Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-13
CHAPTER XIV.

There cant be a Jail for whites and
palace for Injins. He don't suppose he can
stop me. does he?" Bud began. exctedly.
Bill encouraged by Jims mastery of the
situation. chaftingIy answered: After you
arrest Nat-u-rtch you'll never hold Office.
Bud You may hold a harp or a coal
shovel Then he laughed.
My! You're making a fuss over
squaw. said Bud, who could see no humOr
in Bill's words
But Bill replied, "Arrestin' the mother of
innocent kids will not be considered
popular form of amusement around here,
Bud"
Kids What's that got to do with it :"
We'll" said Bill. The ks influential
citizen hercaboUts. He's our long suit. and
there amt live thing the ranch that
would let you arrest his rag doll. You
couldn't get away with it. Bud" And as
though it were his final word on the sub
ject. Bill said, Conclusively. Better get
elected some easier way.
a new idea fermented in Buds brain. If
he failed in his scheme to bring to trial the
murderer of Cash Hawkins, hundreds of
men to whom he 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?
Get our horses ready. CLARKE" he said.
and watched his assistant leave the yard.
Slowly Bud hitched his foot on a log. and.
as though he Were about to confer ia
Vor upon Jim, spoke with condescension.
MIR Carston takes this too much to heart.
Bill Perhaps we can come to some under
standing
What do you mean?"
Wei 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 1
might continued-'be made hide
pendent of the job of sheriff. If it's worth
the boss while" There was no mistaking
the intention of his words
Bud For a moment Bill could say no
more. In the past he and Iud had been
friends-barroom friends. it was true-but
lately he had begun to suspect much about
the sher!H's career that Was unsavory. Tn
that Bud could behave like a blacksuard
Bud he rejoined. you're goin' to make
me lose my temper. and l amt done that
for twenty years AS he spoke he raised
his foot on the log beside Buds and in
deliberate imitation of him leaned his ell
bow on his knee while he stared straight
into the Sheriff'S face.
Don't be foolish Bud began. Il can
put you to a lot of trouble. and l will. I'll
arrest these English people and put 'em
under bond to appear as witnesses. They
were at Maverick that day. and l got my
posse ready and waitin' to obey orders"
This, he thought. was the final shot to bring
Bill to his senses. He waited.
With 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
threat which. he felt. he watched his
face. it were wiser not to disregard He
walked toward the barn stopped ground
his teeth. and looked back al Bill: but the
big fellow stood motionless and in supreme
disgust watched the sheriff Bud uttered
low oath, then hurried down to the cor
raj
Still Bill did not move. He did not hear
Diana as she opened the cabin door and
drinking In the fresh morning air. said,
Il feel as though l should suffOcate In
there" Her looks told that something
more than the close air of the cabin room
was sitting her AS she came from under
the porch she saw the immovable figure of
thesforeman leaning over the log with his
head on his hands. watching several men
down the road who were mounting horses
and preparing to make a start.
''Oh, Mr.. =" She paused.
Bill turned He saw she had forgotten
his name. Bib. 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.'
1mpulsively Diana held out her hand to
Bill. who took it. Thank you, Bill. It's
good to feel that I'm among friends. be-
cause l 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 much she
could not say to Jim. so much that had puz-
zled her. and she longed to unburden her
heart to some one. This faithful soul would
understand her, and would. perhaps. help
her to learn more about Jim and the India n
woman. concerning whose fate she was now
growing anxious.
Bill seated himself. We'll it's the name
some people give white man who marries
an Indian sQuaw." Then quickly he added ::
But want you to understand, miss, Jim'S
respected in spite of the fact he's a squa w
man. He's lived that down..
"Of course it was a great surprise to us
all at first
Natural it would be. miss or course no
ordinary white would have done It,
But you mustn't think any the less of jim
for that. miss
Quickly Diana answered. in sympathetic
accord with BilYs loyalty to his master:
81 think all the more of him, Bill. It's only
another of Jim's glorious mistakes" Then
again she thought of the woman. II wish
1 could see her. What is she like
Bill could not understand this interest in
Nat-u-ritCh. Just a squaW.'' he said. in
differently. She's got two ideas, and |
guess only two-Hal and Jim
He liked the little woman. but he could
see where she had been d great disadvan-
tage to Jim.
But Diana's voice she said. "A mother
and a wife-that's a good deal. Bill" made
him realize that perhaps he was not doing
the Indian girl Justice He could see the
tears in Dianas eyes as she spoke And
her boy goes back home with us"
Bill rose. kind [. tough yours truly
lady. bein' as Hal and me are kind of Sc
partners but then | got to recolect it's
the best for the kid. That's about the size
of it, amt ito" This time 1t was Bill who
solicited comfort from Diana. The thought
of the childs leaving them had been a diff
ficult proposition for the boys, and they
had discussed it long and exctedly when
Jim told them the plan the night before.
Diana understood. 1T involves lot of
suffering all around. doesn't it, Bill? But
ut seems to me Nat-u-ritch gets the worst
of it"
True to his opinion % the rod r"c0 "''n
answered. She's an Injin-used to takip'
things as they come. and h, iiaru-,' ..,..- II
Diana's words:
Poor little savage"
This lady had appealed to him-why
shouldn't he ask her advice? 1t was all
very well for him to have frightened the
sheriff into leaving the place, all very we'll
to appear sanguine and hopeful while the
boss stood near him. but In his hrrt he
knew he was afraid. Something in the
shifting malicious look of Bud Hariy's
eyes as he left the place told Bill that the @
might still be trouble. Twisting the rim or
his big hat no id.