Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-08-24

namenJ TO the camp, and the girl
wasn't worth it. Here he was getting
ready to throw up his best chance in
life, and his soul along with it, for
scamp who wasn't worth the powder
he would waste on him. | quickened
my pace as my argument got the bet
ter OF me, and overlook my man be-
fore he had made the first turn toward
the pass
'Well?" he asked, laconically.
What's up, Zilk?" said, just as If
didn't know.
/ was slender chap at the time, and
was supposed to have a tendency
toward consumption. Zilk put his
hand on my shoulder, and his grip
made me vince.
I'm going to do the only decent
thing ever did in my life,'' he said,
and I shan't need any. company to
help me out"
stepped back, sheepishly. ooh, I
thought" I began, and stopped
abruptly something in, his eyes made
ME wonder what he meant and just
what was his definition of decency.
l asked, recklessly. There is the girl
to think Of. you'll break her heart if
you kill him.
My shot sped home. Zilk's face
went white, and the same tender look
came into his eyes that had noticed
before
Il amt after breaking her heart, .
he said, softly. but do you think a
man like that could make her happy !?
He'll be good to her for while, and
them Why, it amt in a man of that
kind to do the square thing by a dog,
much less woman"
But she doesn't know that 1 broke
in, warily. "Ske trusts him now. and
it isn't what man is that makes a
woman happy; it's what he is to her."
II was thinking of that Zilk said
slowly, and for the first time realized
just how much the man cared.
I turned my back for a moment anil
tried to collect my thoughts, then
Let's go back to camp, Zilk,"
said.
Zilk looked me over and laughed.
with tinge of sarcasm in his tone.
DO you think / came out on this
trip with my mind only half made up,
and that I was waiting for you to
come and tell me what to do?" he
asked. kicked a stone refectively,
and Zilk went on. ''You haven't lived
overmuch and you don't understand
some things, that's all. I've never
had much hankering for bordering
out fine points myself, and don't look
for reasons for things. There are some
engagements that fellow has to keep,
and this is one of them"
His tone was bantering. l began to
feel treasured.
You might take me along" I sug-
gested.
He acquiesced. and was silent until
we reached the pass. noticed then
that he was growing nervous He
turned to me suddenly.
Did you ever do a thing without
knowing exactly why, and because
something-you didn't know what
just made you do it?" he asked.
nodded my head, although l did
not remember having had such an ex-
perience. l wanted the man to trust
me, and | knew that I had to appear
sympathetic
We'll, that's the reason I'm going
TOTO shoot Jim Dowly," he said.
You are going to do what?" |
asked, blankly.
oh, you needn't be narrowing your
soul about aiding in a murder he
went on; ''it's going to be a fair and
square fight. I've warned him, and
he can choose his own gun The
worlds too small for us two, Chef,
that's all there is to it. Maybe he
won't come. but rather think he will.
He knows l won't warn him but once"
Dowly came. He was there with
i've escorts when we arrived, and Zill1
had second only by accident Dowly
stood in the center of the group as if
he expected Zilk to get the drop on
him, and did not face about until the
latter was close at his elbow.
Gentlemen began one of the
five. but Zilk waved him aside.
We don't want any of that palaver,"
he said, and turned to DowIy.
why did you bring all this rabble?"
he asked. Weren't you man enough
to come alone?"
Dowly did not answer; one OF his
companions spoke up instead: He
wanted witnesses for one thing, and
for another We came to reason with
you. You have no cause to fight this
man; he says you are the better shot
of the two-that you have never peen
known to miss your mark. Do you
think man wants to walk out to be
murdered"
''Ic all depends on his TASTE Zilk
answered
His reply seemed to puzzle the men
They gathered together anew for a con-
sultation, and in the interval that fol-
lowed Zillk took his place
Are you ready, Jim?" he said in
as even tone as he might have used
to friend. will some one count ?"