The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-05-13


dcrs and upper arms grew rigid with
embarrassment. causing strange, awk.
ward movements OF tho hands. He an.
swered Ia monosyilables.
Billy ate expansively and earnestly.
Toward the close OF the meal Charley
slipped into place beside him. Charley
was out OF humor and found the meat
cold.
"----- ---- yore soul. Ncli." he cried.
this yere amt ntten fer hog to eatv'
The girI did not mind. nor did Billy.
u was the country's mode OF speech.
The stranger dropped his knife.
Il don't wonder 20 don't like It,
then" said he with funny little aare
Of anger.
"Meanin' whatr shouted Charley
threateningiy.
You shore mustn't speak to n lady
that way" replied the stranger firmly,
In his little piping voice
Billy caught the point and exploded
In a mighty guffaw.
"Bnlly fer you" he cried, slapping
his knee. Struck pyrites" he pro-
nounced II pie rights" shore that
trip. Charley"
The girl, too. laughed. but quietly.
She was little touched, though lust
this winter she had left Bismarck be.
cause the place would have no more Of
her.
In the face Of Bllly's approval the
old man fell silent.
About midnight the four inmates of
the frontier hotel were awakened by
tremendous racket outside. The stran.
ger arose, fully clothed, from his bunk
and pecred through the narrow open
window, A dozen horses were stand
Ing grouped In charge OF single
mounted man, indIstinguishable In the
dark. Out Of the open door a broad
band OF light streamed from the saloon,
whence came the noise Of voices and of
boots iramplng about.
1T In Black Hank" said Billy, at bis
elbow. BLACK Hank and his outfit.
He bitches 10 this yere snubbin' post
occasional"
Black Hank In the hills would have
translated to Jesse James farther
south.
The stranger turned suddenly ener-
getic.
Don't you make no iight;" be asked.
Flight" said Billy, wondering.
flight! Co'sc not. Hank amt plum.
derin' me none. He jest ambles along
and helps himself, and leaves the dust
fer II every shot. jest lays low and
lets him operate, never has no deal.
ms with him, understand. He lest
naturally waltzes In and plants his grub
hooks on what he needs. doesn't
know anything about II. I'm dead
asleep"
He bestowed shadowy wink upon
tho stranger
Below. the outlaws moved here and
there. ]
Billy" shouted commanding voice.
"Bllly Knapp"
The hotel keeper looked perplexed.
"Now what's he tollin' me ferT" he
asked Of the man by his side.
Billy" shouted the voice again.
"come down here, you siwash. want
to palaver with you"
"All right, Hank" replied Billy.
He went to his room" and buckled
on heavy belt. then descended the
steep stairs.
The baroom was lighted and filed
with men. Some Of them were eating
and drinking: others were strapplng
provisions into portable form. Against
the corner OF the bar a tall figure Of &
nan leaned, smoking-a man 1.-the, ac-
I've and muscular, with a keen, dark
lace and black eyebrows which met
'ver his nose Billy walked directly
% this man.
What Is it2' he inquired shortly.
This yere aln't In tn agreement"
Il know that" replied the stranger,
"Then leave yore dust and vamoose."
MY dust Is there" said Black Hank,
'lacing his hand on buckskln bag at
lis side, "and you're paid, Billy Knapp
want to ask you question, Stand
ng Rock has sent $4,000 to Buck Tail.
The messenger went through here to-
lay. Have you seen hlm?"
Marry messenger" replied Billy In
elief. "Stage goes empty"
Charley had crept down the stairs
nd into the room.
what n blazes you doin' yere, you
anikaboo ijit?" asked Billy trucu-
entity.
'"rhat thar stage amt what you calls
mpty," observed Charley, unmoved.
A light broke on Billy's mind. He re-
lembered the vallse which the stran-
er had so carefully guarded, and,
hough his common sense told him that
n inoffenslve honcombatant, such as
Is guest, would hardly be chosen as
xpress messenger, still the bare possl- !
illty remained. |
"Yo're right he assented carelessly;
thar Is one tenderfoot who knows as l
luch of ridin' express as a pig does {
{ war" J
T notice he's almighty particular 1
'out that thar carpetbag Of his'n,"
lslsted Charley. q
The man against the counter had lost