Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-03-12

Jem gave back against the rails,
startled and somewhat dismayed, but
Bess had halted near the building and
was looking back at him.
"Wot is 1t to you w'ether 60 'ome or
notY snarled Jem. you'll jolly well
mind yer own business, or I'll make
you" AS he spoke he was fumbling at
the buttoned flap Of his English hol-
ster, but long before that clumsy con
trivance had yielded the weapon 1t
held GabriePs open hand fell heavily
on the side Of his head, and he drop
ped, half stunned, to the ground. The
flask had flown from his grasp, and
he groped after 1t mechanically as he
sat looking stupidity at the tall form be-
fore him.
Don't try that again." said Gabriel
very quietly, "or it's not so easy on you
I'll be next time. Be off now. Ascen-
dite ad currum-on your mule, / mean
and be off. It's not three days grace
you've got to do it in. Come-up"
Catching Jem under the arms, Gabriel,
with heave, swung him astride of
the mule, which stood ready saddled
close by. Then from somewhere Ga
briel drew knife, and, cutting both
bride reins close to the bit, he prod
ded the animal sharply in the rear.
With startled squeal the mule lunged
forward, and Daddy Cab resheathed
his knife deliberately as he watched
the pair making their erratic way up
the trail-erratic because the feelings
of the mule were expressed by his
mode Of progression.
He was very hungry and wanted his
supper, and so he sensibly made rapid
ly toward the place where it was to be
found, but on the other hand the recol-
lection Of the recent indignity to which
he had been subjected so overcame
him at times that he was constrained
to vary his fight by buck and plung-
ing kick. On these occasions the rider
would pound the saddle roundly as he
clung to it's horn, and his voice would
be raised in profane expostulation, but
as he could exercise no control over
his mount the animals opportunities
were boundless, and he made the most
Of them.
He'll 60 home now, I'm thinking"
observed Gabriel, with smile, to
burro standing near. Then he turned
and went into the saloon.
Tow, xx,oc ooinn homo Thara o0nl6
be no doubt as to that. Appetite had
triumphed over wounded dignity, and
the mule ran steadily on. 1t was grow
ing late, but in front Of the gate In
the adobe wall Jem's wife was wait
ing for his return. From force Of habit
she shaded her eyes with her hand, as
though to protect them from the sun,
as she gazed down the moonlit trail.
The little short legged dog was sitting
at her feet, looking into her face with
an expression Of anxious inquiry. Get
ting up from time to time in order to
wag his curly tail more freely, he
would make a movement as though
barking, but he always sat down again
without having broken the silence.
Finally he trotted out into the road,
and after shifting for moment un-
twisted his curly tail and tucking 1t
between his legs bolted with yelp
into the dooryard and hid himself.
That's Jem," said the woman. "Pe-
ter don't never act so for no one else"
Then came the sound Of hoofs, and the
mule galloped up to the corral gate and
stopped there. She stepped forward as
the rider slipped to the ground.
You're late little. amt you, Jem"
she said. But it don't matter. I've
saved supper for YOU" She shrank
back as Jem lurched past her, answer
ing only with growl, and went into
the house, where the few tin dishes
possessed by the family were set forth
containing coarse food. He tried to
eat, but the potent whisky Of the Gila
region leaves little room for healthy
appetite. and he soon pushed the plate
from him, so that 1t fell on the ground.
"Ain't you got no better than that to
give your lldu w tu Z COLhSo oihC'
snarled Jem. salt meat wen 'e's all
afire hinside Pick 1t hup."
"It's the best we got unless you
brought those groceries from the store.
I'll cook you sunthin then, If you
want" she replied deprecatingly as she
stopped to obey his order. "I'd have
baked some beans anyway, on'y 1t took
so long, an | was busy washin."
Jem caught her by the shoulders and
pinned her back. Busy washin!' he
roared. you're rummy kind O. wife,
you are. Tell me you're busy washin,
wen you've been mouchin about with
men from the camp an blubberin an
w'inin until they comes at me four at
once an assaults me-"
Assault your she cried. "Who?
Have you been ightin, Jem? Are you
hurtW
fro BIZ CONTINUED