Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-08-14

chieftainship of any kind in the west
without prOpping ascendsncy with
acts Of ruthless decision. Billy lsaped
from his cracker box with the sudden
ness of the puma, seized Black Hank
firmly about the waist, whirled him
into sort Of shield and began an ear
nest struggle for the instant possession
of the outlaws drawn revolver. It was
a gallant attempt, but unsuccessful.
In a moment Billy was plnioned to the
floor and Black Hank was rubbing his
abraded forearm. After that the only
question was whether 1t should be rope
or bullet.
Now, when Billy had gone down
stairs the stranger had wasted no more
time at the window. He had In his
possession $4,000 In greenbacks which
he was to deliver as soon as possible
to the Buck Tail agency In Wyoming.
The necessary change OF stage lines
had forced him to stay overnight at
Billy Knapp's hotel.
The messenger seized his bag and
softly ran along through the canvas
partitioned rooms wherein Billy slept
to q narrow window which he had al
ready noticed gave out almost directly
into the pine woods. The window was
of oiled paper, and Its catch bafied
him. He knew 1t should slide back,
but 1t refused to slide for him. He
did not dare to break the paper be-
cause of the cracking noise. A voice
at his shoulder startled him.
I'll show you." whispered the red
checked girl.
She was wrapped loosely In a blan-
ket, her hair falling about her shoulder
and her bare feet showing beneath her
coverings. The little man suffered at
once an agony Of embarrassment in
which the thought of his errand was
lost. It was recalled to him by the
girl.
There you are." she whispered,
showing him the open window.
"Thank you" he stammered painful
ly. II assure you'll wish
The girl laughed under her breath.
That's all right" she said heartily.
II owe you that for calling old whisk'
ers off his brOnc," and she kissed him.
The messenger, trembling with self
consciousness, climbed hastily through
the window, ran the broad loop OF the
satchel up his arm and, Instead OF
dropping to the ground, as the girl had
expected, swung himself lightly into
the branches Of a rather large scrub
oak that grew near. She listened to
the rustic of the leaves for moment
as he neared the trunk and then. un'
able longer to restrain her curiosity IN
regard to the doings below. turned to
the stairway.
As she did 80 two men mounted.
They examined the rooms Of the upper
story hastily, but carefully, paying
scant attention to her, and departed
swearing. In q few moments they re-
turned for the strangers trunk. Nell
followed as far as the stairway. There
she heard and saw things, and fled IN
bitter dismay to the back Of the house.
when Billy Knapp was overpowered.
At the window she knelt. clasping
her hands and placing her head be-
tween her bare arms. Women In the
west at least women like Nell, do not
weep. But she came near 1t. Suddenly
she raised her head. A voice next her
oo hal oIAraooaI hQP
She looked here and there and
around, but could discover nothing.
"Here. outside" came the low. guard
ed voice. "In the tree"
Then she saw that the little stranger
had not stirred from his first sighting
place.
"Beg your pardon, ma'am. for star
Ting you or for addressing you ut all.
which l shouldn't, but
"Oh, never mind that" cried the girl
impatiently. shaking back her hair. SO
deprecating and timid were the tones
that, almost without an effort Of the
imagination. she could picture the little
mans bushes and his half Siding
method Of delivery. At this supreme
moment his littleness and lack Of self
| assertion Jared on her mood. What
you doin' there? Thought you'd va.
| mOOsed."
at was safest here" explained the
stranger. IT left no trail"
She nodded comprehension Of the
common sense Of this.
But, ma'am. I took the liberty OF
speakin' to you because you seems TO
he In trouble. OF course amt got no
| right to ask. an II you don't care to
tell me-
They're goin' to kill Billy" broke in
Nell with a sob.
"What for?"
81 don't Jest rightly make out
They're after some one, and they thinks
Billy'i cachein' him. l reckon it's you
Billy amt cachein' nothin', but they
thinks lie is."
"lt's me they's after all right enough
| Now you knows where am, why dom
you tell them an save Billy"
The girl started, but her keen west
ern mind saw the difficulty at once.
''They thinks Billy pertects you 3es'
the same"
"Do you love him2" asked the stran
ger.
God knows I'm purity tough" con
| fessed Nell, sobbing, "but I Jest dt
that! And she dropped her heat
| again.
The invisible stranger In the gloon
fell silent, considering.
"I'm u purity rank proposition my
| SELF" said he at last as II to himself
land 1 got job on hand which same
| oughta put through without givin' ut
tentlon OH anything else. AS usua
play, folks don't care for me, and
don't care much for folks, women es
pecial They drives me plumb tired.
reckon don't stack up very high OF
| the blue chips when 1t comes to cash
In In with that sex anyhow. but II
general they gives me as much notice
a. they lavishes on doodle bug.
amt carin', you understand, nary
bit, but onct In a dogs age kind o.
bankers for decent look from one o.
them. 1 amt never had no womel
folks of my own-never. Sometimes
thinks Il would be some scHumptiou
to know a little gals waitin' for mn
somewheres. They amt none. The.
never will be. amt built that way
You treated me white tonight. Your
the first woman that ever kissed me o
her own accord"