The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-06-20

OWN LTOOp. 1hh0 Lie COIpOTdl, Il Ill was
veteran and the two were chums of
long standing. The farrier's pom in
the stables had been the scene of
many a quiet carouse, with none to
join in but the cronies themselves, and
when Healy's pockets were empty and
his throat hot coppered Of morning
he was always sure Of a punch COM
pounded from Fins stock Of alcohol,
supplied to the farrier as horse medi-
cine. Together they had come out of
the war, together Joined the regular
army, together had campaigned in fire.
Quent Indian risings, and together they
vaguely supposed, though only in their
cups did they talk of it, they would be
pensioned off and look after the well
fare Of the old troop from a distance.
"How, Healyv'
"How, Finv'
Healy twirled his stick like a drum
major and chirruped Garry Owen"
If he had looked straight at old Fin he
might have been struck with the fact
that the farrier's air was as guilty as
his own. Strait, usually ready with a
rude jocosity of greeting, now stood
still and gazed with great thoughtful
ness across the slope of the snowy
plains, beyond the thread of cotton
woods which fringed the creek, to the
scattered houses of the little town be-
yOnd. The evening sunlight falling
upon the low roofs, islands in sea Of
snow, softened the sordidness of the
rude, wooden shacks, touched them
mill %laa ic%sc
from group Of unseemly intruders, al
most an acceptable part in the lonely
grandeur of the wilderness. Healy's
| eyes unconsciously sought the same
scene. His whistle died away, and his
whirling stick dropped to the ground.
| The two hardened old campaigners
were usually as remote from sentiment
| as gun barrels, yet now they stimuli
| taneously sighed-the abrupt, gruff
gasp of storm weathered veteranhood,
yet, Enthusiastically as the soft breath
of girl, the sigh Of happiness and
content and love-
| At that unexpected and startling
eruption from the breast of either each
turned as one caught in deed of dark
ness and faced the other, reddening.
''Tn not be kapin' yez, Fin, if it's
| afther walkin' yez are" said the cor
poral, almost angrily, and took a step
forward.
"Only to the suffers for a beer" said
Fin, more conciliatory. "Will you have
oneY
II am off the BOOZE" said Healy
shortly and disappeared round the cor
raj. "Whut the divil wuz he hangin'
aroun' for so mysterious?" he added,
with most unfriendly irritation.
where's the old son of a gun off to
all alone anyway, and what the dickens
was he signing about, like blessed
cook stuck on dog robber" the far
rier soliloquized frowningly as he
strobe to the post traders for his beer.
And over his glass he pondered long
until, as he drank a second one, his
frown was heavy and black.
"By jiggersr' he cried suddenly to
the startled bartender. "I'll take no
chances anyway, III Do it tonight or
bust! Give me beer, John, my boy,
and good luck to both of usv'
Once Healy was safely away, his
long legs quickened their action until
he almost ran down the sloping, slip
perry trail to the creek, across the un.
rallied, dangerous bridge over the
creek and. with almost the hopeful
spring of youth, across the plain to
the outskirts of the mushroom town
1t neared sunset when he reached the
first outlying houses and branched of
across lots to one little two storied
cottage which stood quite by itself
very SMALL very neat and very unpro
tected. Healy paused fifty yards from
+ it, drew a long breath, blew it out
again with explosive determination
+ and charged the little front door as il
it were an Indian outpost, yet wher
n he reached it his knock was most mod
!. est, and the martial red of his face
feebled to Pickering pink. A LITTLE
woman, as neat and unprotected look
: ing as her house, opened the door
3 Perhaps it were more explanatory o.
her appearance to say that she looked
as if inviting protection, such a slip o.
, a woman, yet not devoid of pIumpnes
Q in the cheek, such blushing woman
a yet not without a twinkle in her eve.
a "Oh, Mr.. Healy" said she. 81 hardl!
v expected-I am glad to see you! Won
: you come in? What has brought yov
s. into the town again today?'
+ "Ah, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Bell" said Hea
/ ly calamity, "what wud be afthe
- bringin' me but jist soight av thin
: swate oyes?"
: "Mr. Healy, I'm surprised" said tn
= little widow with a uuickar tvvinlyla n
; those dangerous eyes. But 1 dom
l. believe you. You people at the pos
, all say the same thing, and none o
a you mean what you say, not one.'
"Who-wh o-who's been DARN t
y say that same thing?" cried Healy il
/ angry surprise.
/ Mrs. Bell laughed gleefully.
II Come in, corporal" she said. Cd
g you think I'll tell you who said any
fhinn 10 mo Oh oil ooa no va 49,, % A.