Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1896-01-17

"Don't stop t asst no fool questions.
That big fellah s Ned Flynn, an
yere's were e hangs out lot They'll
git We, ef ye don't look out. I'm
tellin' ye this, 'cause-'cause-well,
nevah min. Only, git a move on"
Sam lost no time in seeing that Bill
was properly "6xed," and, getting
started, he took the strange little
woman's advice and turned toward
Amity Forks, thereby preserving, no
doubt, n whole skin. He asked him
self, many times, why the woman
should have taken the trouble to warn
him, but was unable to find any rea-
son ior it.
As matter of fact, the woman her.
self could have given no reason be-
yond that essentially feminine "be-
cause"
The face of Ned Flynn haunted Sam.
Why, it is impossible to say, for Sam
Stires, like the rest OF his family, was
not all imaginative. There was moth
ing remarkable a5jaS the face Of
FLYNN, the outlaw, excepting that it
belied the character of its owner, being
square, honest face, with two clear,
honest blue eyes, while Flynn-well,
everybody within hundred miles of
the line knew what he was Neverthe-
less, that face bothered Sam all the
way home and for two or three days
afterwari, and he could think of no
reason for its constant appearance be-
fore his mental vision until, one after
noon shortly after his arrival home.
he started out for the Huston place to
see Mat. Then, as he forded a creek
near the Huston ranch, he remem-
bered the man he had met there one
time, who, he had been told after his
arrival at the house, was Harry Arm
strong, his much h-heard-of but never
before-seen rival for Mats affections.
And he remembered now that the
strangers face was the face of Ned
Flynn, outlaw and "rustler."
After making this startling discovery
he rode more slowly, in order to re-
cover his mental equilibrium. He
was in doubt how to act in the matter.
for he was by no means absolutely
certain that he was correct, and he
knew that to tell Mat of his discovery
and then find that he was mistaken,
would jeopardize, if not ruin. his own
chances with her. Wherefore, he re-
solved to proceed with caution, and
to assure himself that he was right be-
fore going ahead.
"Say, Bart" he asked, in conf
dentil tone, OF Mats brother, who rode
mile or two with him on his home
ward way late that night, "who's this
yere man Armstrong, anyways"
Bart Huston laughed. "Gittin'
scairt of i'm. Sam? Didn't s'pose he
was worrvin' We at all. l sho' didn't. "
"Oh, l don't car p'tic'lar," said
Sam, hastily, with gesture of depre-
cation. "On'y. I'm ies' sort O. GURUS
bout i'm. that's ALL"
"Wa-al, fact is, d'no's ! know
much about tn dusk, confessed Bart.
"Seen i'm oncet, didn't ye? Wa-al,
all know bout i'm, th't 'e's got a
ranch oveh on tn Pecos, an 'notheh
one oveh b. tn Two-Mile oil Watrous
place. ye know. Says 'e's goin' I
sell aout th' Pecos place. an move
oveh t this country afteh tn fall
raound-up. Seemst' be purity good
soht o. fellah, an ac's like 'e's got
dough. He's some eddicated, too"
IN M-hm, grunted Sam, as though il
was immaterial, all this information
ABOUT his rival. Aud be said nothing
more to Bart on the subject. but cer'
tainiy "kep' a-thinkin' lot. as he
would have expressed il. He must
make sure that his surmise was cor
rect. and then-well, Mr.. Armstrong,
or Flynn. or whatever his name was.
would not only he decidedly out OF the
rnnaing, but was in fair way to con
e.aae one Of his visits at the Huston
place nj the end of reata.
Bat before sam hal time 10 thlnS
out the best plan for assuring himself
of Armstrong;" identity with Ned
F Flynn, he learned that that gentleman
vas expected. ia few days. ON visit
10 Mat aud this Information, yolnn'
teerei bs Bart. whom he met oa ths
f range. decided sam who hal hees ai
the point OF deciding for aooas .--
F Nears-on a course OF action. and tbs
yerf next day he rode over 10 ace
MgA
4 ho role up 10 the house. hs 10
licei that - looked sinsulafly qairt
sna a.s taif { saa o. ~ iats iliael IA.
4gsI Aogei ,ne 'lYlss" ssIy 81