The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-30
THE RECLAIMING
OF NICK BENTLEY


Coz
Nick" Bentley stalked into the
'.XLCR" salonn and slammed the door
behind him. The -'barkeep" looked ov-
err at him and grinned a grin that was
intended to pass for bland smile.
Hello, Nick" said he. "what'H ye
have this evenin"
Nick neither turned his head nor
looked up. His hat was jammed down
over his eyes, and the visible part of
his face wore a dark frown. He walk
ed to the stove, ran his hands deep into
the pockets of his ,iding overalls and
stood looking at the floor
Three or four men were gathered at
card table near by. One of them
glanced up at Nick. Hello. Nick"
said he; "sit into the gamer"
Cant" said Nick. sourly; I'm
broke"
"Broke." echoed the crowd, and there
was laugh. Come. Nick" said one.
banteringly; that's pretty good
joke. Won't you tell the boys what
you did with that hundred or SO you
raked in here night before last?"
"Or the little stack you lifted a week
ago down to Barber's?" put in anoth-
err.
Il see," said Nick, in mock compass
sion. you fellers set there with your
noses over them greasy, caliker-backs
all day long, an don't get to hear no
news; so l reckon I'll have to tell we.
First place, then, old Mortenson got
notion twas me that took them hors-
| es he's been likin' for; second place, he
| told the court SO; third place, the
| larned jury said I'd have to stay round
pretty close till court met next sum-
| mer, an that 1t was case of put up or
| be shut up, an as don't care to board
at the little hotel with the high win
ders. had to drop my wad. Seer
you don't say!" said one. What
shame" said another; and thlrd
said: We'll sit in anyhow, Nick; III
| stake YOU"
| NO" said Nick; don't want to play.
I'm tired. Was up all last night. III
rest a bit, an then go home, and ne
| threw down his coat for a pillow, and
curled up on the floor behind the stove.
He did not know how long afterward
1t was that he opened his eyes ana
| stared aronud. His friends had left the
card table, and two others sat there
| They were talking in low tones, and
| the voices were strange to him. one
lamp still burned on the~other side of
| the room, but as he lay in the shadow
| of the stove, the strangers were prob
| ably unaware of his presence.
Yes" said one; hes got the mon
ey on him, all right. You know, he's
treasurer for this Stockman's concern.
Well, they turned over some funds to
him to put in the bank, an the bank
bein' closed. he just took the wad home
with him 'Twould be safe enough. he
said; nobody knew he hat 1t. He'd
bank 1t tomorrer."
The other man bit the end off of a
cigar. YES" said he; it'll be safe
enough. Ha, ha. ha. He'll never get
past them willows on Waterhole creek
with 1t though. Them fellers down
there will see to that" He reached ov-
er and struck a match on the stove, and
as 1t f1ickered up he caught sight of
Nick's boots. Hello" said he, in
Mortenson, an then they'll be no pros
The other made a hurried investiga-
ton. but as Nick remained silent
breathing heavily. he was apparently
treasured "A drunk" was his COM
ment Guess he's safe"
I'VE can't take no chances, though"
was the answer. He might wake up.
Let's go down to BARRIERS" and the
strangers got up and walked out
For some time Nick lay there in ST.
Ience 'Luck's turned my way" was
his first thought. They'll slug old
startled voice, what's this"
ecution, an my case'll be dropped If
tnGmS the letters DeeH uoiH
the holdin' up round here lately they'll
be no tales told when they get through
with him. All I've got to do is to keep
still"
But keeping still did not prove so
| easy, and in short time he got up
| and walked out. There was light in
| the store where Mortenson was in the
| habit of trading, and thither he went.
There he Learned that Mortenson had
| driven out about a quarter of an hour
! previous. PLENTY of time to head him
| off," thought Nick; then he stood a mo-
| ment irresolute
| His grievance against Mortenson
rose up in his mind, and with 1t, 9TH
| ers. Once he had been an honest cow
| boy now he was a gambler and roust-
| about, picking up a living as best he
| might, and what had brought him to
| it? This same Stockman's union, of
| which Mortenson was Il leading mem
| Der, and whose money even then he
| (Nick) was planning to save. They
| had made him what he was, and
| brought similar troubles to others he
knew, by their Infamous system of
| "black- listing" which made 1t impos-
sible for a cowboy to get employment
again when discharged by one of their
number, for any offense, however
| slight.
This all came back to him. and he
| smiled bitterly. Then he threw up his
head, settled his big hat firmly upon
| it. and strobe down the street. Cant
help it," he said to himself I'll play
a square game. if they haven't. l
won't see a man downed without a
fair shake If he has played me low.
He went to the shed where he had
left his horse, and led him out. He
frightened his cinches carefully eX-