The Irish standard., 1908-01-25

lAo PAoeAuouL ulIuSelI OF an 8rCnangel
from heaven came down here and
plastered Dick Gordon with bad-smell-
in names from the crown of his little
toe to the tip Of his head, I'd tell 'em
to their very faces that they didn't
know what they was talkin' about,
and what's more they'd better go
back to where they belong and not
come nosin' round in other peoples
business when they don't understand
one single mite about it. We don't
want 'em putin their fingers in our
pie when they don't know a thing
about us or our ways. That's my
say" she closed, with appalling sig
nificance, dattering herself that no
one could dream but that she was
dealing In the most off-hand general
tiles. She was far too polite to an
tagonize, and withal too good a wom-
an not to strike for friend. She
congratulated herself she had been
true to all her gods-and she had
been.
Louise smiled In complete sympa.
thy. challenging the judge meanwhile
with laughing eyes. But the Judge
he was still much of boy in spite of
his grave calling and mature years
just threw back his blonde head and
shouted in rapturous glee. He
laughed till the very ceiling rang in
loud response; laughed till the tears
shone in his big blue eyes. Mrs. Hig-
gins looked on in undisguised amaze.
ment, hands on hips.
Dear me, suz!" she sputtered, Is
the man gone clean daffy?"
Wont you shake hands with me,
Mrs. Higgins?" he asked, gravely. II
ask your pardon for my levity, and 1
assure you there isn't man in the
whole world l esteem more or hold
greater faith in than Dick Gordon-or
love SO much. thank you for your
championship of him. would that he
had more friends like you. Louise,
are you ready?"
Their walk to the hotel was silent
one. Later, as she was leaving him to
go to her own room, Louise laid her
head caressingly on her uncle's
sleeve.
Uncle Hammond" she said, impul-
sively, you are-incorrigible, but you
are the best man in all the world
"The very best?" he asked, smiling
ly.
"The very BEST" she repeated, firm
ly.
There was full calender that term,
and the close Of the first week found
the court still wrestling with Grimm.
al cases, with that of Jesse Black yet
uncalled. Gordon reckoned that
Blacks trial could not possibly be
taken up until Tuesday or Wednes-
day of the following week. Long be-
fore that. the town began filling up
for the big rustling case. There were
other rustling cases on the criminal
docket, but they paled before this one
where the suspected leader of a gang
was on trial. The interested and the
curious did not mean to miss any part
Of 1t. They began coming in early in
the week. They kept coming the re-
mainder Of that week and Sunday as
we'll. Even as late as Monday, de.
layed range riders came scurrying in,
leaving the cattle mostly to shift for
themselves. The Velpen aggregation,
better Informed, kept to its own side
Of the river pretty generally until the
Sunday, at least, should be past.
The flats southeast Of town became
the camping grounds for those unable
to find quarters At the hotel, and who
lived too far out to make the nightly
ride home and back in the morning.
They were tempted by the unusually
mild weather. These were mostly In.
dians and half.breeds, but with good.
ly sprinkling Of cowboys of the
rougher order. Camp.dres spotted the
plain, burning redly at night. There
was plenty of drift-wood to be had for
the hauling. Blanketed Indians squat
ted and smoked around their fires-a
revival Of an older and better day for
them. Sometimes they stalked ma
jestically through the one street of
the town.
The judicial party was safely housed
In the hotel, with the best service it
was possible for the management to
give in this busy season Of congested
patronage. 1t was impossible to &C.
commodate the crowds. Even the of.
flee was jammed with cots at night.
Mary Williston had come in from
Whites to be with Louise. She was
physically strong again, but ever
strangely quiet, always somber.eyed.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Game is On.
Contrary to expectation, the case of
the State Of South Dakota against
jesse Black was called soon after the
sitting of the court Monday afternoon.
No testimony was introduced, how
ever. until the following day. Inch
by inch, step by step, Gordon fought
for fair Jury through that tense af-
ternoon. Merciless in shrewd exami-
nation, keen to detect hesitancy. pre-
JUDGES sought to be concealed he
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