Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-13

brain. If he failed in his scheme to
bring to trial the murderer of Cash
! Hawkins. hundreds Of men to whom
/ ne had clustered and sworn that he
would accomplish the deed would no
longer believe in him and he would
probably lose the election why not
try to gain some compensation If this
must be the case?
| Git our horses ready, Clarke" he
said, and watched his assistant leave
/ the yard. Slowly Bud hitched his
foot on log and, as though he were
about to confer favor upon Jim.
spoke with condensation. "Mr. Car
ston takes this too much to heart
Bill. Perhaps we can come to some
understanding"
What do you mean?"
| We'll. he's come into some money.
| amt he? OF course might lose this
match-safe crossing Red River" He
lovingly fingered the little bag. Bill
drew nearer. And might" Bud
continued--"be made independent of
the Job of sheriff. If it's worth the
boss's while" There was no mis-.
taking the intention of his words. =
| Bud" For moment Bill could
say no more. In the past he and Bud
had been friends-bar-room friends
1t was true-but lately he had begun
! to suspect much about the Sheriff's
career that was unsavory. Until to-
cay. however. he had had no proof
that Bud could behave like a black
guard. Bud" he rejoined. you're
goin' to make me lose my temper ami
| l amt done that for twenty years"
As he spoke he raised his foot on the
log beside Buds and in deliberate imI.
tation of him leaned his elbow on his
knee while lie stared straight into the
Sheriff's face
Don't be foolish" Bud began 81
J can put you to lot of trouble. and
will. I'll arrest these English people
and put 'em under bond to appear as
witnesses. They were at Maverick
that day. and got my posse ready
and waitin' to obey orders This, he
thought. was the final shot to bring
4 Bill to his senses. He waited.
With a tolerance that did not hide
his contempt Bill spoke Except for
Jim's orders, I'd throw you off the
place. Get agoin', Budget agoin'-
and don't stop to pick flowers"
Bud knew that Bill was conveying
a threat which, he felt, as he watched
his face, 1t were wiser not to disre.
gard. He walked towards the barn
stopped. ground his teath. and Looked
back at Bill; but the Zig fellow stood
motionless and in supreme disgust
watched the Sheriff Bud uttered a
low oath, then hurried down to the.
corral
! Still, Bill did not move. He did
not hear Diana as she opened the
cabin door and. drinking in the fresh
; morning air, said, IT feel as though I
should suffocate in there" Her looks
told that something more than the
close air of the cabin room was stiff.
! ling her AS she came from under the
porch she saw the immovable figure Of
the foreman leaning over the log with
his head on his hands, watching
several men down the road who were
mounting horses and preparing to
make start.
"Oh, Mr." She paused.
Bill turned. He saw she had for.
gotten his name. "Bill, MISS" he
said.
"Mr. Bill"
But Bill interrupted as he raised
his hat. "Just plain Bill, If you don't
mind-and there amt anything too
good for you at Red Butte ranch,
LADY,
Impulsively Diana held out her hand
to Bill. who took It. THANK YOU
Bill. It's good to feel that I'm among
friends, because feel SO strange, so
bewildered." She had learned Of the
foreman's devotion to Jim and knew
that she could trust him. "Bill' she
asked, what do they mean by 'squaw-
man." There was so much she
could not say to Jim. SO much that
had puzzled her, and she longed to un,
burden her heart to some one. This
faithful soul would understand her.
and would, perhaps, help her to learn
more about Jim and the Indian
woman, concerning whose fate she
was now growing anxious.
Continued in Next Issue.)