Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02
Beyond was Louns.

revolver held his. Beyond was Louns.
bury.
A queer trcmor ran around the store
Keepers mouth. His nostrils swelled,
and he wrinkled his forehead. "Sor.
ry," he ssid dryly, but it's my bead"
Sheer surprise, together with a lack
OF breath, made the other dumb.
Drop your gun" Dade Lounsbury.
Matthews right hand loosed its hold.
His revolver fell and slid, spinning, to
the bottom Of the drift.
Nov, ! know all you want to say"
said Lounsbury; chat this claim Is
yours, that your six months ain't up,
that Lancaster's jumped II, and so on.
But that won't excuse what you've
tried to %do-break into this house while
these young women are alone. Be
sides, you haven't the ghost Of n right
TO this land. So you'll oblige me by
keeping off it from now on"
Matthews found his tongue. "WhO
In he'll are your he demanded coolly.
who am II" repeated the s%torckeep-
er, smiling down the revolver barrel,
why, I'm st. George, and you're the
dragon He raised his voice. Miss
Lancaster" he called. Miss Lancas-
teri
a face appeared at a window, then n
second. There were more cries, but
not Of fear. The sash was pushed
open. Dallas and Marylyn, the young
er girl still clinging to the elder, look
ed out.
ITS all right" said the storekeeper,
not taking his eyes from the enemy.
I'm here"
Dallas could not answer. But Mary
iyn, though exhausted. was fully alive
to their rescue. Her eyes, wide and
fearful, were fixed upon Lounsbury.
oh. we're afraid" she cried plain
lively. Pas gone, and we're afraid
You needn't be any more" he said
rcassuringly.
Matthews under his breath was ours
ing the self contained man In the sad.
die. Enraged at the storekeeper's in
reference, hot With disappointment,
he saw himself stood up like a tender.
foot. But his caution prevailed. A
certain expression In Lounsbury's eyes,
a certain square set to his jaw, the
very cues that guided the cattle camp,
made him cautious.
Look a-here," he said to Louns-
bury, assuming a coDciliatory manner
Lets talk as one gent to another.
These ladies Is your friends. So far
so good. But I has my rights, an I
can prove that l slep' on this quarter
section three times and
Lounsbury's face darkened. he was
lightly iron!cal no longer. He urged
his mount forward. Don't argue with
me, you Internal h~lackguard,' he said.
You can prove anything you want to
by a lot OF p~crjurlng, thleving land
grabbers. Don't I know EN-. II you
filed on this claim you were hired ia
do It. You hadn't an idea of settling
or building a home. You did 1t for
specializing purposes-nothing else
And the law, l happen TO know, is
dead against that. You're a shark.
But your game won't work. These
folks are going to stay in this shack
and on this bend. And you be mighty
careful you don't make 'em any trou.
ble."
I'll git a Bismarck lawyer" de-
clared Matthews.
Yes, and we'll tar and feather the
shyster. What's more, I'll head a
bunch Of Clark's boys, and We'll wipe
Shanty Town of the face of the EARTH
Matthews raised his shoulders and
put his tongue IN his check. You're
mighty Interested in these ladies',
seems t. me-" he said insinuatingly.
The slur did not escape the store
keeper. 1t determined him to parley
no further. Hoist your hands," he
commanded.
Matthews obeyed. His fingers were
twitching.
The next command was curt mo
sey.."
The other moved away. When he
was beyond pistol range he produced
his second revolver and waved it above
his head. You JUS watt he shouted.
You JUS wait. I'll fix y'".'
Lounsbury returned him a hooking
salute.