The Red Cloud chief., 1908-01-24
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
=. copyriaht. 1905. by REX &. Beach. -
JContinucd from lasl week


"BoyS. VIZ VI u,eipiuytd. We don't
want these people McNnmara'S our
meat. Old bald face up yondcr has TO
do what he's told. and I'm ag'in this
twenty to one midnight work. I'm
goin' home There were some whiS-
perings. then the original spokesman
called for Judge Stillnlan. The old
man lottercd to the window. Il palsied,
terror stricken object. The girl was
glad he could not he seen from below.
I'VE won't hurt you this time, judge.
hut you've gone far enough. Wen
give you another chance; then. if you
don't make good. well stretch YOU TO
n lamp post. Take this rs n warming"
II s-shall do my d-d-duty," said the
judge.
The men disappeared into The dark
ness, aud when they had gone CLIENTS
ter closed the window. pulled down the
shades and lighted Il lamp. lie knew
by how narrow a margin Il tragedy
had been avcrtod. If ne had fred On
these men. his shot would have kindlcd
Il feud which would have consumed
every yestige Of the court crowd and
himself among them. He would have
fallen under n false banner. and his
life would not have reached to the
next sunset. Perhaps It was forfeit
now. He could not tell. Tho v~igilantcs
would probably look upon his part as
traitorous. and at the very least he
had cut himself of from their support.
the only support The northland oTc"pd'
him. HcnCcforth he was a renegade,
n parinh. hated alike by both factions.
He nurposely avoided sight Of Stillman
and turned his back when tho Judge
extended his hand with expressions of
gratitude. His work was done, and he
wished to leave this house. Helen fol-
lowed him down To the door and rs he
opened Il laid her hand upon his sleeve.
Words are feeble things. and | can
never make amends for all you've done
for u.s.
For u.s. cried Roy, with n break in
his voice. do you think | sacrificed
my honor. betrayed my friends. killed
my hast hope. ostracized myself, fol
'us!' This Is the last time I'll trouble
You. perhaps the last time I'll see you
No matter what else you've done, how,
ever, you've taught me Il lesson. and
thank you Cor II. / have found myself
at last. I'm not an Eskimo any longer
I'm n man.
You've always been that" she said
81 don't understand as much about thi,
affair as | want To. aud it seems to III,
that no n will explain it. I'm very
stupid. | guess. Bu' won't Won com,
back tomorrow ana tell II to me-
NO" he sail roughly. You're no
of my people. Mcnamara and his ar,
no friends of mine. and I'm no friCnt
Of theirs He was half down tn,
steps before she said softly:
Good night. aud God bless you
friend
She returned To the judge, who wa,
in Il pitiablc state. and for II long tim,
she laborcd 10 Suothc him as thour
he were Il child. She undertook {,
question hin about The things whicl
lay uppcrmost IN her mind and whict
this night had half revealed. hut b,
became frctful and irriiatcd ut tli
mention of mines and mining. She 81
beside his he'd ill he ,loZcd OF. puI
zling to discover what lay behind IN
hints Slc had heard till her brain an'
body matched H. absolute WEAKNESS
The reflex Of the days excitement sap
ped her strength till she could barrel,
Green To her W COIIrh. where Sll
rolled and sighed. too tired Ia SlccI
nj once. She awokc finally. with on,
last nervous ticker. before complete
oblivion took her, \ sentence was al
her mind almost seemed aS lhougI
she had spoken It aloud:
The hnndsomrSt woman in tn
north-but GlcniStcr ran away"