Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-16

QeF QHnQS anu plaClu& HSi hSAN w
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
ear had addressed her.
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
thing you or for addressing you at all,
which shouldn't, but
"Oh, never mind thatw cried the girl
impatently, shaking back her hair. SO
deprecating and ti1nid 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 dom there? Thought you'd va
moosed."
ct was safest here" explained the
stranger. II left no trail"
She nodded comprehension of the
common sense Of this.
"But, ma'am. took the liberty Of
speaktn' to you because you seems to
be in trouble. OF course amt got no
right to ask, an u you don't care to
tell me-
.They're goin' to kill Billyr' broke in
Nell with sob.
What for?"
81 don't Jest rightly make out.
They're after some one, and they thinks
Billyx .:achein' him. reckon It's you.
Billy amt cachein' nothin', but they
thinks he Isl
Its me they's after all right enough.
Now you knows where am. why don't
you tell them an save Billy?"
The girl started, but her keen west
ern mind saw the difficulty ationce.
They thinks Billy pertects you jest
the same"
DO you love him?" asked the stran-
ger.
God knows I'm purity tough" con-
fessed Nell, sobbing, "but jest do
that"! Aud she dropped her head
again.
The invisible stranger in the gloom
fell silent, considering.
I'm a pvrty rank proposition my
SELF" said he at last as il to himself,
land got job on hand which same
I oughta put through without givin' at
tention on anything else. AS usual
play, folks don't care for me, and
don't care much for folks, women es-
pecial. They drives me plumb tired
reckon 1 don't stack up very high on
the blue chips when it comes to cash
in in with that sex anyhow, but In
general they gives me as much notice
as they layishes con doodle bug. !
amt carin', you understand, nary
bit, but onct in a dogs age kind OF
bankers for decent look from one of
them. l amt never had no women
folks of my own-neyer Sometimes
thinks 1t would be some scrumptious
to know little gals waitin' for me
somewheres They amt none: They
never will bea I amt built that way.
You treated me white tonight. You're
the first woman that ever kissed me OF
her own accord.
The girl heard faint scramble, then
the soft pat of some one landing on
his feet Peering from the window,
she made out faint shadowy form
stealing around the corner of the ho-
tel. She put her hand to her heart
and listened. Her understanding OF
the strangers motives was vague, but
she had caught his confession that her
kiss had meant much to him and even
in her anxiety she felt an inclination
to laugh. She had bestowed that caress
as she would have kissed the cold end
of dogs nose.
The men below stairs, after some
discussion, had decided on bullet. This
was out OF consideration for Billy's
standing as frontiersman. Besides,
he had stolen no horses. In order not
to delay matters the execution was
fixed for the present time and place.
Billy stood with his back to the logs
of his own hotel, his hands and feet
bound, but his eyes uncovered. He had
never lost his nerve. In the short res
pite which preparation demanded he
told his opponents what he thought OF
them.
"ProudY he concluded long solilo-
ouy as If to the reflector of the lamp.
..Proud?" he repeated meditatively.
"This yere Hanks jest that proud he's
all swelled up like poisoned pup.
Amt every one kin corral man and
git $50, 600 without turnin' hair"
Black Hank distributed three men to
do the business There were no hero
les. The execution Of this man was
necessary to him, not because he was
particularly angry over the escape OF
the messenger-he expected to capture
that individual in due time-but In or
der to preserve his authority over his
men. He was in the act OF moving
back to give the shooters room wnen
ne heard the door open and shut.
He turned. Before the door stood
small, consumptive looking man In
light check suit The tenderfoot car
ried two short barreled Colts revolv-
ers. one of which he presented direct
ly at Black Hank.
ends up!" he commanded sharply.
Hank was directly covered, so he
obeyed. The newcomers eye had
strangely restless quality. OF the 9TH
ar dozen inmates Of the room eleven