Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-08

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there are only we two left and I'VE
loved him always"
She spoke sadly and her mood
blended well with the gloom Of her
companion, so they stared silently out
over the heaving green waters.
Its good thing me an the kid had
a little piece of money ahead" Dextry |
resumed later, reverting to the
thought that lay uppermost in his
mind, "'cause we'd be UP against 1t
right if we hadn't. The boy couldn't
have amused himself none with these
court proceedings, because they come
| high. | call EN- Injuries, like brand
led peaches an silk undershirts
II don't trust these Jim Crow banks
no more thin | do lawyers, neither.
No. Stree! bought iron safe an
hauled it out to the mine She weighs
eighteen hundred and we keep our
money locked up there. We've got a
Teller named Johnson watchin' it now.
Steal it? Well, hardly They can't
bust her open without stick of giant
which would rouse everybody in five
miles an they can't lug her off bodily
she's too heavy. No. it's safer there
| than any place know of. There amt
no abscondin' cashiers an all that.
Tomorrer I'm goin back to live on the
claim an watch this receiver man till
the things settled"
| When the girl arose to go. he nc.
companied her up through the deep
sand of the lane-like street to tho
main, muddy thoroughfare of the camp.
AS yet, the planked and gravelled
payements, which later threaded the
town, we're unknown, and the inces-
| SAINT traffic had worn the road into a
quagmire Of chocolate-colored slush.
almost axle-deep, with which the store
fronts, show-windows, and awnings
were plentifully shot and spattered
from passing teams Whenever a
wagon approached. pedestrians fled to
the shelter Of neighboring doorways.
watching chance to dodge out again.
When vehicles passed from the com
parative solidity Of the main street
out into the morasses that constituted
the rest of the town, they adventured
periously, their horses plunging, snort
ing, terrified, amid an atmosphere of
profanity Discouraged animals we're
down constantly, and no foot-passen-
ger, even with rubber boots, ventured
off the planks that led from house to
house.
To avoid splashing team, Dextry
pulled his companion close in against
the entrance to the Northern saloon,
standing before her protectingly.
Although it was late in the after
noon the Bronco Kid had just arisen
and was now loafing preparatory to
the active duties of his profession. He
was speaking with the proprietor when
Dextry and the girl sought shelter
just without the open door, SO he
caught fair though leeting glimpse
of her as she flashed curious look
1 inside. She had never been so close
to a gamblingshall before, and would
have liked to peer In more carefully
had she dared, but her companion
moved forward At the first look the
Bronco Kid had broken off in his
speech and stared at her as though
at an apparition. When she had van.
ished, he spoke to Reilly:
Who's that?"
Reilly shrugged his shoulders, then
without further question the Kid turn
ed back toward the empty theatre and
out Of the back door.
He moved nonchalantly till he was
] outside, then with the speed of colt
ran down the narrow planking be-
4 tween the buildings, turned parallel
to the front street, leaped from board
to board, splashed through puddles
of water till he reached the next al
ley. Stamping the mud from his shoes
and pulling down his sombrero, he
sauntered out into the main thorough
fare.
. Dextry and his companion had cross.
J ed to the other side and were ap-
, preaching, SO the gambler gained a
) fair view Of them. He searched every
, inch of the girls face and figure, then.
, as she made to turn her eyes in his
direction, he slouched away. He fol-
; lowed, however, at a distance, till he
saw the man leave her, then on up 10
; the big hotel he shadower her A
} half-hour later he was drinking in the
; Golden Gate bar-room with an acquain-
lance who ministered to the mechani-
J cal details behind the hotel counter.
who's the girl / saw come in just
now?" he inquired.
: ~ guess you mean the Judges
niece"
' Both men spoke in the dead, re-
! strained tones that go with their call
ings.
9 Chester, I think. Why? Look
good to you, KIDD
+ Although the other neither spoke
!. nor made sign, the bartender con-
, strued his silence as acquiescence and
, continued, with conscious glance at
a his own reflection while he adjusted
). his diamond scarf-pin: well, she can
have me! I've got it fixed to meet
!, her."
!, Bah! guess not" said the Kid
+ suddenly, with an infection that start
. led the other from his preening. Then.
r as he went out, the man unused:
Gee! Broncos got the worst eye
:. in the camp! Make me creep when
!. he throws 1t on me with that muddy
q look. He acted like he was Jealous.
7 At noon the next day. as he pre-
pared to go to the claim. Dextry's