Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-08-01

| Within half an hour she had learned
to like her-perhaps even more than
that-to have some affection for her.
They were hand in hand, on the edge
of a bunk, talking, when Dennis came
in. Dennis was merely Dennison with
a last syllable the less and a beard
the more.
Maggie knew him at once And he
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 h~esitated; then
he came forward and took it. His
terror was making him quake.
pleased to meet you-Mr. Dennis"
said Maggie, with stress on the name,
and hooking him straight in the eyes.
His own fell. "Sure!" he agreed,
1amentably. 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 a 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. L
wouldn't have played you any such
dirty trick"
"-All right" she said. She knew the
truth when she heard it. Its 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 vas 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,"
she said. 81 thought you were dead.
Two fellows told Leslie and me that
you was. 1 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 I 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. 1
got married on the straight. There
can't anybody bother me nor him.
But it amt that way with yoI. lou
didn't. You'll be in all kinds OF a
mess if I want to talk. But l WON'T
He knew the value of her word so
"ClA tudl dl oppression Oh FSHeI came
over his face.
But L won't" she repeated. so
long as you treat that little thing
in there square. She's a lot too good
for you. but she don't know it, poor
little fool. You might have had the
decency to take an older one, any
way. She-she cares about you.'
Her voice caught, but she went on:
"And you amt going to break her
heart if l can stop it. I'm on to you,
and Leslie is, too. And we mean to
keep on to you. Well know what
you r doing. and you wont 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 Won 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 a pleasant me
for any but Mrs. Dennis. It was not
Maggie's fault, however. She helped
get the supper, and made as much
~ Us SAlS JUN A-AlS
smiled upon the just and the unjust
alike. She heard without the CULVER
of a 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 nex 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 I 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 jerked her
thumb at Leslie over her shoulder,
hell keep a 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. Sabe?"
Dennis was moved to gratitude. His
voice shook when he thanked her, and
did his hand when he held it out.
She looked at it, and her lips curled,
very nearly haughtily. Then she
lifted her eyes with one whitening
glance, and turned on her heel.
They drove off toward the sunrise
between the eternal, rolling hills.