The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-03
vance on the place, announce who be

vance on the place, announce who he
was and his mission and demand the
surrender of the inmates. He was per-
haps. half way to the house when a
light flashed up and he dropped to the
ground and lay still. By the light he
could see that one of. the windows of
| the ranch house was raised and that
It was covered only by a cotton cur
tain which blew back and forth in the
morning breeze. Ed crawled up to this
window until he was directly under
| meath it, and then he heard voices.
A woman was talking. She was
moving about the room and evidently
preparing food for some one. As the
| curtain moved Ed got a glimpse of the
interior. He saw a man in bed and
could Judge by the appearance of his
| face that he was sick. He noted a
thin, gaunt looking woman, who was
preparing a broth. He observed that
by the bed there slept a handsome
Scotch collie, the best kind Of a cow
dog ever created. Thus spoke the
woman to the man.
''The Blue Duck people are out with
their guns, Jim, and I've got to quit
this stealing business. The dog works
all right. but they'll get me sure, and
what win become of you if I'm hauled
up? I know it isn't right. Jim. but
you'd have died long ago if the dog
and me hadn't known how to get the
cattle over here. There are two good
cows in the corral now. and the Hamar
people will be here in the morning and
- ,1ph IN
live on for the next two weeks. After
The entire situation dawned on Gen
tleman Ed in a flash. He heard the
sick man moan and say:
Its all right, Kate You've done
all a woman could for any man. If
we've got to starve here, why that's
all there is to it. You needn't run Off
any more stock. We've taken more
than we can ever pay for now, and the
Lord knows how we will ever square
accounts with Him for what's been
done"
At this the woman set down the
bowl which she had in her hand and
went over to the bedside and put her
arms about the mans neck
''I've lived for you all my life. Jim,''
she said. land I'll die for you new.
They can't get US two apart. no mat
ter what happens"
Then, for the first time in his life.
Gentleman Ed retreated He crawled
away with hot Pushes on his cheek
and something sticking in his throat.
He rejOined his companions. and to
their surprise ordered them to mount
and ride with him. Silently he led
them into Blue Duck just as the town
awoke and the streets We're filled with
people. He rode straight for the No. l
Hard bar. and Cnce inside of that and
the people gathered about him he
mounted Il table AID made a shart
speech
In brief he said to them:
sBoys. / found the cattle thieves
last night, and I've sneaked away
from them. It's for YOU to say what
you are going to do with me for it. Tn
going to tell you a story first, though
You know that fellow HotIing that has
that bad grass plain north of here
You know he came down with the fe-
Nei Il year ago. anu lie mas been losing
everything since then. You know that
we have had all kinds of prosperity
down here. but we haven't stopped to
think of the people about us that have
had hard luck. Since Hotling's been
sick bis wife has been standing by
him. They didn't have any money.
and they couldn't hire q doctor but
some Of these fellows over at Hamar
put the woman up to running eff OUT
stock.
You know she owns the best collie
In this country Well. she's been
dressing up in her husbands clothes
and taking the collie and going out
and getting just what stock she
wanted. She put the animals in Hot
linG's corral and the Hamar people
would get them the next day. The
money she has got out of it has gone
to doctoring her husband. l was right
up to the house last night. right by tho
open WINDOW. and L heard her and the
old man talk it all over. L don't believe
that he will live two weeks more and
she is heartbroken. but l sneaked. /
can't fight a woman
There was Il long silence. AID then
aalvorson rose, ana Etalvorson moved
that Blue Duck visit fIamar and in
form the rival town what it Lad dis
covered. Also, that Blue Duck invite
Lamar to fight with any weapon
known and f,,,-