The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-02-24
HVHITE
FEATHER
By IRENE ROWLAND
Copyright, 1902, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company


eaten green baize table when the Kid
flung his long legs over the window
sill and sat there nonchalantly kicking
his heels against the rough walls of
the cabin. 1t was the most serious
moment of the Kids life. not except
ing the one in which his father had
sent him west in disgrace To go west
that had been something to look for
ward to; but to be sent back east again
in worse state of disgrace than ever!
That was what they We're planning
to do-those four men around that lit
tie table in the midst of which burned
a smelly kerosene lamp. They were
passing 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
man, who had gone west for pleasure
and stayed there for excitement. He
was physical giant. There were
vague rumOrs that once, when he had
caught little Mexican cheating at
cards and the latter had drawn shin
ing machetc, Cutler had held him in
his powerful arms and bent him back
ward until he had broken his spinal
column. But these were only rllmOrs
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 Haryard;
Keen Taylor, the marksman rom
South Carolina. where shooting is Il
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.
II 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 will break his
He goes tomorrow
Halls eyes ran tenderly over the fig
ure sitting in the window.
''Wait a minute" he said slowly
"You haven't found out the facts of the
case YETI
1.-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 l
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
Essie Wayland didn't go to the dance.
You want to know where she was?
She was with me-thats whcrc!"
-Four faces at the table went red.
Essic Wayland not at the dance and
with the Kid! -Four men who loved
her, or thought they did. because she
was the only eligible girl in Ram coun-
ty, looked at one another Shcepishly.
At length the Kids brother laughed
weakly
"Thc Kid always was Il winner with
the women" he remarked in an at
tempt to be facetious.
''Thank YOU, Hal" said the Kid sar-
castically, removing his pipe once more
I'll tell you the whole blooming story
if you want to hear il. 1t was Il con
tSiiptlbi' tiith, ''ht N'' N''N ~ w
put me on 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 a novel
I've read eight times and half Il pipeful
Of bad tobacco to enjoy the pleasant
solitude.
II guess if you'd been in my place
To- ,;,rI, NJ I'm no with ~
moon overhead and dead certain that
Esse Maryland would be at the dance
and longing to dance with you, you'd
have done just as l did l wrote her a
note to meet me on the south road.
told her it was my night on guard and
that l couldn't get to the dance, but
suggested that we take our dances out
In moonlight ride.
II was dead certain I'd get back be
fore you did, but Cutler had to come
sneaking back here to steal one of my
collars and a new tie l got In Delta
oh. yes, you did-and he found mi
gone You can believe it or not. as YOU
like, but it was Essie Wayland. no
fear Of 'rustlers.' that took me out"
hat uOeSu uO YOU any eoou, ANiu
die" said Hal quietly.
Because you're all making blooming
idiots of yourselves over Essie. IT.
jealousy" And the Kid pouted like ,
spoiled girl.
"Well, you've got to take yourself
and your charms back east. That
the all Of it," cried Addie Easton
bringing his heavy fist down on tn
table. The kerosene lamp sputtere'
ominously, but nobody noticed 1t.
"Say, boys" broke in Hal Earle,
pleadingly, give the Riddle a chance
Try the cut Of the cards." And h
threw pack down in the midst o
them.
"He doesn't deserve it," grumble
EastOn.
But Hal had shuffled the cards.
"Over seven he stays; under seven h
gOeS!'