The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-19

| WAAlCll5 4ldu UGcll lSlI LII Ill1lA
during the morning. it was already
8 o'clock. Before going out he changed
his clothes to a rough business suit
and took a car that bore him rapidly
thru the business district and beyond,
into. the older part of Clarkson. The
locality was very shabby, and when
\ he left the car presently, it was to
continue his Journey in an ill-lighted
street over board walks which yield
ed precarious footing. The Occi-
dental hotel was in the old part of
town, and had long ago ceased to be
what it had once been-tl1e first hos
telry of Clarkson. 1t had descended
little patronized except by the rough
err element Of cattlemen and by rail-
road crews that found it convenient
to the yards. Over the door a dim
/ light blinked, and this, it was under
stood in the, neighborhood, meant not
but also to the Occidental bar, which
was accessible. at all hours of the
thru all the spasms of virtue
with which the city administra-
ton was seized from time to time.
The door stood open and Wheaton
stepped up to the counter on which
a boy sat playing with cat.
!; Is William Snyder stopping here?'
he asked.
i The boy looked up lazily from his
play. @:sss
Are you the gent he's expecting o.
/ Very likely. Is he in ~, -. ', =
Yes, he's number, eighteen He
dropped the cat and led Wheaton
4 with the doors of cooked vegetabl
up a steep flight OF stairs to a land
! Ing from which he pointed to an OBJ
long OF light above a door.
There You are said the, boy: He
kicked the door and retreated down
the stairs, leaving Wheaton to obey
the summons to enter which was
baWled from within.
William Snyder unfolded his long
figure and rose to greet his visitor.
Well, Jim," he said, putting out
his hand. IT hope you're feelin' out
OF sight" Wheaton took his hand
and said good evening. He threw open
his coat and put down his hat.
"A little fresh air wouldn't hurt
back in his chair.
We'll, I guess your own freshness
will make up for it, said Snyder.
Wheaton did not smile; he was very
cool and master of the situation.
Il came to see what you want, and
1t had better not be much : -
=. Oh, you cheer up, Jim said Snyder
: Will liiS ugly grin. =: uOIlC KNOW
that you've ever done, SO much for
me. I don't want you to forget that
did time for you once
You'd better not rely on that toe
much. [ was poor little kid anG
all the mischief L ever knew T learned
from you. What is it you want now .
We'll, Jim, you've seen fit. to ge
me fired from that nice lonesome jot
you got me- back in the country
had rntl n o. To n 1,e
ranch owners sent a man here to rep.
resent them and had nothing more
| to do with it. The fact is I, stretched
point to put you in there. Mr.
:Saxton has taken the whole matter
) of the ranch out: of my hands, +
: Well, don't now anything abou
$ that" said Snyder contemptuously
But that don't make any difference
| |. I'm out, and don't know but Tn
s. glad to be out. That@was a. fool JOB
about the lonesomest thing eve
struck. Your friend Saxton dfd1l'
seem to take a shine to me; wanted
me to go chasing cattle all over TIL,
whole northwest = =, =
j., He. hattered YOU said Wheaton,
faint smile drawing at the corners o
, his mouth. .i5& X
None of that kind of talk re
+ turned Snyder sharply. Now: wta
v you got to say for yourself ~ ~. ...e
1T isn't necessary for me to sa,
! anything about myself" said Wheatol
! coolly. What I'm going to say i
v that you've got to get out of her
e in a hurry and stay out"
t Snyder leaned back in his chair an,
e recrossed his legs on the table.
r Don't get funny, jim. Larg
il bodies move slow. It took me a lon
), time to find you and 4. don't inten
r to let go in hurry III
II have no more jobs for you
e if you stay about here your
It get = into :; trouble, IL; was Z
n fool to send you to tina
e ranch. heard about your little roun
=, with the sheriff, and the gamblin
n you carried on in the ranch house
i. swell, when you admit you're a foe
: you're getting on said Snyder wit
: chuckle. l.. -. -: 81, !.
r Nov I'm going to make you a fai
s offer; I'll give you one hundred dol
n lars to clear out-go to Mexico 9
e 'Or hell or any comfortable place,
o interrupted Snyder derisively.o &
k And not come here again. cor
e tinued Wheaton calmly. IF 70
r. do 5,-e
st It was to be a question of bargai
VI and sale, as both men realized. I; :
w Raise your Price, Jim said Sn5
d der. "a hundred wouldn't take m
: very far
n ooh, yes, it Will; II propose buyin
n your ticket myself F.
lie Snyder laughed his ugly laugh.
IS We'll, you amt very com lime tar
IL You'd ought to have. invited me
". your party the other night, jim. T
l. like to have seen you doing stunts
a. king. That was the worst''-l
ID wagged. his head and chuckled. g
: king, a real king, and your pictul
ir put into the papers along of the mi
le> lionaire's daughter-well, you ma
ds damn mel"
ID. What I'll do: Wheaton went on vi
M disturbed, lis to buy you a ticket
IS, Spokane tomorrow: I'll meet ye
a here and give you your transportatic
III and hundred dollars in cash. No
) that's all I'll do for you, and it's
lg lot more than you deserve"
Ell ''Oh, no it amt" said Snyder.
e. ''And it's the last III ever. do"
il Don't be too sure of that I wal
IN five hundred and a regular allowanc
t. say twenty-five dollars a month"; 4
er. Il don't intend to fool with you
er] said Wheaton sharply. He rose al
in picked up his hat. What offer yc
les is out of pure. Kindness; we may
i'd we'll understand each other. You ar
M I are walking along different line
m I'd be glad to see: you succeed in SON
lie honorable business; you're not too o