The Ravalli Republican., 1898-11-16

| the gov 'ment. 1.-TWO days war all
they give me to take my last fare
well, +" he said, slowly rosining his
bow.
'What did you como up here for2'
ITO git out of civilization, - re-
sponded the stranger. I'm dis
gusted. People lie SO thar's trouble
everywhere, n the only man you re
sure is anywhar near square with
the law is tho Teller jest out II Jail. !"
| There didn't seem to DO any use
Of asking further questions OF the
newcomer, but think the opinion
was general that to him truth was
stranger titan fiction. He laid his
fiddle on tho leg and looked atten-
lively at his mule.
If It wasn't for bein so Uneasy
about Jeremiah, who needs drink,
might play Il littlo tuno on tho fid-
die, he said. Edgerton took the
hint and Il bucket and went down TO-
the creek.
A trife OF a glow in the western
sky was all that was left of the day
when Home, Sweet Home round
ed up the performance. looked at
Edgerton, who was lying with his
hands clasped behind his head, and
thought | saw a tear in his eye; see
ing but dimly myself, wasn't GER
tain. But, then and there, Lone
Star adopted Ezekiel and jeremiah
We told him of deserted corral
a mile up the road, and he became
one Of US Some days, when he felt
unusually energetic, he would run
a rocker down by the creek for a
time but he preferred to play or
sing, and the camp approved Of his
judgment.
| think that Scroggins was tho
most unpleasant man who ever saw
the sun set in the Pacific He was
so mean that he would quarrel with
himself when no one else was
around, and strangers passing by
at the one voiced row within. Ho.
married a Castilian, who was very
fortunate and died Il few years aft
er the wedding, leaving their daugh-
ter, Nita, alone with the old scoun-
drel. The blackest pirate always
has the greatest treasure, and Nita
was as pretty as her father was ug-
ly, as good as he was bad.
On a claim adjoining Scroggins'
lived Atkinson, who was u hard
working young fellow, with Il title
to plenty OF pay dirt. Of course
there was a new edition Of the old
yarn of the fervent youth and the
lovely maid AS soon as Scroggins
suspected the attachment, he began
to concentrate his enmity, which he
had hitherto directed impartially
against all men, in Atkinson's di-
rection After he found other plans
ineffective, he began seeking a way
to reduce Atkinson earthly neces-
sites to- pine board coffin
Adjoining claims furnished pre-
text for a quarrel. One morning
Scroggins easei his revolver III its
holster, bhouldcrel his shovel and
went o1lt. Instead Of stopping on
his own property, he deliberately
walked some 20 feet over the line
and went to work in Atkinson ter
ritory. Atkinson looked at him in
amazement, and Scroggins stopped
shuyeliny to return the yuze
"Ef you think, Bob Atkinson, that
h shadder Of /. skeleton like yorself
hez q patent ter all the pay dirt in
these digsins, yo're way off yer
level Jest take up this trail, eff
ye'1e lookln fer trouble. All we
want of you aroun hyar ez yer
tracks. Sabe2''
Scroggins made mistake His
temper was quicker than his hand,
and he opened the battle before he
brought up his artillery, for as the
sight of his revolver left the hol
ster he heard a little click and rails
ed his eyes to look into the mouth
Of Atkinson's weapon Edgerton,
coming down the trail, heard Bob
speak sharply: Cit! And if you
ever set foot on my place again
( you'll have to be carried off,
Hcroggins looked into his eyes ard
then backed slowly and sullenly
away.
That afternoon Jerry and john
son, on their way up from the val
. ley, stopped to rest at Cayuse Bend
AS they stood the silence WAS bro
ken by the tlatter of hoofs, and
around the bend, side by side, came
two horses The riders were Bob
and Nitu.
"Goodby, boys, said the former,
as he reined up "Nita and are on
our wedding journey to happier
times, we hope. May we ask that
you say nothing OF having mot usl
Luck go with YOU
The mist craWled upward through
" the 1nanzanita and mesquite and
hoyered ovor the trail. Bob and Nj
ia slackened their pace and went
forward cautiously. 1t was when