The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-15

ne trail leads down the raNlne cdch
here few miles
What good will that doT' asked
Grimes, who had had about enough Of
it. You wanted blood and got it DO
you think the fellow will run away?
Gavin laughed.
He's done runnin','' he said. That
fellow wouldn't be alive if We found
him. Even if the shot didn't kin him.
the fall would l amt partic lar about
gettin' his carcass.
Then what are you standing here
for? We've got a long ride back.
lyon see" continued GaviE4. SEEM
il gly reluctant even then to relinquish
the chase, IF we had his body it would
show that we lad done our duty.
DUTY Oh. we've done our duty.
SAID Grimes. THE county is rid of
desperate rascal and Nellie Hubbick's
heart Is broke
"Huhr' said Gavin. IN take care OF
Nellie Hubbick's heart. After all,
perhaps it's best to leave the fellow
there The sight OF him might make
Nellie hate me more. This part of the
job wasn't so pleasant as what's TO
come Well have a big weddin', boys.
You'll all have a dance, and the biggest
time Montana ever saw. 1t amt every
day Jim Gavin sets cut to do things up
brown. But this here thing has got To
be success.
Gavin grinned in anticipation of the
good tine he was going to give his
friends.
You see." he said, well have all
McCassatt out, an a good part of Hell
ena, and / know lots of people in Miles
City who'd ride fifty miles to dance at
Jim Gavins weddin. They's some as
would De just as willin' to dance at his
funeral. but that amt here nor now
NO said Nelson with laugh
You're good for a few years yet But
come on Do one thing or the other.
Let's get down the ravine or back to
Hubbicks.''
Come on said Gavin.
He mounted his own horse, and led
that belonging to Charlie OK
The little cavalcade started back over
the trail, eniivening the way with many
"reminiscences about former exploits OF
the same kind.
When they arrived in sight of the
ranch they saw Deckton and Welmer
in the door waiting for news
Got him. shouted Deckton, when
they came near enough to hear
Gavin pointed to the riderless horse.
Deckton gave a short laugh of satisfac-
/ ton, and Welmer smiled
A white scared face showed for mo-
ment at a. window
| Nellie saw the horse she knew SO
well. led by Gavin, the man she hated
so royalty.
| Her lips parted as If she would cry
| out She seemed to be about to fall.
but Kate Deckton entered the room.
and by superhuman effort Nellie re-
gained her composures
She was one OF the group that met
the riders at the door.
That's settled said Gavin, with a
grin of satisfaction
Seeing Nellie. he became grim and
/ stern.
Now, Nellie,'' said he. I'm sorry
I for you. But as sheriff I did my duty
This country has got rid OF a bad man
Your little romance is ended"
Nellie went white to the lips. But
she was of the frontier, and made OF
stuff as stern in its way as Gavin
| '.I suppose you shot him. she sheer
| ed. Three to one. 1t was noble vic,
| tory
Grimes turned away as If her word,
| cut deep. Nelson seowled.
He was murderer" he said. IAN,
was escaping from justice. Every Of
ficer of the peace is bound to shoe
rather than let a criminal escape jus
] tice"
"Is that true?" replied Nellie, he
hand pressing close to her heart. 'The,
the sheriff OF this county is remiss Il
his duty
..Eh?'' said Gavin. with stare, don
you think 1 shot him?''
! ~
eddy. But if, as Mr. Nelson says, It 4
your duty to shoot any man who doe
not receive his just punishment. yo-
should begin in Hubbicks The plac
might be almost depopulated, but yol
| would have done your duty"
That's a good one, sheriff. sal
Weimer. He laughed uneasily.
The shooting of Cayright had take
from the field rival he feared but ha,
| never seen The sheriff doomed up as
formidable rival. now that the on,
Nellie seemed to prefer was out of tn
| way.
i Yet he knew that Nellie hated Gavir
She had not evfnced any strong dislfk
for himself
You must be hungry" said Kat
Decl1ton. as she smiled upon the sherit
and his men Feed your horses an
come IN TO dinner
Mrs. Deckton seemed to derive consid
cradle satisfaction from this shootin
Of a man she had never seen.
1T was good job she said in loy
voice to her husband
Good, 1t was great, Gavin is
brick. But now he has done our work
how the devil are we to get rid of him !?
"Oh. let him alone Nellie hates hin
and rather takes to Tom. Gavin can
| do anything
But the judge seems to like him, an
he has big influence with Nellie"
'Fiddlesticks. He did have, at or
time; none now She thinks she ha
been cruelty used by the judge becaus
| she would not betray this Cayrigh
Good thing she didn't He'd like enoue
get free. and that would upset our ca
, cuIations-'
Shut up" said Deckton you gar
Bile too much. Get them something t
; eat and let them co.
Nellie soon separated from the other
and went to her room. where. in a
abandon of grief, she threw herself o
her bed and sobbed as if her hear
/