Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-07
knives. Then Robertson ran In and

were set in kind of triSmus; he could
not speak. But out of his mouth came
| foam and ont of his eyes fire. He
caught Robertson by the body and lift
eel him up. The EnSlshman stared
! him full in the face.
You are hurting me. YOU damned
fool" be said in quick. sharp voice,
And jeans face cleared up. He put
Jack down quite gravcly and began to
dust the aikali off him. Then he smiled
aud looked foolish Jack put his arm
in jeans arm and marched him off to
I the guariroom. The others came be
hind without Il word. They locked the
two friends UP together. but in half an
| hour Jack knocked a; the heavy door Of
his adobe prison.
He's all right now. and fast asleep"
said Jack rs he went off.
In the morning Jeans penitence WAS
hcartbreaking TO see; Il child could
have whipped him. lie almost cried
when the young lieutenant bullied him.
and he swore to be Il good boy for ever
after. This he KEPT for quite long
time almost month.
Jean" said Robertson one day. as
they sat outside when the sun had gone
down. you are laundering thick
headed. gOodhcarted idiot, and one OF
these days you will make me mad. and
| shall Just talk to you rs you deserve"
Yes" said Jean with Il smile, Il
ought To be kicked
But who's to kick you? We shall
have to hire Mexican Joe's mule. He's
4 kicker. and will knock the stuflinS
out of You too quick"
And the youngster laughed. 1t pleas
eel him curiously to be the only one who
could speak TO Baptiste, or handle the
man when he was drunk. For he had
good grit and it gave hiLl a certain re-
sponsibility and duty that helped to
steady him
How did you ever come TO enlist in
this cursed army" said Jack. You
are about as fit for a cavalryman as L
am to be general"
II came into Santa Fe dead broke"
said Jean. land they asked me, and l
said Yes, because it was so difficult to
get work. and was hungry. And peo-
pie down here are SO hard
They are so" said Jack. Il know
it,"
And why did you join?" asked Bap-
tistc.
Because | was busted and fool
Jack. angrily: land I've good mind TO
get up and get right now"
NO. no. said Jean. Il would he very
lonely here. You are my only friend"
And he put his enormous fist on
Jacks shoulder The boy turned round
on him with smile.
You're a bully good chap. Baptiste.
and I'll stick it out with you till our
times up. And then, Baptiste, will you
go hOme:"
Jean got up and leant against the wall
of the store. They were sitting AT the
back of the building on log. He turn
ell his face away.
NO" he said. not yet. am afraid"
afraid"
Yes | should kill them
lie meant the woman he had loved
and her lover. Long ago he had told
Jack the story. with the tears running
down his face. For this man had cheat
ed him out of his fathers Inheritance.
and thereby of Il girl. too. who had
been bought, SO Jean said. with his own
money.
Il should go back to do it" said Jack
somberly For he had vindictive
mind
Il cannot" said Jean, for love her
still"
Then | would kill him" Was Jacks
suggestion.
But she loves him.
Likely she has got over that by
now" said the youthful cynic of 2;;;;.
Anyhow, it would be a good thing 10
do"
You don't understand" said Jean.
'If [ hurt anyone l loved | could not
live"
You're a bully good sort. Jean" said
Jack. and they relapsed into silence.
For these two in that hi1cous, unnatur-
nj hole really loved each other.
When that long, dry, sOmbcr month
of August was over, and the alkali dust
was thicker than ever, Baptistc started
in again at the drink, and Jack couldn't
keep him away from it. But he escort
ed him to the guardrOom three times in
the month, and thereby saved some
lives, and then Baptiste got letter
from Montreal that drove him wild.
Jack found him out on the plain roll
ing in the dust and tearing UP the sage
brush with his hands. The man looked
terrible and ludicrous, for he had been
crying bitterly, and the dust marked his
red face in patches till he looked like Il
circus clown who had not touched his
paint for week. And when he saw
Jack he shouted to him: keep away.
Jack. / shall kill you, shall kill you"
So Robertson sat down thirty yards
off and watched him. Baptiste kept his
face turned away, and Jack heard him
groan. Presently he rose and began
hunting for little bits of Dappr He