that
references to the past held no dishonor.
The major, although accustomed to
these pleaSantrieS. laughed a little
harshly.
mine always" he said. But you
don't drlnk?'
The half-breed's face darkened under
its CRIME. "Wot you're givin' us? Pve
been filled chock up by Simpson over
thar. | reckon l know when Fve got
load on"
Were you ever in Sacramento9"
.'Yes.''
"When?"
last week."
''Did you hear anything about me?"
The half-breed glanced through his
! tangled hair at the major in some won
der. not only at the question. but at the
almost childish eagerness with which it
was asked.
Il didn't hear much of anything
else," he answered, grimly.
"And-what did they say?"
"Said you'd got to be took. anyhow
They allowed the new sheriff would do
it. too"
The major laughed. swell. you
know how the new sheriff did it
skunked away with his whole posse be-
fore one. eighth of my men! You saw
how the rest of this camp held up your
nine troopers and that sap-headed dub
. IF Iio,rtonopt didn't youO W.,
wouldn't have been standing here if
you hadn't. No! There isn't the civil
process nor the civil power in all Cali
fornia that can take me out of this
| camp"
But neither his previous curiosity nor
present bravado seemed to impress the
ragged stranger with much favor. He
glanced sulkily around the cabin and
began to shuttle toward the door.
stop! Where are you going to? Sill
down. l want to talk to YOU"
The fugitive hesitated for a moment,
and then dropped ungraciously on the
edge of camp stool near the door. The
major looked at him.
II may have to remind you that run
this camp, and the boys hereabouts dc
pretty much as l say. What's your
name?''
"Tom.''
"Tom? Well, look here, Tom! D-u
1t all! Can't you see that when n al
is stuck here alone, as l am, he wants tC
know what's going on outside and heal
little fresh talk?'
The singular weakness of this blend.
ed command and appeal apparently
struck the fugitive curiously. He fixed
his lowering eyes on the major as if in
doubt if he were really the reckless
desperate he had been represented.
That this man--twice an assassin and
the ruler of outlaws as reckless as him
self-should approach him in this half
confidential way evidently puzzled him.
'Wot you wanter know?' he asked,
gruffiy.
''Well-what's my party saying or
doing about me?" said the major, i'm.
patiently. Whats the Express saying
about meP'
II reckon they're throwing off on you
:: all round; they allow you never repre-