The Irish standard., 1907-12-28

Yes, deliberately. Men are
afraid Of retaliation-those who are
not actually blood-guilty, as you
might say. And who can say who is
and who is not? But he will be sent
over this time. Paul Langford is on
his trail. Give me two men like Lang
ford and that anachronism-an hon
est man west of the river-Williston
and you can have the rest, sheriff and
all."
mr. Williston-he has been unfor-
tunate, has he not? He is such a
gentleman, and a scholar, surely"
Surely. He is one Of the finest
fellows know. A man of the most
sensitive honor. If such thing can
be. l should say he is too honest, for
his own good. A man can be, you,
know. There is nothing in the world
that cannot be overdone."
She looked at him earnestly. His
eyes did not shift. She was satisfied.
Your work bellies your words" she
said quietly.
Dust and cinders drifted in between
the Stats of the closed blind. Putting
her handkerchief to her lips, Louise
looked at the dark streaks on it with
reproach.
your South Dakota dirt is 80
black" she said, whimsically.
Better black than yellow" he re-
torted. 1T looks cleaner, now, doesn't
it?"
Maybe you think my home At
dwelling place for John Chinaman,"
pouted Louise.
"Yes-if that will persuade you that
South Dakota is infinitely better. Are
you open to conviction?"
"Never! I should die If I had to
stay here"
"You will be going back-soon?"
Some day, sure! Soon? Maybe.
Oh, wish could. That part of me
which is like Uncle Hammond says,
Stay But that other part of me
which is like the rest Of us, says,
What's the use? Go back to your
kind. You're happier there. Why
should you want to be different?
What does it all amount tor 1 am
afraid I shall be weak enough and
foolish enough to go back and-stay."
There was a stir in the forward
part of the car. A man, hitherto sit
ting quietly by the side of an alert
wiry little fellow who sat next the
aisle, had attempted to bolt the car
by springing over the empty seat in
front Of him and making dash for
the door. It was daring, but in vain.
His companion, as agile as he, had
seized him and forced him again into
his place before the rest of the pas.
sengers fully understood that the at
tempt had really been made.
us he crazy? Are they taking him
to Yankton?" asked Louise, the pretty
color all gone from her face. did he
think to jump off the train?"
That's John Yellow Wolf, young
half-breed. He's wanted up in the
i Hills for cattle-rustling-Unit States
court case. That's johnson with him,
deputy United States marshal"
Poor fellow" said Louise, pityingly.
Don't waste your sympathy on such
as he. They are degenerates-many
of these halfbreeds. They will swear
to anything. They inherit all the
evils of the two races. Good never
mixes. Yellow Wolf would swear him.
self into everlasting torment for a pint
of whiskey. You see my cause of
complaint? But never think, Miss
Dale, that these poor chaps Of half
breeds, who are hardly responsible,
are the only ones who are willing to
swear to damnable lies" There was
tang of bitterness in his voice. "Per-
jury, Miss Dale, perjury through fear
of bribery or self-interest, God knows
what, it is there must break, sup.
pose, until the day of judgment, un.
less-I run away"
Louise, through all the working of
his smart and sting, felt the quiet re.
serve strength of this man beside her,
and. with quick rush of longing to
do her part, her woman's part of com.
forting and healing, she put her hand.
small, ungloved, on his rough coat
sleeve.
"Is that what you meant a while
ago? But you don't mean it, do you?
1t is bitter and you do not mean it.
Tell me that you do not mean 1t, Mr..
Gordon, please" she said, impulsively.
Smothering a wild impulse to keep
the hand where it had lain such a
brief, palpitatlng while, Gordon re.
NAMED silent. God only knows what
human longing he crushed down, what
intense discouragement, what sick de.
sire to lay down his thankless task
and flee to the uttermost parts of the
world to be away from the crying
need he yet could not still. Then he
answered simply, Il did not mean it,
Miss Dale"
And then there did not seem to be
anything to say between them for a
long while. The half-breed had set.
tied down with stolid indifference.
People had resumed their newspapers
and magazines and day dreams after
the aeeting excitement. 1t was very
warm. Louise tried to create a little