Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-02-20

NO, / don't" snapped Mrs. His-
gins, and she didn't, but she thought
she did only II you mean Mr.. Rich
ard Gordon, Ill tell you now there
amt no one In this here God'forsaken
country who can hold tallow candle
to him. Just put that in your pipe ana
smoke It, will YOU"
She piled up dishes viciously. she
did not wait for her guests to depart
before she began demolishing the
table. 1t was tremendous breach OF
etiquette, but she didn't care To have
an ideal shattered ruthlessly Is ever
q Misunderstanding thing.
"But my dear Mrs. Higgins ex'
postulated the judge.
You needn't" said that lady, short
~. II don't care" she went on, III
the president himself or an archangei
from heaven came down here ana
plastered Dick Gordon with bad'smell-
in names from the crown OF his little
toe TO the tip Of his head. I'd tell EN-
to their very faces that they didn't
know what they was q 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 1t. We don't
want 'em putin their fingers In our
pie when they don't know thing
about us or our ways. That's my
say" she closed. with appalling sig
pificance, fiattering 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 wom-
! an not to strike for a 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
lust threw back his blonde head and
!. shouted in rapturous glee. lie
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 mdisguised amaze
ment, hands on hips
Dear me, SUI" she sputtered, is
I, the man gone clean daffy?"
Won't you shake hands with me,
Mrs. Higgins?" he asked. gravely. Il
ask your pardon for my levity. and |
assure you there isn't man in the
whole world | esteem more or hold
greater faith in than Dick Gordon-or
A; love so much. l 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
sleeye.T.... - -
Uncle Hammond" she said, impul-
! sively, i'yoii are-incorrigible, but you
are the best man in all the world"
J 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
I 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 W
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 gane
was on trial., The interested and the
curious did not mean to miss any par
of 1t. They began coming In early II
the week. They kept coming the re
: mainder of that week and Sunday al
, well. Even as late as Monday, de
layed range riders came scurrying In
leaving the cattle mostly to shift To-
: themselves. The Velpen aggregation
: better informed, kept to its own sid'
of the river pretty generally until thu
Sunday, at least, should be past.
= The flats southeast Of town becam'
the camping grounds for those unable
to find quarters at the hotel. and whit
lived too far out to make the night.
ride home and back In the morning
They were tempted by the UNUSUAL,
! mild weather. These were mostly In
: dams and half-breeds, but with good
" sprinkling Of cowboys Of tn
rougher order. Camp-fires spotted tn
b plain. burning. redly at night. Their
wss b5eHypt Arift-wpod 'to.be had 70
fhs.hsraih& Blanketed 5ndlans sguai
ted nd srR6ked around. their firesl4!.
: revival or an older and better day 10
them. Sometimes they stalked ms
> yestica1l9 sihbpgh the b6e street @
o the town.
4 The judicial patty was saiely houee
= in the hotel, With the best service
!; postlbls aof'the ,111dggdment I
I rivae M thla huaT se1aQn ~ oonEesIe
/, r1tiofae1 81 NJ IN 'lIe q =