West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-02-06

1T snapped ut the shoulder" the
other continued DULY. lust like
shovel handle. I felt it-but he tried
to kill me. and had to do It."
The attorney took Roy to his cabin
cessanty the WHILE but the boy was
like sleep walker, displaying no ella.
ton. no excitement. no JOY OF victory.
At last Wheaton broke out:
"Cheer up! Why, man. you act like
loser! Don't you realize that we've
wonf Don't you understand tt1t the
Midas IL yoursf And the whole world
with itr'
"wonf" echoed the miner. what
do you know about II. Bill? The
Nidas-the world-what good are they :?
You're wrong. I've lost-yes-I've lost
everything she taught me. and by
some damned trick Of fate she was
there to see me do It. Now, 20 away;
want to sleep"
He sank upon the bed with it's tangle
OF blankets and was unconscious be-
fore the lawyer had covered him over.
There he lay like dead man till
late In the afternoon, when Dextry
and Slapjack came In from the hills,
answering Wheaton's call. and fell
upon him hungrily. They shook Roy
into consciousness with joyous riot.
pommeling him with affectionate
roughnsss till he rose and Joined with
them stiniy. He bathed and rubbed
the soreness from his muscles, emery.
Ing physically at. They made him
recount his adventures to the tinlest
detail. following his description OF the
fight with absorbed interest till Dextry
broke into mournful complaint:
I'D have given my half Of the Midas
60 see you bust him. Lord, I'd have
screeched with soopreme delight at
that"
why didn't you gouge his eyes out
when you had him crippiedf" question.
ed slapjack vlndictively. "Pd "a done
It."
Dextry continued: They tell me that
when he was arrested he swore in
eighteen different languages. each one
more rsfreshin'ly repulsive an Vigorous
than the precedin'. oh, I have sure
missed a-plenty today. partic'lar be-
cause my own diction is gettin' run
down an skim milky of late, shown
sad lack OF new idees, which I might
have assim'lated somethln' robustly
original an expressive IL I'd been hero.
No. sir: q nose bag full of nuggets
wouldn't have kept me away"
How did II sound when she bust.
a lra
Glenister refused to discuss the com
bat.
Come on. Slap" said the old pros.
pector; Tets 70 downtown. I'm 50
het up can't set still. an, besides,
mebbe we can get the story the way II
really happened from somebody who
amt bound an gagged an chloroform-
ed by such unbecomin' modesties
Roy. don't never go into vawdyville
with them personal episodes, because
they read about az thrillin' as n cook
book. Why. say. I've had the story of
that light from four different fellers
already. none Of which was within
four blocks Of the scrimmage, an
they're all din'rent an all better'n your
account"
Now that Gieplster's mind had re-
covered some OF Its poise he realized
what he had done.
II was beast, an animal" he groan-
ed, and that after all my striving. I
wanted to leave that part behind. I
wanted to be worthy OF her love and
trust even though never won II, but
at the frst test am found lacking. I
have lost her confidence. Yes, and
what Is worse. Infinitely worse, I have
lost my own. She's always seen me at
my worst" he went on. but I'm not
that kind at bottom--not that kind. I
want to do what's right, and IL I have
another chance will know I will.
I've been tried too hard, that's ALL"
Some one Knocked. and he opened
the door to admit the Bronco Kid and
Helen
wait q minute, old man." said the
Kid. I'm here as a friend" The
gambler handled himself with difficult
". Offering In explanation:
I'm all sewsd up In bandages of
one kind or another"
He ought 10 be In bed now, but he
wouldn't LEE me come alone, and I
could not walt" the girl supplemented,
while her eyes avoided Glsnister's in
strange hesitation.
He wouldn't let you don't under
stand"
I'm her brother" announced the
Bronco Kid. 1--WE known IL for a long
time, but I-I-well. you understand, I
couldn't let her know. All can say f.,
I've gambled square TIL the night I
played 700, and I was as mad as a
dsrVish then, blaming you for the talk
I'd heard Last night learned By
chance about Strive and Helen and got
70 the roadhouse In time 20 save her.
I'm sorry lidn't kill him. His long
white fingers writhed about the arm
OF bis chair az the memory.
Isn't he dead Z" Gisnister Ipauired
NO. The doctors have brought him
10, and ho'll get well. He's Ike half
the men in Alsska-hers because the
sherlas back home couldn't shoot
straight TherSs something else. I'm
not a good talksr. but give me time
and III manage II 30 you'll understand.
i tried to keep Helen from coming on
this srrand, bot she said II was the
square thing and she knows better
than /. It's about those papers she
brought In last spring. She was afraid
you might consider her a party 20 the
deal, but you don't, DO your He giar.
ca beiDsersntly, and Roy replied with
ferYor:
Certainly not 90 on"
We'll, she learned the other day that
those documents told the whole story
ana contained enough proof 20 break
up mis- conspiracy and convict the
J"'gs and Mcnamara and ell the rest.
but strive kept me bundle IN bis safe
ano wouldn't give 81 up without a price.
Ibats Why she went away with him.
bne thought 70 was right. and-thars
an Bot u seems Wheaton had sue.