Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-13
CHATTER xxx.
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1HS<H1 dow or inc forward car. NOW
he followed It with wedge of shout
der and muttercd a fervent THANK
Godw His face was hlackened by the
breath OF the engine, his hair was
roughcd by the Juggling wind, so that
be bore not trace of the past months
careful grooming. Outside of Chicago
he had shed his eastern garb for blue
flannel shirt, dark brooches and tall
boots. Again he was a frontiersman.
A brakeman entered to call out the
Gnal stop. Crnmped hulks here and
there slowly unwound their sleepy
lengths and gazcd around. A slim re-
cruit in a front seat who was outward
bound to fight indians Weakened with
n protesting oath. Other occupants Of
the car grudgingly put away their card
PACKS, but chccrfully clapped on their
hats. A long, hot journey was done.
But Lounsbury when he drew in his
head and shoulders delayed his prep
arations to nllght. He reached down
to boot leg and fished out a letter,
one paragraph of which he carefully
reread.
"As say, If You look for that rascal
you'll find the right man. He was
here, for Charley saw him. Who was
itT I asked the Indian What do you
think he did? lie crossed his fingers
on his nose!'
Lounsbury took deep breath. ITS
likely" he said aloud. at don't take
courage TO kill cripple"
The wheels We're yet turning when
Lounsbury swung off. His Topped belt
had been bucklej on, and once more
his revolver hung handily upon his
thigh. AS he tossed his satchel to the
ticket agent he gave the 40 a swift
look over. Then, with the expression
that the Clark outfit respected showing
through the Crime of the train, he
started on tour Of saloons.
In a square fronted groggery his
hunt ended An assortment of adven-
turers packed the place-mule skinners,
coldiers. gamblers, settlers. Among
them was a sprinkling Of women He
pushed his way through the crowd I'M
til he reached Che bar. There, ofiiciat-
ing In pink shirt sleeves, was the
Babe"
A moment Lounsbury faced him in
silence, his cheeks putting and his
chest swelling in an effort at self con-
troll. Then, dropping his hand to the
49, he gave n jerk of the head.
"Come out" he ordered
Tho "Pohe.s" son;nt oves ,,oda con.
.rate ,nsnec+,ons of rho room No WIS
in the act Of nouring from y hottie "a
n plass Now os he hold Them hcfore
him. they tinkled together
His customer hocked ovav 70 tho
door where If was cooler The women
clu.tercd ot rho f.rtbar bar end rio
oti.er lo,nrers ro.atpd to q nosition he
hind T.or,xbrrr ard voitod su ogrin
He came loainp emf the sweat stonl.
ing in hug, beads unon his nose
Jounsburv advanced to him nIovjng =
tattoo along the bar with his left hand
"'Babe.' he said Quietly "the train
goes bacl, Chicago way in the morn
ing"
The o+hor hl,rkod and rp,oed WV
wy he began.
"You take it," continued Lounsbury.
your family's getting darned unpopu.
lar here"
Tho "Rabe,s" diverrino orhs norned
from his face and again n,aved from
side TO side
"Y.e.e-sp drowIod Iounshurv Tie
ripped open the others vest Two mis-.
tolls were d.yr)ayed smuggling head 10
head Ha rrno,,ed ,be,n ont and kick.
ed them across the room "rhe morn.
tnn FRS in no rnneated $50 long"
"aabe, gave a weak nod Iouns.
bury walked ont. "Howdy bows: how.
dy" he said nleasantlv ne he went
RI. admirinr crowd returned his xa.
lutte and ro,a.ed hacl, Ia tho s,r
He vast.l No further fine hnt hur.
r,os N h,s s.or. s.dd,a r,,y.d hu,,d.
ing farther olonp the street Bcfore
It paced a Fort Lincoln officer. Ionns
bury stoned him for news.
you ought to be chuck full Of IT,
returned The officer. pnmpine the
storekeeper's arm. "iuet In from New
York"
1.-THE re,.k,ns?"
"Dsytipe sortIe on us Yesterday"
"Pretty sassy. How about Bran
NOM"
NOTHING since oli I.sncaster"-
81 heard that-Fraser wrote me-
Lounsbu,v grit.ed his teeth.
land cur poor CusterY'
"Ah, poor Custer. The casts talk