The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-31

handS. He answered in monoSyllableS.
Billy ate expansively and earnestly To-
ward the close of the meal Charley slipped
into place beside him. Charley was out
OF hEmor. and found the meat cold.
- yore SOUL Nell.'' he cried.
this yere amt fifteen fer a hog to eat.''
The girl did not mind. nor did Billy 1t
was the country's mode of speech. The
stranger dropped his knife
don t wonder yo' don't like it, then."
said he, with a funny little flare of anger
'Meanin' what?,' shouted Charley
threateningly.
You shore mustn't speak to a lady
that way. replied the stranger firmly. in
his little piping voice.
Billy caught the point, and exploded in
| a mighty guffaw.
Ruliy fer YOU" he cried, slapping his
knee; struck pyrites Che pronounced it
pie rights fer shore that trip, Charley"
The girl, too, laughed, but quietly. She
was little touched. though just this win
ter she had left Bismarck because the
place would have no more of her.
In the face of BiIiy's approval the old
man fell silent.
About midnight the four inmates of the
frontier hotel were awakened by a ire
mendouS racket outside. The stranger
arose, fully clothed, from his bunk, and
peered through the narrow open window
A dozen horses were standing grouped, in
charge of a single mounted man, in
distinguishable in the dark. Out of the
open door a broad band of light streamed
from the saloon. whence came the noise
OF voices and of boots tramping about.
1T Is Black Hank" said Billy, at his
elbow. BLACK Hank and his outfit. He
bitches to this yere snubbin' post occa-
sionai.''
Black Hank in the Hills would have
translated to Jesse James further south.
Inc stranger turned suddenly energetic
Don't you make no fight?" he asked
Fight! said Billy, wondering Fight :?
| Co'se not. Hank amt plunderin' me none
He jest ambles along and helps himself,
and leaves tn dust fer it every shot 1
jest lays low and lets him operate. never
has no dealin'S with him, understand He
jest naturally waltzes in an plants his
grub hooks on what he needs. 1 doesn't
know anything about it. I'm dead asleep"
He bestowed shadowy wink upon the
stranger.
Below, the outlaws moved here and
there.
Billy shouted "a commanding voice
BILLY Knapp"
The hotel keeper looked perplexed.
Now what's he tolIin' me for?'' he
asked of the man by his side.
"Billy!' shouted the voice again, s'come
| DOWN here. you siwash. want to palaver
with you"
| NAi right, Hank replied Billy
He went to his room and buckied on
a haavy belt, then descended the steep
stairs.
! The BARRON was lighted and filed with
| men Sorie of them were eating and
| drinking; others were strapping proyi-
| sions into portable form. Against the
! corner of the bar tail figure of man
leaned. snioAing--a man 1.-THE. active and
muscular, With a keen, dark face and
| black eyebrows which met over his nose.
| Billy walked directly to this man.
What IS it? he inquired shortly. "This
yere amt in TIA agreement
| II know that replied the stranger
/ Then leave yore dust and vamoose -
My dust is there said Black Hank
placing his hand on a buckskin bag at his
side. "and you're paid, Billy Knapp. ]
| want to ask you q question. Standing
Rock has sent fifty thousand dollars ia
Buck Tail The messenger went through
here today. Have you seen him?'
Marry messenger" replied Billy, in re-
| lief. stage goes empty
Charity had crept down the stairs and
| into the rom.
What n blazes you dom we're, you
sraIikaboo ijit?" asked Billy truculentIy.
/ That thar stage amt what you calls
empty" observed Charley. un1noyed.
A light broke on Billy mind He re-
imembered the valise which the stranger
had SO carefully guarded, and though his
common sense told him that an inoffen-
sive noncombatant. such as his guest
would hardly be chosen as express mes
senger. still the bare possibility remained
"Yo're right. he assented carelessly
| thar is one tenderfoot who knows as
much OF ridin express as q pig does OF
war"
q notices he's assniuAty particular .boui