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

with him. But she sent him away
"Efl, Sent him away? Then he was
hiding somewhere on the Hubbick
RANCH
Yes. somewhere You remember last
nigh. we had talk here about him II
was said that he might stiii be there,
and l said l would go out tomorrow and
make a thorough search
Did your" asked the judge.
Eyes. Perhaps you didn't hear IL
thiEk L told Nelson as we were leaving
We also spoke of the roads / had COW
cred, and said the old trail along the
Big Elk was the only one 1 had not yet
fixed.
We'll, when I got to the farmhouse,
! guess my surprise to find Nellie there
! Deckton- her brother. and his wife, and
| that chap named Weimer, thought horse
thieves rad been visitin' there IN the
night Only one horse was taken-four
others set free
II sew the trick at once Nellie had
heard all we said. and had gone there
| in the night and in some way warned
Cayrfght and sent him of. Isremen-
bered what was said about the Big Elk
and started of that way to catch him.
i The. Jade shot my horse under me-"
Coed God" exclaimed the judge.
'.She has become q terror.
Terror! Well. she amt so bad but she
can be tanned. I've come to talk about
it,
| Never mind that Il will keep few
minutes Tell we what you did. You
got another horse. of course"
yes. Deekton gave me one Of his
Nelson and Grimes and me rode along
the Big Elk to where the old trail goes
| Down the ravine-rernember? We found
| the chap there.
| He had a tired horse-belongs to
that herder they call Charlie Ok. He
saw it was all up and turned TO give
us fight I got the drop on him and
shot him He tumbled into the canyon
L din't bother to go after him. He
couldn't live, an 1 thought best to leave
him there
Il suppose the body ought to be found
though" said the judge. He may have
folks,
They can't be no account Any way,
he's gone He won't make no more mis-
chief in Montana"
No. that much Is certain said the
Judge.
Now. I'll tell you what I wanted to
say All along, while I've been payin'
court TO Nellie Hubbick, you've kinder
set me back II was evident you wasn't
in favor OF me havin' her. I wasn't in
your class, and she was Looks like
she wasn't in your class now. judge.
Gordon looked of toward his orchard
He was not quite clear whether Gavin s
speech was entirely innocent, or wheta-
e- he was having a quiet little fling at
/ the judge himself.
you know what I mean, Judge The
glTI has done acts that would send a
man 70 5ail-or the nearest tree But
SKIES young an pretty Moreover, she
amt been convicted OF nothin' an no.
body wants to have her arrested, now
the fellows dead.
There's that big property. It's hers,
think what you like OF her Before
this ali happened. you stood somethin'
like a godfather TO her, an would now
be her guardeen
But new you see her brothers on the
field An not only her brother, but her
brothers wife an a pal they call Tom
Welnier. Seems 70 me I've heard OF
this Welmer. He comes from up Helena
way, an If I amt mistaken, he's a bad
egg.
+Deckton viii be appointed Nellie
guardeen an viii try TO have his PAL
marry her. Judgin' from what 1 saw,
Deckton's wife is Welmer's sister. So
they will try an keep Hubbick's prop
erty in the family
Now, I'm as good as WeImer, an
you can trust me better. If Welmer
) nnarries Nellie, they'll sell the place an
take her off somewhere an she'll get
5 in with a bad gang. an what'Il become
OF her? With me she'll be right under
your eye all the time, an you'H know
she'll be all O. &. 1t amt right, judge,
l to let the gal be spoiled by bad men.
I'm rough sort myself, but love Mel
lie. an III promise TO keep her straight
? What do you think about it?''
There's good deal in what you say,
, Gavin replied the judge after a short
( study Of the momentous subject. III
is 10 light matter to be disposed OF
without thought As you say. was op-
I posed and l had hopes of a good match
for her. With her looks, her talents. ans
her money, she might have married g
rising lawyer-might some day be ths
wife of the governor of Montana.
But. or course, that's Impossible now
q She has shown her teeth. She has pro
e tected 4 murderer. She needs protection
e row-frorn herself. 1 had no suspicion
[ of the existence of these wild traits il
y Nellie. l am panied beyond measure a
this disclosure So she shot down you
torse-to prevent you from following he
lover of course"
The judge persisted in speaking o
Cayright as Nellie's lover The tern
: was not relished by Gavin. but he wa
willing to let it pass ifs Gordon woulc
acquiesce in his own suit
e THAT was her idea, judge But yol
. know Jim Gavin. When he sets out u
: do thing he does it"
. Even to winning the women he want
for a wife eh Gavin" answered tn.
:, judge with grin.
This time 1t was the sherif's turn &
d vince and guess
Y Was the Judge limiting at the raid OF
e the lookup he wondered Perhaps moi
, for Nellie had so thoroughly destroyed
- her reputation for truth that the judg
would not be likely to weigh seriousl,
l. the charge that the sheriff had plotte'
n TO take out the prisoner ard have hin
s lynched.
- I'D ike to win her, judge 1t de
u ponds a good deal on you You've go
IS influence with her still, an you can d
d more with Deckton than / can. L don
70 know his plans but L suspect he want
= her to marry Welmer-
I'll ride out and see Deckton tornoT
n row" said the judge IN have a tai