The Irish standard., 1907-12-14

would know how to use any inadver-
tencies against it-when the time
came. No wonder Langford was light
hearted. In all his arrogant and un.
hampered career he had never before
received such an affront to his pride
and his sense of what was due to one
OF the biggest outfits that ranged cat
tie west of the river. Woe to him who
had dared tamper with the concerns
of Paul Langford of the Three Bars.
Williston drove in from the Lazy
S in ample time for the midday din
ner at the hotel-the hearing was set
for 2 .o'clock-but his little party con-
tented itself with luncheon pre-
pared at home and packed neatly and
appetizingly in tin bucket. 1t was
not likely there would be a repetition
Of bad meat. 1t would be poor policy.
Still, one could not be sure, and it
no bad meat that day.
Gordon met them in the hot, stuffy
little parlor of the hotel.
1T was good Of you to come" he
said to Louise, with grave sincerity.
II didn't want to-" confessed Louise,
honestly. I'm afraid 1t is too big and
lonesome for me. am sure I should
have gone back to Velpen last night
to catch the early train had it not
been for Mary. She is so-good."
"The worst is over now that you
have conquered your first impulse to
fly" he said.
II cried, though. I hated myself
for 1t. but couldn't help it. You see
I never was so far from home before"
He was an absorbed, hard.working
lawyer. Years of contact with the
plain, hard realities of rough living
in new country had dried up, some.
what, his stream Of sentiment. Maybe
the source was only blocked with
debris, but certainly the stream was
running dry. He could not help
thinking that a girl who cries be-
cause she is far from home had much
better stay at home and leave the
grave things which are mems work to
men. But he was a gentleman and a
kindly one, SO he answered quietly,
Il trust you will like us better when
you know us BETTER" and, after a few
more commonplaces, went his way.
There's man." said Louise,
thoughtfully, on the way to McAllis.
ter's office. II like him, Mary"
"And yet there are men in this coun-
try who would kill him if they dared"
Mary! what do you mean? Are
there then so many cut-throats in this
awful country?"
i think there are many desperate
men among the rustlers who would
not hesitate to kill either Paul Lang
ford or Richard Gordon since these
prosecutions have begun. There are
also many good people who think Mr..
Gordon is just stirring up trouble and
putting the county to expense when
he can have no hope of conviction.
They say that his failures encourage
the rustlers more than an inactive
policy would"
people who argue like that are
either tainted with dishonesty them
selves or they are foolish, one of the
two," said Louise. with conviction.
"Mr. Gordon has one stanch sup
porter. anyway" said Mary, smiling.
Maybe had better tell him. Precious
little encouragement or sympathy he
gets, poor fellow"
please do not" replied Louise,
quickly. Il wonder If my friend, Jim
Munson, has managed to escape bat
tie, murder and sudden DEATH includ.
ing death by poison, and is on hand
with his testimony"
AS they approached the office the
crowd Of men around the doorway
drew aside to let them pass.
"Our chances Of worming ourselves
through that jam seem pretty slim
to me-" whispered Mary, glancing into
the already overcrowded room.
Let me make way for you," said
Paul Langford, as he separated him
self from the group Of men standing
in front, and came up to them.
II have watered my horse" he said,
flashing merry smile at Mary as he
began showing his big shoulders
through the press, closely followed
by the two young women.
| 1t was strange assembly through
which they pressed; ranchmen and
cowboys, most of them, just in from
ranch and range, hot and dusty from
long riding, perspiring freely, redolent
of strong tobacco and the peculiar
smell that betokens recent and init
mate conpanionship with that part
and parcel of the plains, the horse.
The room was indeed hot and close
and reeking with bad odors. There
were also present large delegation
of cattle dealers and saloon men from
Velpen, and some few Indians from
Rosebud agency, whose curiosity was
Unsuitable where the courts were con.
cerned, far from picturesque in their