Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-05-04
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TheReclaiming
Of Nick Bentley
BY A. C. CALDWELL
Copyright. 1901. by Daily Story Pub. co.,

hkIICK" BENTLEY stalked into the
M "XLCR" saloon and slammed
the door behind him. The "barkeep''
looked over at him and grinned a grin
that was intended to pass for bland
smile. Hello, Nick" said he, "whatil
We have this evening""
Nick neither turned his head nor
looked up. His hat was jammed down
over his eyes, and the visible part Of his
face wore a dark frown. He walked to
the stove, ran his hands deep into the
pockets of his riding overalls and stood
looking at the floor.
Three or four men were gathered at
card table near by. One of them glanced
up at Nick. Hello, Nick" said he; "sit
into the gamer"
Cant" said Nick, sourly; "Im
broke"
"Broke!" echoed the crowd, and there
was a laugh. Come, Nick" said one,
banteringly; that's pretty good joke
Won't you tell the boys what you did
with that hundred or so you raked In
here night before last?"
"Or the little stack you lifted week
ago down to Barber's" put in an
other.
81 see," said Nick, in mock compass
sion. You fellers set there with your
noses over them greasy, caliker-backs
all day long, an don't get to hear no
news; so l reckon I'll have to tell We.
First place, then, old Mortenson got
notion twas me that took them horses
he's been lookin' for; second place, he
told the court so; third place, the larned
jury said I'd have to stay round pretty
close till court met next summer, an
that it was case of put up or be shut up
an as l don't care to,board at the little
hotel with the high winders, had to
drop my wad, See?"
"You don't say!" said one. What a
shame" said another; and third said'
"Well, sit in anyhow, Nick; I'll stake
you"
mo" said Nick; don't want to play.
I'm tired. Was up all last night. I'll
rest bit, an then go home" and he
threw down his coat for pillow, and
eurled up on the floor behind the stove.
He did not know how long afterward
II was that he opened his eyes and
stared around. His friends had left the
card table, and two others sat there.
They were talking in low tones, and
the voices were strange to him. One
lamp still burned on the other side of
the room, but as he lay in the shadow
of the stove, the strangers were prob
ably unaware of his presence,
eyes," said one; "he's got the money
on him, all right You know, he's treas
urer for this Stockman's concern. Well,
they turned over some funds to him to
put in the bank, an the bank bein'
closed he just took the wad home with
him. 'Twould be safe enough, he said;
nobody knew he habit He'd bank it to-
morrer."
The other man bit the end off Of a
cigar. eyes," said he; "it'll be safe
enough. Ha, ha, ha- He'll never get
past them willows on Waterhole creek
with It, though. Them fellers down
there will see to that" He reached over
and struck a match on the stove, and as
1t fickered up he caught sight Of Nick :
boots. Hello" said he, in startled
voice, whats this?"
The other made a hurried investiga-
ton, but as Nick remained silent,
breathing heavily. he was apparently
treasured. "a drunk" was his COM
ment. Guess he's safe"
I'VE can't take no chances, though"
was the answer. "He might wake up.
Let's go down to Barber's," and the
strangers got up and walked out.
For some time Nick lay there in ST.
lence. "Luck's turned my way" was
his first thought. They'll slug old
Mortenson, an then they'll be no pros
ecution, an my case'll be dropped. II
them's the feller's that's be en- doin' all
the holdin' up round here .ately they'll
be no tales told when they get through
with him. All I've got to do is to keep
still"
But keeping still did not prove so easy,
and in a very short time he got up and
walked out. There was light in the
store where Mortenson was in the habit
of trading, and thither he went. There
he learned that Mortenson had driven
out about quarter of an hour previous.
''Plenty of time to head him of, -
thought Nick; then he stood moment
irresolute.
His grievance against Mortenson rose
I'D in his mind, and with it, others.
Once he had been an honest cowboy
now he was a gambler and roustabout,
picking up a living as best he might,
and what had brought him to it? This
same Stockman's union, of which Nor
tenson was leading member, and whose
money even then he (Nick) was plan
ming to save They had made him what
he was, and brought similar troubles to
others that he knew, by their Infamous
system of "black-listing, which made
II impossible for a cowboy to get en-
ployment agaA Eben discharged by
one of their number, for any offense,
however slight.
This all came back to him, and he
smiled bitterly. Then he threw up his
head, settled his big hat firmly upon it,
and strobe down the street. Cant help
IT," he said to himself. "I'll play
a square game, if they haven't. won't
see a man downed Without fair shake