The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-06-30

turn. what affair it is of yours what
| intend to do or not doY said Coven-
try coolly. "Are you Miss McRay's
guardian?'
maybe | be-" returned the other
quietly. 81 reckon you've the right to
know before you answer"
He put a foot on the log and looked
down at the moon fiecked river.
"You see. love her" said he simply,
IAN so I've got to know. I've been
| lovin' her this long time, since she
fust come hyer a young gal. I'm
right awkward sort of q cuSs, without
manners, but l reckoned to ask her
some day when l got fixed SOS 1 could
give her q home. And then-then you
come hyer with your good looks an
your city ways an your easy way of
talkin' an turned her head. I amt
heefin' about that-it's fair fghtin' if
you're playin' a square game, but are
you?"
Coventry laughed pleasantly. "My
dear man." he said, make your mind
easy I've not the slightest notion of
pretending to Miss McRay's hand. |
go back east tomorrow and in all prob
ability shall never see the girl again.
AN yet you've been right familious
with her sence you've been hyer-ridln'
an walkin' in the buttes an sitt1n'
out in the moonlight. There's been
right smart talk"
I'm not responsible for the talk II
fools choose to make it," said Coven-
try impatiently. I've done nothing
more than would with any pretty girl
back east"
''Then you don't keer for her. Then
what you said up thar on the porch
warn't 500"
ooh, come" Coventry replied. "You
mustn't think that what man says
to a girl in the moonlight is gospel
truth. The moonlight makes him bit
sentimental"
AN the gal?'
eThe girl too. A little Irritation does
To harm, and the next day it's forgot
ten"
Its forgotten-I see! You've just
been havin' fun with her then-nOt
meanin' anything = like they do back
whar you come FROM"
Exactly"
"An' you're a-goin' back an leave
her after maxim her love you. 1t
maybe is all right in your section, but
we don't call it square hyer-not with
nice gals"
But the girl doesn't care for me.
She has a passing fancy perhaps, but
that's all.''
"Yit she let you kiss her thar on the
porch tonight. seen her."
Coventry arose angrily. "I'm not
accustomed to have my he began,
but Mort interrupted.
~ know you amt, but you're goin'
to be. I'll trouble you to set quiet
thar while talk. You come hyer an
meet gal. She's nice gal, an a
purity gal. She amt never seen a man
liken you-or heerd one. The men
she knows amt much on dancin' an
scrapin' an bein' dressed up. They
are Just men-the men around these
hyer parts.
"You know that gal is fallin' in love
with you more an more every day,
an yet you stay hyer. When she
gives you what I amt never even
dared to ask her for; when she cares
so much she amt carin' who sees it,
why, you gifts ready to pull your
freight for home an forgit her Offun
your mind.
Its a powerful curious world y
Mort continued, with a grim smile.
at don't appear to be put together
right somehow. Hyer l am lovin'
the very groun' she steps on, an she
amt carin' for me any more than for
that same ground. An she loves'you,
an YOU
The mans face worked in the moon
light and Coventry was genuinely
sorry for him.
'It will be all right, old man." he
said, when I'm gone"
you're not goin' away" Mort re-
turned quietly, "leastways not until
you've married Glory"
Are you crazy?" Coventry cried.
'You made her love you. Well, now
you're goin to marry her."
''But if l won't?''
'"Then I'm gOin' to kill your
He said it quite calmly, and before
Coventry realized the words he saw
the moonlight glinting along the barrel
of revolver.
"Some men," said Mort, would have
put a bullet into you when you fust
come hyer foolin' around, but thought
you was in earnest, an Glory was hap
py."
DO you mean to say you're going
to murder me unless 1 agree to your
crazy nonsense"
81 don't know about murder. It amt
murder to kill a snake. But anyway
I'm a-gOin' to kill You unless YOU do as