Mower County transcript., 1904-10-19

4 revolver. - 10 $uOHle, sDOyS, ne said
wearily. ."I'm sorry spoke as I did
Just now. You are all my friends; I
can see that Good night
They stood for an instant as if I'M
certain what step to take, but Buckley's
last words had completely disarmed
them. Slowly they disbanded and
struggled away. When they We're all
lost in the darkness George closed the
door and locked it. Just. then Jeff
Truitt emerged from the darkness in
the interior of the building and, with
hanging head and downcast eyes, drew
near.
"Oh, George" he faltered, Il wish
they had killed me- I'm a coward. I
was afeard Of 'em-afeard of 'emv'
"It wasn't that, my boy; don't you be-
.lieve it," said George consolingly. "You
were simply stampeded. The best SOL
diers are that way when they see
Overwhelming numbers approaching.
You've got grit but they tell me you
have to fill up with whisky to float it,
But you wasn't afeard Of 'em,' wall
ed the boy.
eyes, l was-at first" said Buckley.
IT shook all over, and then l got drunk
with rage, just like you do on whisky.
It's the same thing-just as wide as
it's long. Don't you bother; you'll
fight, Jeff If I'd thought you We're
coward I'd never been the friend to
you am. My Lord, don't I remember,
away back at the log schoolhouse, how
Press Tiffton bullied you all day, pinch
ing you calling you names, and finally,
against the wall, you turned in and
gave him the worst licking he ever
had? He had black eyes and puffy
Jaws for a week. Some men are that
way-just don't like trouble and stay
away from it till it's showed on them.
How did they happen to come here for
you?"
'"They went home after me, reckon"
said the boy, ''an' when they found out
I was here they come on to get liquor
an settle with me. Eff you was me,
George, what would you do-go home
tonight? You know the folks will be
a-Worryin'."
mo; you stay here and sleep with
me," said George. I'm not going to
risk you anywhere else tonight"
+ They went back to the bedroom,
Buckley carrying the light. AS they
passed the big freproof vault in the
Office Jeff said, Looks like it would
be resEy to leave jest one man here
with whole lot O. money in a safe
like that, George"
1T has a combination lock-" Buck
ley told him. "It would take an ex-
pert burglar several hours to open it,
and the noise would wake me. That's
why 1 sleep here. Nearly all the poor
people in the mountains and here in
town deposit their savings with us.
It's a big responsibility, but the safe
and vault are the best in the state.
They are better than those at the bank
uptown, an that's why the people
want to deposit with us. It's lot Of
trouble, but Mr.. Hillyer likes to accom-
modate them"
"And thar's always a lots O. money
in the safe, reckon" said JEFF.
thousands Of dollars, my boy" re-
piled Buckley; "but it's freproof, and
the risk is very little, as told you. L
am in this room every night, and when
go away Kenner sleeps here"
But thar's another thing you hain't
thought Of" said jeff. Robbers some
times slip up on man, git i'm we'll
covered an then force i'm to open q
safe. What would you do in a case
like that, George?'
Buckley laughed. II haven't thought
of that, I'll admit" he answered.; but,
with the responsibility on me like it is,
I believe I'd die fighting rather than
voluntarily give in"
THAT nd be foolishness," said JEFF.
whats money-even fortune-to a
mans nfe?'
"It's different with me, my boy"
George placed the lamp on the little
table. "You could give In and many
others could and nothing would be said
about it, but If L did it they would say
it wasmy fathers weakness cropping
out in another generation. That would
be the general verdict, jeff. Folks are
that way"
DO you reckon so, George?'
Eyes, that's the way of the world.
Now git in bed, Jeff."
Truitt hesitated and flushed. "Jest
le' me lie on a pile O. sacks on the
floor," he said. II don't want to crowd
you, George"
"You think I'd be above sleeping
with you, my boy" Buckley laid his
hand on his shoulder and turned him
forcibly to him. you've heard all
that talk out home about my being
stuck up, but it is lie out Of whole
cloth. jeff, Jef'- Buckley's breast
rose high and fell-'I'd give all have
to feel as good in the eyes of the world
as you are. There's stain on me that
nothing will remove. Yes, I'd freely
give up my life to prove that I am not
naturally thief"
Awed to silence by the strange man.
ner of his FRIEND jeff Truitt undressed