Iron County register., 1899-04-06

I
which would help him retrieve his
losses, or perhaps even DO better than
that.
Hatherton was interested. too. and
stood beside the sergeant. MiIligan
was still eating. Account for il as you
may, they appeared 10 have forgotten
him-perhaps because he had once
been fellow of b troop. with blank
defaulter sheet. Bennett apparently
knew all he wanted to about noker; he
hustled around, banging his tin dishes
and pans. The noise enabled AIilIigan
TO slip up behind the troopers unob-
served.
''You see," said Crackerbox. picking
up the thread of his story again. there
was $500 in the pot and they'd all
dropped out except Wat Batty and me.
| I took the decl, in my left haRd'-it
was supremely interesting-''l like this,
| and 'Cards?' says /. 1 want one says
Bat. I gave it to him. I'm taking
three. myself says l. while he looked
at his hand, and I took 'em. They were
good ones and they came right out O.
the deck here like that-see?''
Hands up" 1t was Milligan who
spoke. The two troopers faced about
and each looked into the unfriendly
muzzle of his own revolver. which Mil
ligan had deftly extracted from its
holster as he leaned over its possessor's
| shoulder.
Get thin up. now. quick!' he re-
peated.
| CrackerboN laughed his eNasperating
| laugh. "Yes. I would if | was in YOUR
! place. sergeant" he remarked. Every
thing has been real pleasant so far be-
| tween us this morning. and we wouldn't
! like to have any misunderstanding
now we're about parting from YOU.
| Oblige us. Did you notice how that
game came out? Funny how it goes,
amt it? Luck with you one minute
an the next it's with the other feller.
I didn't know You understood the sign
| language so well. Milligan. You tum-
) bled handler than tailed steer. You
must have belonged to the Invincibles
before you left the ould country.
What was your number"
Bennett looked on stocalIy while.
with some difficulty. CrackerboN re-
moved the handouts and replaced them
on the wrists of his late captoTs. In
accomplishing this the gambler hit
upon what he regarded as a neat ar
rangement, He stood Kay and Hather-
ton back to back and divided a pair
of the cuffs between them on either
side. securely linking them together.
Bennet did not propose to risk his
health in any attempt to uphold the
dignity of the law. Why should he?
From an abstract point of view it seems
rather peculiar fact that there should
so seldom be apparent any strong gem
eral artipathy toward the man who has
done nothing worse than shoot another
man openly. 1t is only the wretch who
LAYS unrighteous hands upon woman
the Bill Sikeses of this Worldwide
find all doors of hope, of human for
giveness and forbearance shut against
them.
you've been real hospitable. Mr..
Bennett. and l just hate to put YOU out
any; but there are times. you under
stand. when a man has to burn all his
crossed bridges. and this looks to me
like one of the times. It's quite a way'
10 where we're going. and | guess you
won't hold it against us if we rope YOU /
up with the Others
They bound Hays and Hatherton's J
ankles. and CrackerhoN walked Rannet
20 his bunk in the corner and tied him 7
on it. hand and foot. Then. as Ia" stood
with his back to the others. he pulled 4
bill out of the silk handkerchief about .
his neck. winked and held il up so that /
the host could see the so printed on /
the corner. and then pushed it into /
Bennet's waistcOat-pocket. Milligan |
then went to the corral and turned out !
Bennet'S stock. and brought the troop |
horses from the bluff.
well. so long. sergeant" said Crack
erbox. as he stood beside Kay's sad
die. Wed be glad to spend another
half-hour in your company. but you un-
stand we've no time to waste in social
entertainment. We thank you for a
real pleasant mawnin' and for bringin'
down these hosses for our use. My
feet was plumb playin' out, but reckon
we'll get on now. If you look real
hard. boys. you'll find the keys of them
cuffs in the grass not more'n hum
dred yards from here; and. Bennett,
your hosses won't stray so far but what
you'll be able to pick 'em up to-mor-
rer. Good day, sergeant. If you ever
come down my way, look me up. I
won't forget your consideration. l
won't, honest"
He sprang into the saddle and clat-
tered off. but at hundred yards he
stopped and drawled over his shoulders:
And, oh, l say. sahgeant, remember
me to the majah! And tell him said,
with my compliments. he want TO
fo'get to mention you in o'dehs!"
Then the outlaws spurred across the
prairie in the direction OF that line
beyond which lay another government.
driving Bennets loose horses before
them. and that was the last the two
troopers saw that day of Crackerbox an
Milligan.
In after years | sat often of an even.
ing over Scotch with Kay, when he no
longer wore government clothes or
nursed an ambition to shine at poker,
but had married a girl" and settled
down to raising cattle and family.
He spoke of many things. but he never
told me what his feelings were as he
ay through that hot August afternoon
IN the floor at Bennet's. counting the
Slow hours. until a traveller came along
near dusk and released him. and never
asked. There are subjects which may
rot be touched upon even between !
,riends.-San Francisco Argonaut
Tenny~on's Humility.
hn TaT Il | ,