Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-08

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 wil- lows.
 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 har held high above their heads and theH eyes fixed on pair of huge revolvers, which gleamed brightly in the moonlight in the hands of third man
 Mick 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 hpldin' 'em up"
 Mortenson did as he was bid,
 Now you better load lem onto your blackboard an trot 'efn back to town, an thank yer lucky stars that found lem afore 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 Barber's, if ye go keerful an don't skeer 'em."
 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"
 There was plenty of gossip stirring in Plainfield 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 at Willetts' store, 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 the delegates arrived, and elbowed their way 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 as he stalked into the store
 Then the president of the union arose and made 8 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 rewardtng him in whatever way he saw fit, and requested him to name his choice.
 Nick's reply was something of a sur prise. Well, gents said he, ''you might begin by givin' me back whs you'd no right to take away--my charac, ter"
 "The charge against you shall be with drawn, of course,'' said Mortenson, | quickly.
 "That ain't all,'' said Nick. 'Tt was I you fellers that made me what am, a gambler, by your internal black-listin' an not only me, but others. Thars Jack Mcclure, an Bill Sykes, an Terry I Sloane, Al hands, all of 'em, an you know 1t, workin' round at odd jobs at starvation wages. because you black listed lem, an that fer next to nothin' l an ye know that, too. Take their names off your blacklist, or don't talk about reward to me-"
 It was scathing rebuke, and the dele gates winced under 1t. One of them, a MT. Kirby, dapper little man with a peppery temper. was the first to speak That" said he, lis aside from the question. That is not a matter for an outsider to meddle with; the union has settled that for itself"
 Then" said Nick, jest drop the sub- ject. A square deal all round or ain't in your game"
 A murmur arose, a murmur of approv- al, for the man who had uttered the un- selfif1sh sentiment, and of resentment toward the one who could not appreciate C it. Itrose alike from cowboys and stock men.
 Then the president spoke: ''Mr l Kirby" he said you do not voice the sentiments of the union as they stand I JOQay. GenLlemen, raising hlS voice and addressing the crowd, ''this man who stands before you, endangered his life to protect one of our members, and to save the funds of an association that had ill-used him. When we have of fered him reward he has asked for nothing but justice and that only if i, could be shared by others take off my hat in the presence of such character and acknowledge that I, for one, have learned much-needed and>wholesome lesson. MT. Bentley, 1t shall be as you wish"
 Two Styles l Mrs. Spenders--I wonder what will be the popular styles in hats this sea son?