The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-04-03


blandly.
eye don't say cried the miner de-
lightedly. "Then men him was Of
friends when ives boys. He's
changed, though looking the man
over curiously: 'but then folks do
when they grow up. Wall, wall! IL
plumb gladi'
There was no more reserve; and at
length the men brought out
cards and asked him to take a hand,
and when he drew back offered to
teach him the game. At this he
laughed uproariously and declared
that he had "knowed" how TO play
"high low Jack" before he was old
enough TO wear breeches; only, and
here he looked ~defantly embarrassed
as he made the confession, he had
promised Marigold when he went out
to the wicked west that he would
never play cards or drink whisky.
and he want goin' to. They coaxed
him and laughed at him and. dared
him. and though he looked embar-
raised and stammcrcd and apollo
gized. he held firmly TO his promise.
lie want goin' to do anything like
that while he was on his way home
to be merricd, he declared, stoutly.
And so it went on, and the train
rushed on into another night and
another day, and into another night
and another day, and still they be-
sicgcd and stormed the fort they
found impregnablc. And then at
last one afternoon. as the shadows
began TO gather in the car, the train
slowed up at a small. Imprinted
building which a brakeman intro
duccd TO the passengers as brush
town.
They helped him of with his bag
gage and then piloted him 10 a car
riagc which they had tclegraphed
ahead TO have in readiness. lie lived
six miles from the station, he had
told them, and had frankly added
that the way led through a wild and
almost uninhabitcd forest. At this
their eyes had frightened hopefully
andthcy assured him that II would be
unnecessary for him TO order n car
riage; theirs would be large enough
for all three, including his baggage,
and they were going directly his way
TO their old home. A negro boy was
on the seat holding the reins, and
him they ordered down; they would
drive themselves, they said.
The miner was hilariously exuber'
ant. He laughed and sang and
cracked jokes that he remembered tC
have been timc-honored in the old
neighborhood; and they sang and
laughed with him, until they came tc
a lonely place in the woods. and then
the carriage was turned quietly into
the bushes and he felt the cold muZ.
zles Of two rcyolycrs pressing against
his temples.
snow, turn over your money" one
Of the men ordered, calmly, "and b'
; quick about it,
"Ain't you my Of frien', lke?'
There was dazed wonder in the voice
"Not much. Out west we've -
names that would make you shak'
in your boots to hear. But that don
matter. What we've come all thi
way for is your money. Now pass /
over quick and no fuss"
81 won't" obstinately. 81 got hi
TO buy the Hunter place an to 81
merried with.v
"Oh, well, just as you like" sai'
: the man, indiirerently. "We'll xii
you and then take the money. IT.
. all the same to us. You can't hell
yourself"
| The miner turned white ant
Q glanced appealingly from n to tn
q other. They were calm, smiling
e but %implacable. Slowlyhe unbuckle'
the belt from his waist and passed !
to one Of them. The man showe'
his teeth a little, but nevertheless
onopod II and counted thp small VA,