Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-11-10

and lust where the trail crossed the ra-
vine stood thick bunch of willows. Be
meath these, as Nick well knew, were
hiding two or more desperate men-men
who would hesitate at nothing, we'll
armed and bent on robbery. And these
! men he had come to capture, single
! handed, to save an enemy! ''%'F> ''
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
,'em lookin' this way. Go home, old tel-
low. Steady, now" and the horse walked
off down the trail. Nick loosened his
big, jingling spurs, and threw them by
the roadside. Then he slipped away
down a small ravine which joined the
creek just beyond the clump OF will
lows. ..u.t
Half an hour later Mr.. Mortenson
refined in his team near the crossing and
stared in surprise at the sight before
him. Two masked men stood beside
the road, with their hands held high
above their heads and their eyes fixed
on a pair of huge frevolvers, which
CLEANED brightly in the moonlight in
She hands of third man.
"Nick Bentley!" calculated Morten.
son. as his eyes fell upon the latter.
"At yer service, squire" was the cool
reply. "Jest step down and fasten the
gents hands, will ye? They're tired of
holdin' 'em up"
! sMortenson did as he was bid.
|. "NowJ you Better load 'em onto your
blackboard an trot EN-, back to town,
an thank yer lucky stars that found
,'em afare you did. Their guns is under
the trees thar, some 'ers, : where they
dropped 'em. You'll find couple Of
their pals hangin' out at BARRIERS, if We
go keerful an don't skeer EN-"
n Mortenson climbed to his seat and
took up the lines. "Nick," said he, in
husky voice, come into Willetts' about
two o'clock tomorrow. We've got
something to settle with YOU"
i There was plenty of gossip stirring
in Plainfie'd the following morning.
Squire Mortenson had come near be-
ing robbed and murdered, and Nick
Bentley, man he had accused Of
"rustling" had saved 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 Stockman's union were to meet
the hero of the hour that afternoon al
Willetts' !ystore, 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 cash re-
ward
AT half-past one sthe delegates arrived,
and elbow ed theirway through the gath
ering crowd in front of 'Willetts'. A lit
tie later, Nick Bentley dismounted from
his powerful gray, and threw his reins
on the ground, and the crowd fell back
respectfully sas $he stalled into the
store. -, ~ ="
Then the president of the union arose
and made little speech, 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 requested /.
him to name his choice.
Nick's reply WAS something of sur
prise. well, gents" said he, .you
might begin by givin' me back what
you'd no rightto takeaway-my cha n';-
ter"
".The charge against, you shall be with.
drawn, of course, y" said Mortenson,
quickly. sl. ss s19 &@ ss9sss gs5 II
20. '.'That amt all, said Nick 1t. was,
you fellers that made me what am.
gambler, by your Internal black-listin',
an, not only me. but others. Thars jack
Mcclure, an Bill + Sykes, an Terry
Sloane. Al hands, all of 'em. an you
know it, workin' round at odd jobs at
starvation wages, because. you black 1
listed 'em, an that fer next to nothin'
an We know that, too. Take their names
off your blacklist, or don't talk about
reward to- me-" 5'i1t y VI " ~, j
twas scathing rebuke. and the dele
gates WINGED under it. One of them,
Mr.. Kirby, a dapper little man with
peppery temper, was the first to speak.
That, said he, lis aside from the
question. That is not q matter for an
4outsider<to NEEDLE with; the union has
settled that for ITSELF" w \ T.,
''Then," said Nick, "jest drop the sub
ject. A square deal all round or amt
in your game"
A murmur arose, a murmur of approx
al, for the man who had uttered the un-
selfish sentiment, and of resentment
toward the one who could not appreciate
it. 1t rose alike from cowboys and stock
men.
Then the president spoke: "Mr.
Kirby" he said. you Go 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 hi.
life to protect one of our members. and
to save the funds of an association that
hn iN-ucod him