Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-03-19

from her shoulders and with set teetf
and hands elinched at his sides was
watching her intently. She wiped hel
eyes, and this gave him his oppor
tunity.
"There you go again! Stop that blub
ber. now. can't you? Look 'ere!
won't ave that bloke from the Trian
gle slidin around ere, so tell yor
straight. If you want i'm, you'd best
go hoff with i'm. i wouldn't hinter
fere. There's better than you would
ave me-"
The woman's eyes were dry enough
as she drew herself up. "You ought
to be ashamed to talk SO" she cried
"I've been good wife to you, If l dc
say II, ever sence l was fool enough
to merry you. You amt got no cal
an no right to talk to me like that. He
came-AG. Gabriel came to bring me
that money you left with him to keep
an
"Wot's that? Wot money! cried
Jem, apparently in some surprise.
THAT money you left with him." She
repeated; that $50-an gave him
back So to get some victuals with dowI
to the store"
Gave it to you, did 'e? You must
be on bloomin good terms, you two
And over the rest, quick! Twenty
forty, five. An five 'e's got. Oh, yor
give me the bloomin Jump! Go to bed"
Cactus City was at its Quietest time
Those who worked were away full
early, and the rest rose late, so that II
o'clock found them hardly settled fol
the day. The heat and the flies had
driven them from their blankets, and
after struggling with breakfast those
who could do so sought the coolies,
shade to be found. there to lounge until
the declining sun should once more
summon them to their work at faro ta
BILE or bar. The sodden hangers on
were languidly sweeping out the sa
loon and preparing it for the day. lts
odors, stale with overnight's confine
ment, were more offensive than ever
and the rested flies devoted themselves
with new zeal to their work. One by
one the men who belonged there strag'
gled over to the shaded front of the
little adobe store.
The interior Of the store was dark
and cool. A Mexican was trying tC
cheaper a gaudy handkerchief, and
standing behind the row of boxes that
served for counter was Father Ga
briel himself.
Hello, Daddy Cab! When did you
roll up your blankets?" asked one OF
his partners who had just strolled up
You're an early bird for sure. Haven't
gone back on the old joint, have you!
Where's the boy what runs the outfit
here anyhow?"
The customer, suited at last, left the
store, followed by Gabriel. "An early
bird? | am. You're the first worm
I've seen," replied he. "I'm just tend
ing the place till the boy comes back
l let him take my mare and go up the
river bit. Here he comes now. Gra
cious heavens! Does he want to kill
the beast?'
The loungers assumed attitudes OF
listless attention as Father Gabrieps
black mare, lathered and blown, labor
ed heavily up the incline and stopped
at the door. Her rider, a boy of Is
jumped from the saddle and came uI
to the group, his face white with ex
citement and rage.
"Where's that-where's Jem" he
gasped. "She's most gone. He done
it. | want to see him." He went tC
the door of the store and peered inside
and finding it empty started to return.
what dyer want with Jem?" asked
one Of the men.
T've got about minutes worth OF
business with him. He's killed her,
say" responded the boy, starting to-
ward the saloon and drawing pisto
as he went.
In four steps Gabriel overlook the
boy and caught him by the arm. His
face was pale under the tan. "Give mt
that gum" he said. $50, my boy, you're
ratified. Sit down here now, keep COO
and explain yourself. Take plenty Of
time. Now, then, what is it?"
The Incidence Of the men had vanish
ed as they clustered around Gabrie