Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-01-21

any time. I'm goin' to be married to
Tom Jackson this morning at Round
Timbers. I've lost my way there ana
l want you to tell me how to CO."
At the mention of Jackson's name
Joes face hardened for a moment. lie
was the man who had been so quick to
take Bilrs part in the quarrel with his
brother. Then Joe began to reason
with Mary as to her conduct, but very
few moments sutficed to show him the
futility of the attempt. Promptly
changing his plans, he gave her de-
tailed account of the way to Round
Timbers.
"Say!' interrupted Jim Smith, who
had listened in profound astonishment
to the whole conversation, you're mis-
taken about
mo, l amt" retorted Joe. "The
trails been changed lately. That's all
right, May. Come on, jim"
81 still think you were mistaken
about that trail" said jim, as the two
men rOue on together
NO l wasn't mistaken" said Joe. 81
just lied-that was all. | did 1t for
Bill's sake. If May goes the way sent
her she'll not get to Round Timbers
this morning."
After they had ridden few moments
in silence, Joe began again:
Jim, old fellow, for Gods sake don't
let on that you've seen or heard moth
ing this morning. It'll be plenty tough
on Bill, anyway"
81 shore won't" said Jim.
There was quite a crowd assembled
around the door of the little log school
house when these two men rode up.
The groom was there and so was the
preacher; so also were the people. The
house was decorated within and with
out with flowers and leaves and other
more or less appropriate to
the occasion. However, there was one
generally considered neces-
sary on wedding occasions which was
still missing namely, the bride.
"See anything of May lately?" asked
Bill, stepping to the front as the new
rode up. There was just trace
Of anxiety in his voice as he spoke.
"Naw," answered Joe promptly. His
face looked perfectly unconcerned as
he spoke, but in very few moments
cloud began to rest upon it. l suspect,
though, that instead of grieving over
the lie he had told-as of course he
should have been-he was merely Won
dering how he might spare Bill the
which a public discovery
of the real facts in regard to May
might occasion. He was now sitting
with one leg thrown over the horn of
his saddle. Suddenly his face lighted
up with its old sickly smile, and in a
voice that trembled little in spite of
the bravado he tried to throw into 1t.
he began:
Say, Bill, that was the devil of lie
l told you about May just now. | saw
her not over half an hour ago"
"You did, did you? When will she
be here"
"She won't be here at ALL"
Bills face grew stern and white.
why won't she" he demanded.
Because l directed her IN the wrong
road. Jim tried to tell her right and
let him. Amt that so, Jim?'
Jim nodded grimly. With faces that
now began to grow drawn and anxious,
the spectators glanced from one speak
er to the other in turn. Bills face was
fairly livid with rage, and his voice
trembled with the awfulness of re-
fury as he asked the next
question:
What did you do it for?"
The expectant silence that followed
was deathlike, but even then Joe's
voice was hardly audible as he an
swered with the same sickly smile
lowering about his white lips:
Because l useter court her myself
and you cut me out!
Before the words were fairly out of
his mouth Bill sprang at him with the
fury of a wild beast. With all the force
of his mighty arm he struck and the