The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER XVII.

ssssszzeessssT1 the post barber shop, his air
49, that Of a man who is nightly /
pleased with himself BILL said he
as he flung off blouse and hat, wish
you'd NOW down this stubble of
mine"
The barber set about stropping a
razor Don't want your name trim
medT' he inquired Strikes mech
it's pretty long
The interpreter loosened the collar OF
his shirt and took a chair Never you
mind about my name" he answered.
ITS just as long s 1 want it. You
turn loose on my chin" He leaned
back to elevate pair of bright topped
boots
The other directed his gaze upon the
sharpening blade. DO you happen t
know Portugee?' he asked humbly
"One of the boys is loony on gal at
Bismarck that he amt writ to for a
year. She's Portugee"-
Matthews gave a dismissing wave
Of the hand. Il savyy English and
most Injun," he said; none Of them
fancy languages, though. 1 been to
3 Z.
/ That was down in Omyha, and one
week was plenty" At the remem-
| brance he shook with silent laughter.
"That week, as l say, was 'nough for
me- The teacher-she was a lady,
| mind y'-tries to tell me that it's the
| same blamed sun we see comm up ev-
cry mornln'. Look a-here, now
says: Don't we git q new moon onct
IN a while? Then, what's the matter
with havin' a change of sum- Well,
/ that plumb stumped her. She shut up"
The barber was now ready for oper-
ations so Matthews adjusted his shout
ders, closed his pink lidded eyes and
/ followed the suit of his nOnpIused
teacher
Bill felt there was something In
the wind and longed to question Mat
thews. yet dared not The interpreter,
formerly so feared and even disliked,
by the enlisted men, was now regarded
In 3 troop as a generally misunderstood
and maligned individual-this in CON
sequence of the Lancaster inquiry;
hence he was playing the role of in
| jured innocence and seriously taking
himself for a popular hero He was
more cocksure and conceited than ever
before and more prone to brag and
bully. Scraping diligently away the
barber shuddered at the thought of
even letting the razor slip.
Kippis was less respectful He en-
tered when Matthews was rising, all
redolent of bay rum, and surveyed the
latter in mock amaze MY, no, my"
he cried. 'Hain't we bloomin f1ne!"
Matthews wriggled those faint lines
upon his glistening forehead that served
for eyebrows. You go soak your
head" he retorted
And no gun hon is 'ip," went on
the sergeant But wy, no, wy does
e wear red shirts?''
The interpreter spraddled out his
legs. Folks git rich mindin' their
own business" he said meaningly.
Kippis could not forego a last gibe
Person d halmost think you's goin
sparkin',' he declared.
Matthews gave a start, and his keen
eyes shot a searching glance at the
sergeant's smiling countenance. What
he read there treasured him. The 9TH
er was bantering without a notion that
he approached the truth The inter
prefer shrugged and stalked out. With
In the hour he was on his way to the
Lancasters.
He did not so to the shack, however
From the cottonwoods he spied Dallas
at work in the corn, so he directed his
steps thither. She did not see him
Her back was toward the river, and
the sun was glinting on her swinging
hoe. Beyond her, on q picket rope,
was Simon, the bull He was travel
ing in a restless circle and sending
lonesome blasts across the deserted
prairie. He alone saw the interpreter
and paused in his rounds, head raised
and eyes bullying inquiringly.
Dallas weeded on, unconscious OF a
visitor. The corn was shoulder high
now and bearded It's long leaves
swayed and whispered, covering the
sound Of Matthews approach But
when he was yet some rods off a flock
of ground sparrows rose before him
with startled twitters At that she
looked back. The next instant she
had caught up the Sharps.
Matthews halted and lifted his hat.
displaying hair pasted down to a silky
smoothness. 7 amt got no gun" he
said quietly. 4 jus come for 10 have
a talk"
She made no answer
The interpreter shifted from foot to
foot and mopped his forehead. II allus
been sorry for what 1 done las win
ter" he went on. L was blame fool
to come scarin' you gals-ought to
knowed better. But, you see, when
started nobody told me there was
women folks over here"
Dallas took deep breath.
I wanted to tell you" continued
Matthews "And-and l wanted tc
say l feel sorry about you losin' your