Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-11-10
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81 Nick; !. ! Bentley
Copyright. 1905, By Daily Story Pub. Coz

looked over at him and grinned grin
that was intended to pass for q bland
smile. V Hello, Nick" said he, what y y
We have this evenin'?' -
Mick neither turned his head nor
looked dup His hat was jammed down
over his eyes, and the visible part OF his
face wore a, dark frown. He walked TO
the stove, ran his, hands deep into the
pockets OF his riding overalls and STOOD
looking at the floor.
Three OF four men were gathered at
cardtable near by. One of themglanced
up It Nick. Hello, Nick" said he; sit
intothe gamc?" 4&ssrs,
Cant" ,~said i Nick, gsourly;;2 "I'm
"Broke!" echoed the crowd, and there
wassa laugh Come, Nick" said one
:bantsringly; "that's pretty good joke.
Wo6,t you tell tive boys what you did
withsthat hundred or so you raked in
heresnight before last?"
"Or the little stack you lifted week
agoSdown to. Barber's?" put ia an
othEs IT, ~ e" "a ~ TT ~ =
"ESee, said Nick. in mock compass
sioK. s"You fellers set there with your
nosesaover them greasy, caliker-backs
all day long, an don't get to hear no
news so reckon III have to tell ye.
Firstsplace, then, old Mortenson got
nottn. twas me that took them. horses
he'sabeen lookin' for; second place. he
told,the court so; third place, the larned
jury said I'd have, IT, stay round pretty
closegtill court met next summer, an
thatitswas case ofput up or be shut up,
an as,1 don't careato board at the little
hotel with the high winders, had to
drop my wad. see?" -,
Won don't say" said one. What a
shame" said another; and third said:
WELL, sit in anyhow, Nick; I'll stake
YOU ~ 1~ ''''
NO" said Nick; don't want to play.
I'm tired. Was up all last night. I'll
rest a. bit. an then go home" and he.
threw down his coat for a pillow, and
curled up on. the floor behind the stove.
2Headid not know how3long afterward
it was that he opened his eyes and
stared around 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 Jgtill 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 gothic money
on him,aN right. ouknow, he'streas-
urerior this Stockman's concern. Well,
they Jurned over some funds to him to
put n the bank, =. an''@the bank 'bein'
closed, he, just took the iWad home with
him. 'Twould be safe enough, he sale =
nobody knew he had it. He'd bank it to-,
morrer."' sEr
The other man bit the. end off of 1
cigar. Yes said he. eth be safe
enough. 8 Ha, .ha, ha.S He'll never get.
past them willows on Waterhole creek
with 1T, though. Them fe1lers down"
thergwil see to. that He re ached over,
and struck match on the stove, and as
it flickered up he caught sight Of :Nick''ss
boots,s Hello said he, in startled
voice;SS what's this?" =
The other made a hurried investiga-
ton, but as Nick. remained silent
breathing heavily, he was apparently
reassured. "A drunk" was his com
ment. "Guess he's SAFE
eve can't take no chances, though"
was the answer Gle might wake up.
Let's go down to &Barbers," and the
strangers got up and walked out.
For some time Nick lay there in 81
lence. "Luck's turned my way" was
his first thought. They'll slug old
Mortenson, an then they'll be no pros
ecution, an my case'll be dropped. If,
them's the feller's that's been dom" all
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 very short time he got up and
walked out. There was light in the
store where Moraenson was in the habit
of trading and t.hither he went. There
he learned that Mortenson had driven
out about quarter of an hour previous
PLENTY of tim" to head him off,"
thought Nick; tl&en he stood moment
irresolute.
His grievance against Mortenson rose
up in his mind, and with it, others.
Once he had been an honest cowboy,
now he was gambler and roustabout,
picking up q living as best ne might,
and what had b Fought him to it? This
same Stockman'; union, of which Nor
tenson was leading member, and whose
money even thea he (Nick) was plan
ming to save. TLey had made him what
he was, and brought similar troubles to
Others that he knew, by their infamous
system Of 'black-listing," which made
it impossible fer cowboy to get en-
ployment 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'n play
square game, If they haven't. Won't
see man downed without a fair shake
1