The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-01-17

When he returned there was no one
to receive him but Williston To-
gether they entered the house. 1t was
small room into which Langford was
ushered. 1t was also very plain. 1t
was more than that, it was shabby.
An easy chair or two that has sur
vived the wreckage of the house of
Williston had been shipped to this
land of PROMISE" together with a
few other articles such as we're abso-
lutely indispensable. The table was
big shipping box, though Langford
did not notice that, for it was neatly
covered with moth eaten plum-col-
ored felt cloth. A rug, crocheted out
Of parti-colored rags, relic of Marys
conservative and thrifty grandmother,
served as carpet for the living room
A peep through the open door into the
next and only other room disclosed
glimpses of mating on the floor
There was holy place even in this
castaWay house on the prairie AS the
young mans careless eyes took in
this new significance, the door closed
softly. The little girl had shut
herself in.
The two men sat down at the table.
1t was hot. They were perspiring
freely. The flies, swarming through
the screenless doorway, stung disa-
greeably.
Laconically Williston told his story.
He wasted no words in the telling. In
the presence Of the man whose big
success made his own pitiful failures
homogeneous, his sensitive scholars
nature had shut up like clam.
Langford's jaw was SET His young
face was tense with interest. He had
thrown his hat on the floor as he came
in, as is the way with men who have
lived much without women He had
strong, bronzed face, with daredevil
eyes, blue they were, too, and he had
a certain turn of the head, a mark of
distinction which success always gives
to her sons. He had big shoulders,
clad in a blue flannel shirt open at
the throat. In his absorption he had
forgotten the little girl" as complete
ly as If she had, in very truth, been
the 10-year-old of his imagination.
How plainly he could see all the un-
holy situation-the hendful Of des-
perate men perfectly protected on the
the little island. One man sighting
from behind cottonwood could play
havoc with a whole sheriff's posse
on that open stretch of sand-bar.
Nothing but surprise-and did these
insOlent men fear surprise? They had
laughed at the suggestion Of the near
presence Of an officer of the law. And
did they not do we'll to laugh? Surely
it was a joke, a good one, this idea
of an officers being where he was
needed in KemaA county
And my brand was on that spotted
steer he interrupted. Il know the
creature-know him we'll. He has
mean eye. Had the gall to dispute the
right of way with me. once, not so
long ago. either. He was in the cor
raj at the time, but he's been on the
range all summer. He may have the
evil eye all right, but he's mine, bad
eye and all; and what is mine, l will
nave. And is that the only original
brand you saw"
"The only one,' quietly, unless the
the R on that red steer when he
got up was an original one"
u R? Who could J R be-"
II couldn't say, but the man was
Jesse Black"
Jesse Black"
The repeated words were fairly spit
out.
Jesse Black! I might have known.
Who else bold enough. to loot the
; Three Bars? But his day has come
Not hair, nor hide, not a hoof, not
tallow enough to fry a fapjack shall
be left on the Three Bars before he
repents his insolence.''
What will you do?' asked Willis
ton.
What will you do?" retorted Lang
ford
Il? What can 1 do?" in the vague,
helpless manner of the dreamer.
Everything" you WILL" briefly
He snatched up his wide hat.
Where are you going?" asked Will
| liston, curiously
ITO see Dick Gordon before this day
! is an hour older. Will you come
| along?"
"Ye-es,' hesitatingly. Gordon
hasn't made much success of things
so far, has he?"
Because you-and men like you
are under the thumb of men like
Jesse Black" said Langford, CURLY
| Afraid to peach for fear Ct antag
onizing the gang Afraid to vote
against the tools of the cattle thieves
for fear of antagonizing the gang
Afraid to call your souls your own
| for fear of antagonizing the gang. Your
on the fence policy didn't work very
well this time, did it? You haven't
found your cattle, have you? The
angel must have forgotten. Thought
you were tainted of Egypt, eh?"
ut is easy for you to talk" said viii
liston, simply 1T would be difficult il