The Washington times., 1904-12-25

named Cayright-surveyor chap Nellie
thinks he's innocent. Why. found Hub
bick's gold in his saddle bag. Fine in
nocent that, eh?''
goii found him doing chores.'' sasped
Mrs Gordon. Found a murderer doing
chores on the farm, And where was
NeIHeg
Er-erNellie was heIpin' him.
Sheriff Gavin, what are you saying.
Nellie Hubbick is the purest girl that
what are you driving at2''
N telling you what l found. ma am.
reached the farm an saw Nellie an q
man out to a barn. He was feedin'
some pet lambs of Nellie's-you know
no" she sets store by en- Well. he'd
hXed up the horses-the farm horses was
all in. an had most starved. I s.pose.
Anyhow, Nellie seems more grateful tc
the IeioW fur what he done on the farm
shan soin' in fur grievin' fur the kiln.
Sne seemed mad Ike when I accused
him.
| Mrs. Gordon showed symptoms Of ap-
preaching collapse.
1T cannot be true" she gasped. Il
liked Nellie SO much
'TrueH exclaimed Alice ",Truei What
| IL it is true-as the sheriff says, Suppose
| he did find all this Do you suppose
Nellie Hubbick is going TO fau in love
with murderer 1 guess not Wait
till my father gets back He'll show
you whats true. If Nellie says this
man is innocent, III spell innocent all
over the country with the letters in his
name Nellie Hubbick shield a murder
err AS soon as I would"
You are a judges daughter" said
Gavin weakly.
He was getting in deep water again.
Whatever happens. we must show the
girl some Kindness till we know the
TRUTH said Mrs. Gordon.
| Mammal
A tinge of color showed on Mrs. Cor
tdon's face. The word of -ebuke was
i like a rirfie shot
Show her a kindness continued the
girl I guess yes. III stand by Nellie
Hubbick as long as ray name Is Alice
Gordon, and there's nobody in this town
that will make it anything else, thank
YOU
Alice" said Mrs. Gordon. do not be
so violent
/ .Oh, I haven't begun to show my
teeth yet. I'm going out 10 Nellie"
You cannot 60 L viii not hear to
that 1 should worry every minute.
Your duty is with me. my daughter
| Il guess that's so, too," said Alice,
kissing her mother, who had been born
and raised in q city, and who found lit
tie that was congenial in Montana iii
stay, but I'll send some one 1 can trust
I wonder if old Crooked, Ears IS
i around.
The Individual - happily named
Crooked Ears was full bred Cheyenne
Indian, who had won his euphcnious
title by reason Of having immense ears
that stood out as straight from his
head as geonetrical precision could
place them.
To the children unfortunate enough
to be born within sound OF his slarne
Old Crooked Ears was a constant
source of terror AS matter OF fact.
the old Indian was as gentle as a lamb,
Iseat at settlers fresI1e and pipe of
tobacco to smoke in peace.
To Alice Gordon he was as a dog.
Dunn through respect and admiration.
he had followed her many a mile over
the prairie when this splendid specimen
OF young womanhod saw 1T to take
s gaIIop-
He had carried home the turkeys
4 which she had shot, and had told Won
4 derful stories OF her prowess in the
camps. He had defended her at the
risk OF his life when they had STUN
bled upon grizzly; and so, through
! these adventures, a great and kindly
Feeling had become a permanent thing
between them
she could trust, if she did not mean her
/ father. she meant Old Crooked Ears
: / And Old Crooked Ears heard many
thing that was not meant for him, as
: he sat in the barrooms OF Hubbicks and
l smoked his pipe and seemed sound
And it so happened that when Alice
wanted TO find Crooked Ears, Crooked
Ears was coming TO e ALlee. -
i. | TO Mr. Hubbiek's farm He's dead
> 4 know. grunted Joe.
And Nellie is alone
rake good care of her, Joe You
~ 7 love said Joe, ready to love any
|, oiie And id Joe -- went. But first he must
4 so for his pony-that rugged. homely
! piece Of horsefesh that had carried him
through many Il startling adventure
And having got his pony and started
he TelI in with Nelson Grimes, and
2 Speckit. who We're going out 10 take
= charge Of the remains OF MI and Mrs
l Hello, Crooked Earst' shouted Nel-
e son How far out? Going after rab-
May replied Joe. who never vast
ed words in answering questions. Go
2 far as Hubbick farm
Nelson tipped the others wink and
! touched his lip This was a caution TO
be mum
Old Crooked Ears saw the action He
became absolutely stupid He plodded
. on ahead, his old pony caring nothing
= for the drifts, and smoked his black
BlIt to the ears of Joe the wind
q brought words the others thought were
Y secret And In Joe's heart there Was
:, a smile. Almost on his lips were the
: ! words:
- an MISE Can't fool Joe.
CHAPTER VII
t