West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-24

ufat night I've told you so repeated
~. I've wrung my soul for that act
till there's nothing left but repent
ance."
'It Is not that" she said slowly, 81
have been thinking IL over during the
past month. and now that have gain
ed an insight into this life l see that
II wasn't an unnatural thing for you
10 do. It's terrible TO think OF. but It's
true. j don't mean that IL was pardon
able" she continued quickly. "for Il
wasn't, and hate you when 1 think
about IL. but l suppose / put myself
into n position 10 invite such actions.
No; I'm sufficiently broadmlnded not
TO blame you unreasonably, and think
/ could like you In spite OF IT, Just for
what you have done for me. But that
Isn't all. There Is something deeper.
You saved my life, and I'm grateful,
but you frighten me always. IL IL
the cruelty In your strength. IL ~
something away back In you-lustful
and feroclous and wild and crouching."
He smiled wryly.
1T is my local color maybe. absorbed
from this country. I'll try TO change,
though. II you want me TO. I'll let
them rope and throw and brand me.
I'll take on the graces OF civilization
and put away revenge and ambition
and all the rest of IL II II will make
you like me any better. Why. I'll even
promise not TO violate the person OF
our claim jumper II catch him, and
heaven knows that means that Sam
son has parted with his locks"
II think could like you II you did,
she said, but you can't do II. You are
q savage"
There are no clubs nor marts where
men foregather for business I'm the
north-nothlng but tho saloon, and this
Is all and more than club. Here men
congregate to drink, to gamble and to
traffic.
1t was late In the evening when
Glenister entered the Northern and
passed idly down the row of games,
pausing at the crap table, where he
rolled the dice when his turn came
Moving to the roulette wheel. he lost a
stack OF whites. but at the faro clay
OUT his luck was better and he won n
gold coin on the high card, whereupon
he promptly ordered n round of drinks
for the men grouped about him, n for
mallty always precedent to overtures
of general friendship.
AS he paused, glass I'm hand. his eyes
were drawn to man who stood close
by, talking earnestly. The aspect of
the stranger challenged notice, for he
stood high above his companions, with
peculiar grace OF attitude In place OF
the awkwardness common I'm men OF
great stature. Among those who were
listening intently TO the mans care
fully modulated tones Glenister recog-
nized Mexico Mullins, the ex-gambler
who had given Dextry the warning at
Unalaska. AS he further studied the
listening group n drunken man stag
gered uncertainty through the wide
doors OF the saloon and. gaining sight
OF the tall stranger. blinked. then ap-
preached him, speaking with n loud
voice:
well, II faint ole Alec Mcnamara!
How do, we ole pirate?"
Mcnamara nodded and turned his
back coolly upon the newcomer.
Don't turn your dorsal fin To me. I
wan TO talk to ye"
Mcnamara continued his calm dis
course till he received vicious whack
on the shoulder Then he turned for a
moment to interrupt his assailant's
garrulous profanity:
Don't bother me. / am engaged"
'Ye won talk TO me, ell? Well. I'm
goln TO talk to you, see. l guess you'd
listen III told these people all know
about You. Turn around here"
Ills voice was menacing and attract
ed general notice. Observing this, Nc
Namara addressed him, his words
dropping clear, concise and cold:
Don't talk to me. You are drunk
en- nuisance. Go away before some
thing happens to you"
Again he turned away, but the
drunken man seized and whirled him
about, repeating his abuse. encouraged
by this apparent patience.
Your pardon for an instant. gentle.
men" Mcnamara laid n large white
and manlcured hand upon the flannel
sleeve of the miner and gently escorted
him through the entrance TO the side.
walk, while the crowd smiled.
AS they cleared the threshold. how
ever, he clnched his fist without a
word and, raising II, struck the sot
fully and cruelty upon the jaw. His
victim fell silently, the back Of his
head striking the boards with hollow
thump; then, without even observing
now he lay, Mcnamara re-entered the
saloon and took up his conversation
where he had been interrupted. His
voice was as evenly regulated as his
movements, betraying not sign OF
anger, excitement or bravadO. He lii
cigarette, extracted notebook and
1otted down certain memoranda sup
piled him by Mexico Mullins.
All this time the body lay across the
threshold without n sign Of life. The
buzz OF the roulette wheel was re.
sumed, and the crap dealer began his
monotonous routine. Every eye was
hNed on the nonchalant man at the
bar. but the unconscious creature out.
side the threshold lay unheeded. for
n these mems code II behooves the
most humane 90 practice n certain
nloofness In the matter Of private
brawls
Having completed his notes. McNa.
mara shook hands gravely with bis
companions and strobe out through the
door, past the bulk that sprawlcd
across his path and wlthou, pause or
glance disappeared.
\ dozen willing. though unsvmpa.
thetic. hands laid the drunknrd ON the
roulette table, where the bartender
poured pitcher upon pitcher OF water
over him.
He amt hurt none 90 speak Of"
said a bystandcr; then added, with en-.
thusiasm:
But, say, there's man I'm tbIs hero