The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1908-10-01

Armitage put out his hand. and Clai
borne took II In . visOsons clasp 4
..You don't know who am Or Whist J
am, and haven't got time to tell yca
now. Its . long story, and ] have
much to do. but swear 70 ron. Clsi
borne. that my hands are clean: that
the game / am playing = no AFFAIR Of
my own, but big thing that have
pledged myself to carry through. J
want you to ride down there III the
valley and keep MarhOf quiet tor .
few hours. Tell him ! know more Of
what's going on In Vienna than hs dos
and that II he win only Ut IN . rock
ing chair and tell you fairy stories TIL
morning We can Ill b. happy. 10 II .
bargain-or--must ! still hang your
bead down the well TIL get throughf r
''Marhof may 80 to the devil! He's Z
lot more mysterious than even you.
Armitage. These fellows that brought
me up here to kill me in the bslisf that
was you cannot b friends Of Mar.
hof's cause"
..They are not l assure you they are
not. They are blackguards Of the black
sst dye"
~ believe you. Armitage."
Thank you. Now your horse y At
the door. Run along like Z good fel.
low"
Armitage dlved into his room. caught
up Z cartridge belt and reappeared
buckling It on.
Noscar." he yelled, "bring In that
coffee. with cups for two"
He kicked on bic boots and drew on
light shoes and legsing4
Light marching orders for the rough
places. Confound that buckle"
He rose and stamped his fest to ut.
tie the shoes.
"Your horse q 1t the door. That ras.
cal Oscar will take Oh the blanket for
you. There's bottle Of fair whisky In
the cupboard. II you'd Ike nip before
starting. Bless me. forgot the coffee!
There on the table. Oscar. and never
mind the chairs." he added 40 Oscar
came In with tin pot and ths cups on
. piece Of plank.
I'm taking the ride, Oscar. and b.
sure those revoivers are loaded with
the real goods.'
There was q great color in Armi-
tage's face - be strobe about prepar-
ing to leave Ills eyes danced with ex.
element and between the sentences
that he jerked out half to himself be
whlstled few bars from comic opera
that was making record run 90
Broadway. His steps rang out vigor-
ously from the bare pine door.
watch the windows. Oscar. You
may forgive u general anything but 4
surprise. Isn't that 10 Claiborne
And those fellows must Be pretty mad
BY this time. Excuse the coffee serv.
Ice. Claiborne. We always pour the
sugar from the paper bag-original
package. you understand And zee II
you can't lind Captain Claiborne = hat.
Oscar"
With tin cup Of steaming coffee In
bis hand he sat on the table dangling
his legs. his hat on the back Of bis
head. the cartridge belt strapped about
hls waist over 4 brown corduroy hunt.
Ing coat. He was In high mood and
chaksd Oscar q 70 the proba bility Of
their breakfasting another morning.
III We die. Oscar. It shall b. IN . good
cause"
He threw aside bis cup with q clat.
ter. jumped down and caught the sword
from the table, examined Il critically,
then sheathed It With . click.
Claiborne had watched Armitage
with 4 growing impatIeucs. he ~.
scented the idea Of being thus ignored.
Then he put bis hand roughly on Arml.
tage's shoulder.
Ar,nitage. intent with bib own affairs,
had not looked at Claiborne Tor several
minutes. but be glanced At him now 20
though just recalling . duty.
Lord. man. didn't mean to throw
you into the road! Theirs q clean bed
In there that you're welcome to. 90
In and get some Sleep"
.'l'm not going into the valley" roar
ed Claiborne. and I'm not going to
bed. I'm going with you"
"But bless your soul. man. you can't
70 with me! You are 40 ignosaut - .
babe Of my affairs, and I'm terribly
busy and have no time to talk to you.
Oscar. that coffee scalded me. Clai.
borne. II only had time. you know.
but under existing circumstances"-
II repeat that I'm going with you. !
don't know why I'm in this row. and l
don't know what its oil about, but |
believe what you say about Il and
went you to understand that ! can't b.
put In 4 bag Ike Z prise potato With
cut taking q whack at the man who
put me there"
"But II you should get hurt Ciai.
borne. II would spoil my planA ! never
could face your family again" saM Al.
mitags earnestly. take yodr horse
and Co."
"I'm going back to the valley when
you do"
"Humph! Drink your co6eel Oscar.
bring out the rest Of the artillery and
Give Captain Claiborne his choice"
He picked up his sword again, dung
the blade from tho pcahhnrd with q