The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-18

rested in an old barn in the woods
tOttering, wOOd-COlOred ruin in small
clearing in the woods, filled with the
coarse hay from the little damp wood
land meadow
When the boy awOke again the man
was outside the barn, seated with his
| back against the wall, staring at a
soiled copy Of q sensational newspaper.
| SPRAYING across the front page, set
in the midst of the type, was coarse
black cut of the uncOuth, gOr1lla-l1ke
| figure of a man. carrying a gun in one
great hand Across the top, in staring
| letters was printed, "Shem Bostwick. 3"
As the boy came out of the barn, the
murderer was muttering through the
| letters Of his own name.
"D'you hear them fellers outside here
| this D1ornin'?" he called.
NO sir
well. Their vas some-three of 'em
out here hun and when they went
away they lelL this paper.
He crumpled up the paper viciOusly
and threw It down, I'D like to see the
Teller that wrote that once he said.
well, they amt got me yit," he con-
| tinued, after a pause
The man was silent and ugly after his
night of drinking. He said nothing
more till they were on their way again.
/ Il talked pretty free last night, didn't
/ -" he broke out at length.
/ Eyes, sir; that is, quite lot-you
did,
"what'd 1 tell yer?"
"Oh. about yourself and Lem Brad
| ford and everything like that"
| The murderer stopped the boy in the
middle of the road, Selling his arm
| fierceIy and drawing him in front OF
/ him.
eff YOU ever said a word to anybody
/ about what I told you, you know what
I'd do 10 you? I'd blow you to pieces
| UNDERSTAND"
yes, sir" said the boy; Il won't
never, never tell one word-not tc
you UNDERSTAND said the other
shaking him.
'Oh. yes sir; yes, sir; yes, sir, do
| Oh. please let go"
The man 1oosed him, and they walked
| on together. the boy nursing his arm
and revolving his fears silently in his
mind. He was too terrified even tC
cry.
They came at last to the low country
which betOkened the neighborhood Of
! the sea-a light, rather barren land
with patches of scrubby trees and
broken here and there with little round
ed hills The more the man considered
himself safe the more his natural brut
al daring returned to him. He wa:
really in greater danger than ever
Filled with his distrust of the boy. h
no longer stayed out Of sight while th'
child was making his calls at thu
houses along the way.
In the midst of one quiet, idle COun
try afternoon they came to broad
| white farmhouse set a little back from
the road. The boy was sent up to II
In the wide kitchen a large, mOtheTl1
woman. past middle age, with a kind
strong face and grayish hair draw
! back from her ample forehead, sa
rocking back and forth. A tall, raw
boned girl was busy about the room
The older woman was touched by thu
forlOrn appearance of the child ant
began to ply him with questions. Th'
boy returned MS usual story. The wo
man pressed Kim further. She wa
too shrewd foT the child, and soon had
/ him confused
! At this moment the man. frightened
and exasperated by the delay, and find
ing his calls Of no avail, appeared il
the doorway. The girl gave a little
| exclamation Of fear when she saw him
''What're ,tTyin' to do with that boy
huh ?" he said to the elderly woman.
TN tryin' to find out who he is" sh'
answered, her broad, firm mouth tight
ening.
well. he's my boy. so you let hin
be-"
"I don't know as I'm called on to lie
him be. I don't believe he's your boy
in the first place."
The man strobe across the room ant
gripped the boy by the wrist. ''Yol
come on out of here" he said, jerking
him away. And you," he said TO tn
woman, take your hands Off'n hin
and keep 'em off"
She started toward him, and h
threatened her with his gun. The un
daunted woman, astonished by his eff
frontery, but not in the least terrified
began search for some domesti
weapon. "I'Il teach you to com
threatenin' people in their own houses,
she cried, seizing broom. Here, yoI
get out of this. on, l amt afraid o
your gum
You amt. huh?" said the man. cock
ing it,
He retreated with the boy, coverin
her with the wee pom. The woman stoo
her ground, but she did not dare t
advance. AS the pair went around tn
corner of the house and started dow
the road she collapsed into her chair
well. my goodness gracious, If
don't believe he'd a really shot mel