The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-10-17

to him.
"Ard now let us come to a mutual
understanding" he said. "You seem
to know everything about me; won't
you tell me the name of the artist who
delights to hide her artistic abilities
in this little placer"
"She said, Thank you; 1 hope to be
able to render you a service some
day"
"'Don't mention it. said Jackman,
as he laid the gun down and caught
the senseless Cheyenne by the leg. I
just happened by and saw him hug
you. l thought perhaps you would
object to his embraces, and so / in
terrupted. Shall l chuck this cadaver
in the lake?'
"'Do as you please about that said
the girl. AS you don't consider that
you rendered me any service l don't
W you anything"
"Ihey are queer people," unused
big Foot Carroll. "What happened
neXt?"
Nothing" said Jones. "Jackman
dragged the bleeding Indian over to
the Mexican and gave Jose $40 to patch
the fellow up. Nellie and her rescuer
only just speak as they pass by"
Six months later Oklahoma news
filled the newspapers. Congress was
at work on a bill to open the country
to settlement, and the ''sooners'' were
lodging spies and Indian police. A
h~ighwayman had been getting in his
work on cattlemen with money, and
even a government official had been
made to stand and deliver. Deputy
marShals declared that the ~'sooners'
were too thick, and one night the boys
at the depot were discussing the mat
ter in heated terms while awaiting the
arrival of the train.
The newspaper man who says that
we are thieves ought to be shot" de-
clared Oklahoma Bill, "and I'd help
do the job" he remarked, as an after
thought.
Il believe it was that fellow they
call Jackman. who comes from hell
by his own admission" said Mexican
Jose.
"You lie and you know it, said the
voice of Nellie Blair. 81 don't think
Jackman is a thief. l know you are"
"Carramba," quoted the Mexican.
"You better be careful what you say
about me. Any one who says l steal
lies" and the fellow fairly shouted,
he was so mad.
You try to quarrel with Nellie and
I'll fix you,". said Oklahoma Bill. "You
hear what / say"
Just then the headlight of the engine
came into sight. No one paid any fur
Their attention to him. A stranger with
a 'satchel alighted from the train and
asked if there was not a hotel where
he could stop owe night.
"Nary hotel" said Dad Eckles.
"TraderS' house over yonder and near
by is the government mule cOrrall.
We fellers here are all sooners, boom
ers, outlaws generally, and hide in the
woods. What might you want?"
Il want a man." said til stranger
briskly. MY name is Johnson, and
I'm from Montana. l heard that a
fellow named James Wilton was hid
ing around here, ar1 l want him. He
is ~gray-eyed, curl. ired and don't
talk much. Any one know such a fell
low"
mo such a man about here" said
Nellie Blair, with a tremOr in her
voice. Jack Jones had just started to
say something about Wilton Jackman,
but he closed up like a clam when Mel
lie spoke. "What has this Wilton
done?" she asked.
Il 81 IIoACi nv Il btpbtS III
iff and broke Jail. Guess I'll remain
around here for a spell anyhow.
Where does this post-trader live?"
Oklahoma Bill showed him the way,
while the crowd melted away.
ITS Jackman that's wanted" NUT
heoGmfae. NffH4fte- is as not she very f!ar tfSll f to m net
but I'll warn him. He did me a good
turn with that Indian devil, too"
Just here the horse tripped and fell,
throwing the girl to the ground. Be
fore she could get up Mexican Jose
sprang at her throat and held her
down, but not before she cried out in
alarm. With a muttered oath the
Greaser pulled a knife just as a heavy
siX-shooter descended upon his head,
and he rolled away to one side with a
cracked skull. Eventually he died of
his wound. Jackman had again been
in time to rescue a woman, although
he hated them as a class.
81 suppose l must thank you again."
said Nellie Blair, as she slowly got
upon her feet. This is the second
time time you have done me a serv-
ice. You must sort of follow me
around to always be just in time"
You are mistaken" said Jackman.
piuoAiiiS. oNClclCDb lhiSt1l Ills
afternoon and was late starting out
to get a paper. l suppose the train
has gomez
Yes" said the girl, cit has. Say,
amt your name James Wilton?'
"WhO told you that?' he asked very
slowly. Have you been keeping tab
on me?"
Il am not a spy" said the boomer
girl, proudly. SHERIFF Johnson of
Montana got off the train last night
and said he was after a man named
James Wilton, who had gray eyes and
curly hair. | thought I'd tell you
about it, and if you knew such a man
you might warn him to look out. He
said this Wilton had forged IA check,
shot a deputy and broke Jail"
He's q liar" said Jackman. Least
wise, | suppose he is. If l meet this
Wilton I'll tell him what you have Just
told me. | want to talk to you, so I'll
just go with you to your dugout."
On arrival there, Jackman studied a
while, and then said: my name is
Wilton and Johnson wants me. |
guess had better yamoose. If / told
you | liked you well enough to marry
you, what would you say"
Come back when Johnson is not in
the country and there is no further
cause to fear arrest, and I'll tell YOU"
said the girl.
III be back some day." said Jack
man. Then he hastily kissed her and
was gone.