River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-08-08

| UeaIA
the more.
Maggie knew him at once. And ht
knew her. His jaw fell.
This is my husband" said the girl
The tone of alteration and posses
sion made Maggie sick-but only for
a short instant. She stood up and put
out her hand. Dennis hesitated; then
he came forward and took it. His
terror was making him quake.
PLEASED to meet you-Mr. Dennis, y
said Maggie, with stress ON the name,
and looking him straight in the eyes.
His own fell. "Sure!" he agreed,
lamentably. He tried to smile. 81
got to go to the corral" he said.
Leslie was there. Maggie thought
of that, and of what might possibly
follow. "My husbands out there
Mr. Leslie's out there; you'll find
him." she called. 1t was warning
with intent TO save bloodshed. He
might take it or not, as he choose.
He took it, Instead of to the cor
raj, he went to his room and locked
himself in and examined his revolver,
against an emergency.
But Maggie went out to the stable.
She found her husband rubbing down
the stock. Say" she said, standing
beside him with her hands on her
hips, "say-he amt Dennis at all
He's Dennison. He's my husband"
1t was Leslie's turn to have his jaw
drop. did you know it?" she de-
manded.
He faced her. 81 did not, Mag.
wouldn't have played you any such
dirty trick"
"All right" she said. She knew the
truth when she heard it. ''It's done
and there amt any sense making the
girl pay for it. Let on he's Dennis as
long as we're here"
Leslie nodded and went on with
the rubbing down.
Maggie returned to the house. Mrs
Dennis was getting supper in that
one of the three rooms of the shack
which served for kitchen and dining
room. Maggie ascertained that, then
went around to the window of the
room where Dennis was, and tapped
on it. He appeared at it, ready to
jump back. She motioned to him to
open it. He did so. Put up that
gun" she advised; 'nobody's going
to hurt you" He put it up, within
easy arms reach. Now you listen. 5"
she said. Il thought you were dead
Two fellows told Leslie and me that
you was. l waited for you to come
back for four years, and you didn't
come or send word. They said as how
you got into a shooting scrape down
south and was killed. So l married
Leslie and he took me to see your
grave. We had a new board put on
it, too" She leaned her arm on the
window sill and spoke at leisure
Now" she said, ''you see here. !
got married on the straight. There
can't anybody bother me nor him.
But it amt that way with you. You
didn't You'll be in all kinds of a
mess if l want to talk. But I won't"
He knew the value of her word so
well that an expression of relief came
over his face.
But I won't" she repeated. $50
long as you treat that little thing
in there square. Shes a lot too good
for you. but she don't know it, poor
little fool. You might have had the
deeency to take an older one, any
way. She-she cares about you.''
ITa, un;aa cancbt l,,,t ebo ,.-a,+ ~,
"And you amt going to break her
heart if | can stop it, I'm on to you,
and Leslie is, too. And we mean to
keep on to you. Wen know what
You are doing. and you won't get
away from us again. Wen be on your
trail from noW till your last round
up. So, if you want to keep out of
Jail, you make things easy for her
a darn sight easier than you did for
me. Sabe?" She Withdrew her arm
from the sill. That's all-but don't
you forget any of it," she counseled,
and walked away.
The evening was not pleasant one
for any but Mrs. Dennis. 1t was not
Maggie's fault, however. She helped
get the supper, and made as much
conversation as she could. She
smiled upon the just and the unjust
alike. She heard without the CULVER
Of lash the detailed story Of DEN
MIS- counting his wife. Dennis heard
it, too, and did not enjoy it much
more. She helped with the breakfast
the next morning, too. and then, just
before the wagon was ready, she had
speech with Dennis again. Leslie was
with her this time. He lent a moral
support, which very little would have
sufficed to make physical.
Don't you forget what told you,"
she advised, dispassionately "Your
wife-she's got my address-and she's
promised to let me know if ever she's
in trouble of any kind. So you'd bet
ter not be the one to get into it.
And, as for you-he," she jerled her
thumb at Leslie over her shoulder,
hell keep IA well-peeled eye on you
for the rest of your natural life. And
wen make it interesting for you if
you don't talk Spanish. Sahe?"
Dennis was moved to gratitude. His
voice shook when he thanked her, and
so did his hand when he held il out.