The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-30
Our Daily Short Story

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across the prairie.
About an hour later he struck the
tran again on the crest OF little nil,
ana refined in his painting horse BE-
lore him the ground sloped away 10
the gully or draw" known as Water
hole creek, and just where the trail
crossed the ravine stood a thick bunch
OF Willows. Beneath, as Nick well
knew, We're hiding two or more desper-
ate men--men who would hesitate at
nothing, well armed and bent on rob-
Dery. And these men he had come to
capture, single handed, to save AN enc
my!
Nick dismounted and hung his reins
on his saddle horn. Hate to run you
into danger, old boy" he said, patting
the horses neck. but I've got to keep
en- lookin' this way. Go home, old
fellow. Steady, now,' and the horse
walked off DOWN the trail. Nick ZOOS
ened his big, juggling spurs, and threw
them down by the roadside. Then he
slipped away down small ravine
which Joined the creek just beyond the
clump of willows.
Half an hour later Mr.. Mortenson
refined in his team near the crossing
and stared in surprise at the sight be-
fore him. Two masked men stood be-
side the road, with their hands held
high above their heads and their eyes
fixed on pair of huge reviewers, which
CLEANED brightly in the moonlight in
the hands of third man.
Nick Bentley" calculated Morten-
son, as his eyes fell upon the latter.
AT yer service. squire was the
cool reply. "Jes step down and fasten
the gents hands, will We They're tired
of holdin' 'em up
Mortenson did as he was bid.
Now you better load EN- onto your
blackboard an trot >em back to town.
an thank yer lucky stars that found
'em before you did. Their guns is UNI
der the trees thar, some'ers. where
they dropped 'em. You'll find a cou-
pie of pals hangin out at BARRIERS, II
We go keerful an don't skeer EN-
Mortenson ciispbed to his seat and
took up the lines. Nick" said he, in
a husky voice, come into Willett's
about two o'clock tomorrow. We've
got something to settle with you"
There was plenty of gossip stirring
in Plainfield the following morning.
Squire Mortenson had come near be-
ing robbed and murdered. and Nick
Bentley, a man he had accused of
''rustling" had haved him. Four des-
perate men, whose liberty had been a
menace to the stockmen, had been ar
rested. and this, too. was due to Nick
Now, rumor said, the delegates to the
local Stockmen'S union were to meet
the hero of the hour that afternoon at
Willetts store. ready to reward him.
generously. in true Western style. in
whatever way he might choose, and
there was much speculation as to what
he would accept. Some thought he
would take land; others. cattle, and
still others that he would prefer a
cash reward.
At half-past one the delegates arriv-
ed, and elbowed their way through the
gathering crowd in front of willetts.
little later Nick Bentley dismounted
from his powerful gray. and threw his
reins on the ground, and the crowd
fell back respectfully as he stalked in
to the store.
Then the president of the union arose
and made a little seepch. in which he
briefly stated the facts, and announced
that inasmuch as the union felt under
deep obligations to Nick, they were de-
sirous of publicly rewarding him in
whatever way he saw fit, and reques-
ted him to name his choice.
Nick's reply was something of a
surprise. We'll. gents said he. you
might begin by givin' me back what
you'd no right to take away-my char
acter."
THAT amt all, said Nick. 'Tt was
you fellers that made me what l am,
a gambler, by your Internal black-lis-
tin an not only me. but others.
Thar's Jack Mcclure. an Bill Sykes,
and Terry Sloane. AL hands. all of em.
an you know 1t, workin' round at odd
jobs at starvation wages. because you
blacklisted 'em. an that fer next to
1. IT,
their names off your blacklist, or
don't talk about reward to me-"
1t was a scathing rebuke, and the
delegates WINGED under it. One of
them, a Mr.. Kirby. dapper little man
with Il peppery temper. was the first
to speak. That" said he, as aside
from the question. That is not mat
ter for an outsider to NEEDLE with tho
union has settled that for itself"
Then" said Nick. jest drop the
subject. A square deal all round or
l amt in your game.
A murmur arose, a murmur of ap-
prevail for the man who had uttered
the unselfish sentiment, and of re-
| sentiment toward the one who could
not appreciate it. 1t rose alike from
cowboys and stockmen.
| Then the president spoke: Mr.
| Kirby" he said. you do not voice the
| sentiments of the union as they stand
today. Gentlemen" raising his voice
| and addressing the crowd. this man
who stands before you endangered his
| life to protect one of our members.
and to save the funds of an association
| that had ill-used him. When we have
offered him a reward he has asked for
nothing but Justice. and that only If
it could be shared by others. l take
! off nv hat in the presence of such Il
| character. and acknowledge that I, for
| one, have learned a much-needed and
| wholesome lesson. Mr.. Bentley, it
! shall be as you wish"