The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-10-29

Lan1raUC was Sedleu Ou Tie udT at
McGin's tavern, smoking a cigarette.
McGill had gone to the window and
was looking out across the pr'irie.
There's some one coming this way,
ne said. "Too far out to tell who he
is"
Lanfranc waved the smoke away
from before his face. you have not
the eagle eye, McGill. l have seen
him since he pass the Big Stone. 1t is
! Sergt. Mack"
McGill turned quickly. THAT means
you, then" he said. II told you they
would get word to the post before
morning. But you are always cock
sure, you wouldn't start for the lower
cut last night, as l wanted you TO.
But come on. Your horse is saddled.
| fixed him up this morning. Per
haps you can get off behind the ridge
before he spots you. I'll hold him here
chance TO ride for it."
McGill started for the side door, but
seeing that Lanfranc did not move,
he faced around again. Come on
mani" he cried Good God! l don't
want to see you hang"
Lanfranc calmly blew out a puff Of
smoke. Il have seen fat men like
you, who drink too much of the white
wine, and sit down all the time, die,
when they get too much excite.
They choke all the same as when they
hang" And he laughed ironically.
McGill grew red in the face. 1t is
bad enough when you are trying to
help man save his life to have him
laugh at you for your pains, but when
he throws in a sneer at your personal
appearance, 1t is unbearable.
"Well, you can hang, and be d.
he snorted.
Lanfranc was still smiling when
Sergt. Mack opened the door. and he
waved his hand gayly in greeting
Has the Rider of the Law come to
taste McGills sweet-water?" he asked
throwing his thumb back over his
shoulder at the row of bottles.
A flicker of a smile came ovel
Sergt. Mack's face, as he caught sight
of the aggressively innocent display
But it died away as he walked up tc
where Lanfranc sat.
. mo" he replied. I'VE will lool
after that some other time. I came
after you"
Lanfranc's eyes met the sergeanti
insolently. "Bien," he said, 81 am here
| am not like McGill's whisky to rui
into the ground when the Rider OF th'
Law pleases to ride this way"
.lsI 4
notice the irony of Lanfranc's tone
We'll" he said, Are you ready Il
start?"
Lanfranc slipped swiftly off the bar
"Mon ami" he said, you are a brav
man, yes! So when / say that hav
i, the wish to speak to you for the tim
of a pipe first, do not say coul'
kill you before you move your hand,
YOU say mo- l say: 1t is my wish
and you" Lanfranc finished with
wave of his hand.
Sergeant Mack knew that Lanfran
, spoke the truth. Lanfranc could xii
him as the lightning strikes, for tn
! mans swiftness with his gun was
. proverb on the plains. Yet 1t was no
I fear that made him nod his head i
; assent to Lanfranc's questioning gaze
! He knew Lanfranc and liked him, a
! much as man with his clear-cut ide
:. of life could like careless adventure
of Lanfranc's stamp. He knew ais
that Lanfranc would not have mad
! such a request unless he had some
thing important to tell, and althoug
!, it was his place to execute and not I
Judge, there could be no harm !
hearing what the man had to say.
The smile flashed out again in LaI
francs face when he saw the sergear
nod his head.
. "Bien, mon ami," he said. BRAY
: men do not kill each other withor
: reason. Is it not so? Let us s.
: down." He led the way across tn
room to a long bench in front OF tn
. stove. Sergeant Mack seated himse
= across 1t. and Lanfranc faced hin
politely offering him his tobacco. tn
4. sergeant declined it. Lanfranc role
!, cigarette and lighted 1t.
a 1T is seven winters" he begal
:. "since you and were on the trail I,
a gether, and much has happened. Blu
(. | t'ink, you know me well enough
o know that Lanfranc is not what th
. good priest would call pious-no
!. Lanfranc's VICES and virtues wei
=. clear cut, and their possessor ha
:. stated them as they were.
a Lanfranc threw away his cigarett
I. 1.-TWO winters after we part at Lacoll
| go to place in the Great Hill
Hunting was good. and like the plac
- SO well, | mos t'ink | would build n
o shack and stay for the res Of m
life. There was no one roun' but IL
: Indians, 'cept one white man, who ha
put up cabin in little place whel
the wood open out on the hill.
The man call himself Burton-ar
do not like him. He was made Il