The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-11-10
Copyright. lae. b. J. r. 1Appinoost Coz

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crossed In his work az to be deaf to
the colloquy.
Mr.. John Winton? Yes, he is hero
| somewhere" said me clerk In answer
to the boys question: and after an.
identifying glance, There he is-over
at the writing table,"
Winton turned in his chair and saw
the boy coming towards him; also ne
saw the rufian pointed out by Biggin
from the courthouse steps and labeled
"sheeny Mike" lounging up to the
clerks desk, for whispered word with
the bediamonded gentleman behind it.
What followed was cataclysmal in
Its way. The lounger took three stag
| gering lurches towards Winton,
brushed the messenger boy aside, and
burst out In storm of maudlin In
vective.
Sign yerself 'winton' now. do ye.
ye low-down, urkeytrodden-"
"One minute" said Winton, curtly.
taking the telegram from the boy and
signing for It,
I'll give ye more'n ye can carry
away In lessn half that time-see?'!''
was the minatory retort; and tho
threat was made good by an awkward
buffet which would have knocked the
engineer out of his chair IL he had
remained in it.
Now Winton's eyes were gray and
steadtast, but his hair was of that
shade of brown which takes the tint
Of dull copper in certain lights, and
he had temper which went with the
red in his hair rather than with the
gray in his eyes. Wherefore his at
tempt to placate his assailant was
something less than diplomatic.
"You drunken scoundrel!" he
snapped. III you don't go about your
business and let me alone, I'll turn
you over to tho police with a broken
bone or two!'
The bully's answer was blow de-
livered straight from the shoulder
too straight to harmonic with the f1c-
ton of drunkenness. Winton saw the
sober purpose in 1t and went battle-
mad, a. q hasty man will. Being q
| skillful boxer-which his antagonist
was, not---he did what he had to do
neatly and with commendable dis
patch. Down, up; down, up; down a
third time, and then the bystanders
interfered.
"Hold ont" =. .
"Thatll dol" 49,. e.
Don't you see he's drunk" !:
"Enough's as good as a feast-let
him co."
Winton's blood was up, but he de-
sisted, breathing threatenings. Where
at Biggin shouldered his way into the
circle.
PAY your. bill and let's hike out O.
this, pronto: he said In low tone.
you amt got no time to fool with
a Carbonate justice shop
| But Winton was not to be brought
to his senses SO easily.
run away from that swine? Not
II know it. Let him take it into
court II he wants to. I'll be there.
too"
The beaten one was up now and ap-
parently looking for an officer.
I'm takin' We all to Witness" he
rasped. II was on'y askin' him to
cash up what he lose to me las night.
and he jumps me. But I'll stick him
If there's any law in this camp"
Now all this time Winton had been
holding the unopened telegram crum-
pied in his fist, but when Biggin
pushed MIN out Of the circle and thrust
him up to the clerks desk, he be-
thought him to read the message. 1t
was Virginia's warning. signed by
Adams, and single glance at the clos
suddenly. oi.
PAY the bill, Biggin. and join me-
in the billiard room, quick!" he whis-
| pered, pressing money into the town
marshal's hand and losing himself in
the crowd. And when Biggin had
obeyed his instructions: Nov for a
back way out of this II there is one.
Well have to take to the hills till
train time"
They found way through the bar
and out into side street leading
abruptly up to the hr-clad hills be-
hind the town. Biggin held his peace
until they were safe from immediate
danger of pursuit. Then his curiosity
got the better Of him.
Didn't take you more'n week to
change your mind about pullin' 1t on
with that tin-horn scrapper in the
courts, did it,"
NO." said Winton.
"'Taint none O. my business, but
I'd like to know what stampeded you. -
"a telegram "1t was a
put-up job to have me locked up on a
criminal charge, and 80 hold me out
another day.
Biggin grinned. 1.-THE old biler-
buster again. Say, he's holy terror.
amt he?"
"He doesn't mean to let me build
my railroad II he can help It,"
The ex-cowboy found his sack Of
chip tobacco and dexterously rolled a
cigarette In q bit Of brown wrapping
paper.
1T that's the game, Mr.. Sheeny
Mike. or his hackers, will be most