Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-15
M /. CT RE co.
swered in monosyIlables.

Toward the close Of the meal Charley
was out Of humor and found the meat
cold.
g. yore soul, Nell" he cried,
''this we're amt fitten fer hog to eatv
The girl did not mind, nor did Billy.
It was the country's mode Of speech.
The stranger dropped his knife.
II don't wonder yo' don't like 1t.
them said he with funny little fare
OF anger.
''Meanin' what7" shouted Charley
threateningly.
"You shore mustn't speak to lady
that way" replied the stranger firmly,
in his little piping voice.
Billy caught the point and exploded
in mighty gufIaw.
Bully fer you!" he cried, slapping
his. knee. Struck pyrites'-he pro
nounce-d it "pie rights '--"fer shore that
trip. Charley
The girl, too laughed. but quietly.
She was little touched, though just
this winter she had left Bismarck be-
cause the place would have no more Of
her.
In the face Of Billy'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 peered through the narrow opel
window. A dozen horses were stand
ing grouped In charge Of a singh
mounted man, indistinguishable in the
dark. Out Of the open door broad
band of light streamed from the saloon
whence came the noise Of voices and OF
boots tramping about.
'tIt is Black Hank" said Billy, at his
elbow. BLACK Hank and his outfit
He bitches to this yerc snubbin' pos.
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 fight?" he asked
"Fighty said Billy, wondering
Flight! Co'se not. Hank amt plum
derin' me none He Jest ambles along
and helps himself, and leaves the dust
fer 1t every shot. jest lays low and
lets him operate. never has no deal
ms with him, understand. He jest
naturally waltzes in and plants his grub
hooks on what. he needs. I doesn't
know anything about it. I'm dead
asleep"
He bestowed a shadowy wink upon
the stranger.
Below, the outlaws moved here and
there.
Billy" shouted commanding voice.
BILLY Knapp!
The hotel keeper looked perplexed.
Nov what's he tollin' me fer?" he
asked Of the man by his side.
"Billy," shouted the voice again.
''come down here, you slwash. want
to palaver with you"
Cali right, Hank" replied Billy.
He went to his room" and buckled
on heavy belt, then descended the
steep stairs.
The barroom was lighted and filed
with men. Some Of them were eating
and drinking; others were strapping
provisions into portable form. Against
the corner Of the bar tall figure Of a
man leaned, smoking-a man 1.-THE. ac-
tive and muscular, with keen. dark
face and black eyebrows which met
over his nose. Billy walked directly
to this man.
"What 10 it,? he inquired shortly.
'4This yere amt in tn agreement"
II know that" replied the stranger.
''Then leave yore dust and vamoose. /"
"My dust Is there" said Black Hank,
placing his hand Oh buckskin bag at
his side, "and you're paid, Billy Knapp.
l want to ask you question. Stand
ing Rock has sent $4,000 to Buck Tail.
The messenger went through here to-
day. Have you seen him?"
Marry messenger" replied Billy In
relief. "stage goes empty"
Charley had crept down the stairs
and into the room.
what n blazes you dom yere, you
ranikaboo ijit?" asked Billy trucu-
lently.
''That thar stage amt what you calls
empty" observed Charley, unmoved.
A light broke on Billy's mind. He re-
membered the valise which the stran-
!, ger had so carefully guarded. and.
though his common sense told him that
an inoffensive noncombatant, such as
his guest, would hardly be chosen as
express messenger, still the bare posi-
bility remained.
"Yo're right" he assented carelessly;
char Is one tende1foot who knows as
much Of ridin' express as pig does
of war"
81 notice he's almighty particular
bout that thar carpetbag Of his'n."
insisted Charley.
The man against the counter had lost
nothing Of the scene. Billy's denial,
his hesitation, his half truth. all looked
suspicious to him. With one swift
round sweep Of the arm he had Billy
covered. Bllly's arms shot over his
head without the necessity OF com
mand.
The men ceased their occupations
and gathered about. Scenes OF this
sort were too common to elicit com
ment or arouse excitement. They
knew perfectly the laissez-faire rela
tious which obtained between the two
westerners.
,.s D,..I U.wk onariHv in 4