West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-11-07

IT'S good thing me an' the kid had
little piece OF money ahead" Dextry
resumed later, rcverting to tho thought
that lay uppcrmost In his mind. "'cause
we'd be up against IL right II we
hadn't. The boy couldn't have unused
himself none with these court proceed
ings, because they come high. / call
'em Injuries. like branded peaches an
silk undershirts.
II don't trust these Jim Crow banks
no more than i do lawyers. neither.
No. Stree! 1 bought iron safe an
hauled It out to the mine. She weighs
1900. and we keep our money locked
up there. We've got Teller named
Johnson watchin' ID now. Steal II?
Well, hardly. They can't bust her open
without stick OF giant which would
rouse everybody in five miles, an they
can't lug her off bodily-she's too
heavy. No. It's safer there than any
place 1 know OF. There amt no abb
scondin' cashiers an all that. Tomor-
rer INF goln' back TO live on the claim
an watch this receiver man till the
things settled"
When the girl arose TO go, he accom-
panied her up through the deep sand OF
the lanelike street to the main muddy
thoroughfarc OF the camp. Az yet the
| planked and gravelcd pavements which
later threaded the town were unknown,
and the incessant traffic had worn the
road into n quagmirc OF chocolate col
| ored slush, almost axle deep. with
which the store fronts. show windows
and awnings were beautifully shot and
spattered from passing teams. When
ever wagon approached pedestrians
fed TO the shelter OF neighboring door,
ways, watching a chance to dodge out
again. When vehicles passed from the
comparative solldity OF the main street
out into the morasses that constituted
the rest OF the town. they advcntured
perilously. their horses plpnglng. snort
ing. terrified. amid nm atmosphere of
| profanity. Discouraged animals were
down constantly, and no foot passen-
ger, even with rubber boots, ventured
Off the planks that led from house to
house.
To avoid n splnshlng team Dextry
pulled his companion close I'm against
the entrance 10 the Northern saloon
standing before her protectingly.
Although II was late I'm the after
noon, the Bronco Kid had just arisen
and was now loaHng preparatory to
the active duties of his profession. He
was speaking with the proprietor when
Dextry and the girl sought shelter
just without the open door. so he
caught n fair though neetlng glimpse
OF her as she flashed n curious look in
side. She had never been so close to Il
gambling hall before and would have
liked to peer In more carefully had she
dared, but her companion moved for
ward. at the first look the Bronco
Kid had broken off In his speech and
stared at her as though at an apparI-
ton. When she had vanished. he
spoke TO Reilly:
who's thatr
Reilly shrugged his shoulders; then.
without further question. the Kid turn
ed back toward the empty theater and
out of the back door
He moved nonchalantly TIL he was
outside. then with the speed OF n colt
ran down the narrow planklng between
the buildings, turned parallel TO the
| front street, leaped from board to
board, splashed through puddlcs OF
water, till he reached the next alley.
Stamping the mud from his shoes and
pulling down his sombrcro. he saunter-
ed out into the main thoroughfare.
DeXtry and his companion had cross
ed to the other side and were APP
preaching, so the gambler gained n
fair view of them. lie searched every
inch OF the girls face ana figure then.
as she made to turn her eyes I'm his d.
rection, he slouched away. He follow
ed, however, at distance. till he saw
the man leave her. then on up TO the
big hotel he Swallowed her A half
hour later he was drinking in the
Golden Gate barroom with an nc
| quaintance who ministered to the me-
chanical details behind the hotel
| counter.
who's the girl I saw come In just
nowT he inquired.
II guess you mean the judges
niece"
Both men spoke In the dead, re-
strained tones that go with their call.
ings.
Whats her nameT"
Chester, I think. Why? Look good
10 you, KidE"
Although the other neither spoke nor
made sign, the bartender construed his
silence as acquiescence and continued,
with n conscious glance at his own re-
hectlon while he adjusted his diamond
kcarfpin: well, she can have met I've
got IL fixed to meet her"
'Bahl / guess not" said the Kid
suddenly, with an infection that star
tied the other from his prcening. Then,
as he went out, the man unused:
"Geel Bronco's got the worst eye in
the campl Makes me creep when he
throws It on me with that muddy look.
He acted like lac was jealous"
| AT noon the next day, as he prepared
20 go 20 the claim, Dextry's partner
burst In upon him. Glenister was dis
heveled, and his eyes shone with In
tense excitement
what a. you think they've done
nowT" he cried as greeting.
II dunno. what is it?"
They've broken open the safe and
taken our money"
"Whatw
The old man In turn was on his feet,
the grudge which he had felt against
Glenlster in the past few days forgot
ten in this common misfortune
Yes, by heaven, they've swlped or
money, our tents. tools, teams, books,
hose and all Of our personal property
everything. They threw Johnson on
aud took the whole works. ! never
heard o. such n thing. went out to
The claim, and they wouldn't let me
SO near tho workings. They've got
every mine on Anvil creek guarded
the Same way, and they aren't going
% let us come around even when they