Ellsworth American., 1903-05-27
HeIHITE Y
FEATHER
BY IRENE ROWLAND
Copyright. 1902, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company

aung his long legs over the window
III, and sat there nonchalantly kicking
nis heels against the rough walls of
tbo cabin. 1t was the most serious
,,oment of the Kids life. not except
Inc the one in which his father had
.ont him west In disgrace. To go west
that had been something to look for
ward 10; but to be sent back east again
IN n worse state of disgrace than everl
THAT was what they were planning
IN do-those four men around that lit
te table in the midst of which burned
n smelly kerosene lamp. They were
nassing sentence upon Jack Farley, the
Kid of the party, and he knew that
the verdict would be Guilty.
Collin Cutler was the first to speak.
Like the others, he was a college bred
man, who had gone west for pleasure
and stayed there for excitement. He
was a physical giant. There were
vague rumors that once. when he had
caught little Mexican cheating at
cards and the latter had drawn shin
ing machete. Cutler had held him in
his powerful arms and bent him back
ward until he had broken his spinal
column. But these were only rumors.
At any rate, Cutler had never shown
the white feather, and he was merci-
less to those who did.
The others of, the group were Addie
Easton, who had been center rush and
.strong man" OF his class at Harvard !;
Keen Taylor, the marksman from
South Carolina, where shooting is a
fine art, and Hal Farley, the elder
brother of the Kid, as brave, as cool a
fellow as ever sought his fortune in
the west.
'T move" said Collin without glanc-
ing at the Kid, "that we send him back
east tomorrow. He's shown the white
feather. A man who viii break his
guard isn't worth the bacon he eats.
He goes tomorrow
HaIs eyes ran tenderly over the fig
ure sitting in the window.
"Wait minute" he said slowly.
"You haven't found out the facts OF the
case yet"
"The great fact is this: He wasn't
here when came back last night. and
every Internal rustler in Ram county
might have carried off our goods If
hadn't stayed here"
you're sore" said the Kid, taking
his pipe out OF his mouth for the first
time, because you couldn't get back
to the dance. You're all sore because
nt,Ia III ltHfHrt tn dn
You want to know where she was?
She was with me-that's where"
Four faces at the table went red.
Essie Wayland not at the dance and
with the Kid. Four men who loved
her, oy thought they did. because she
was the only eligible girl in Ram coun-
ty, looked at one another sheepishly.
AT length the Kids brother laughed
weakly.
"The Kid always was winner with
the women" be remarked in an at
tempt to be facetious.
"Thank you, Hal" said the Kid sar-
castically, removing his pipe once more.
an tell you the whole blooming story
ii you want 10 hear 1t. Ii was con-
tempdble trick. and you know it, to
put me Oh guard the night of the
dance. You fixed the guard nights so
that you could all get off to the good
time and left me here with novel
I've read eight times and half a pipeful
of bad tobacco to enjoy the pleasant
solitude.
Il guess if you'd been in my place
last night alone in this hole, with that
moon overhead aud dead certain that
Essie Wayland would be at the dance
and longing to dance with you. you'd
have done just as | did. | wrote her a
note TO meet me on the south road. |
told her twas my night on guard and
That couldn't get to the dance, but l
suggested that we take our dances out
IN moonlight ride.
Il was dead certain I'd get back be-
lore you did. but Cutler had to come
sneaking back here to steal one of my
collars and a new tie | got in Delta
Oh yes, you did-and he found me
gone You can believe it or not as you
IKE, but 1t was Essie Wayland. not
Tear Of rustlers,' that took me out"
That doesn't do you any good. Kid
aie said Hal quietly.
Because you're all making blooming
IDIOTS of yourselves over Essie. It's
jealousy" And the Kid pouted like a
spoiled girl.
We'll, you've got to take yourself
and Your charms back east. That's
the air of itv' cried Addie Easton,
ofinging his heavy fist down on the
aoie' The kerosene lamp sputtered
"ihlnously. but nobody noticed it,
Say. boys" broke In Hal Farley
Pleadingly. give the kiddie chance.
iry the cut OF the cards" And he
.arew pack down in the midst of
them.
He doesn't deserve it," grumbled
Easton.
nut Hal had shuffied the cards.
Over seven he stays; under seven he
ine Kid leaned eagerly forward from
ulS seat in fha xx,inI1ur CnIlft, Effad