The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-10-29
LANFRANC
Copyright. by shortstory pub. Coz
BY E. A. COOK

pine-chickS Tor her. Wnen get 10 tne
cabin | fin strange man there. lie
was good TO look at, yes! But / not
like his eyes.
"IIe had some great plan to get gold
from the brook, and | see the father
already had the lust for riches in his
face. They dig all the time by the
water. and the girl talk and laugh
with the stranger. | tell her one day
what t'ink about him, but she laugh
at me.
well, one time feel like change,
and so on long trip. shoot much
and see many strange tings and live
as a man should live. But at las feel
something tell me to turn roun' and
go back. SO start on the back trail.
One morning l see the smoke of
camp fire, and fin Great Bear and his
tribe hunting buffalo.
Great Bear, he tell me something
about South Wind that make me strike
him. But Great Bear know that /
strike not him, but the words, and he
give me two fresh horses, and tell me
when | have done what / have to do,
where / should fin him. so that the
blow might be wipe out. Then we
shake hands like men and l ride on.
In tree days | ride what | would
ride in seven at other time. When
reach the valley, / shoot one horse to
put him out of pain. 1t was not nice.
no! and it add little grain TO the
devil that was in me.
hn, I, 49, 90
flower? Well, it was all the same.
tink she was glad TO see me, but she
was YER weak. The next day she die.
THE next day we bury her by the
brook she lof', and | take my knife and
make cut on the handle of my gun.
For what? l change t'inGs about. One
time in a mining camp man who did
not know me, show me his pistol han
die. 1t was all cut with notches. He
tell me he make cut every time he
kill man. | t'ink he try to scare me.
laugh, for do not like to see such
men, and / say that the next cut he
make in the handle l would kill him.
For minute he look as though he
would shoot. Then he laugh as though
|
young boy at game af cards. l &c
to the place where he is, and remin
him of what have said. That was the
second time / have ever start fight
Last night was the third
$50 change t'ings about and make
cut on my pistol handle to show
that have not kill. For tree years
| fool tbat ont aud cwaar cnf' IN r1ycalf
| took many trails and / stay at man.
places, but the face | look for l die
not see. Once q year | come here L
McGilrs, where the great trails to tn,
north and west cross. The play is goot
and many people pass.
well, las night the place was full
You know how 1t is-much talk, mucl
drink. But Lanfranc has no lof' to lie
the white wine make fool of him. 81
stand one side, and drink one, tw'
glass-not much. BY and by the doc
open and a man come in. He not SCI
me, but / have no need of the whit
wine to make my blood run fas'. HI
been drinking, and he laugh an wav
his hand at the crowd, and tell McGil
to fill up the glasses.
Everybody YER glad to drink wit
the stranger, but / take my glass an
, spill it on the floor before McGill'
dog. He see what I do, and he tur
. quick For what you do this? he say
laugh and point where the dog ha
, turn away. L think l had rather drin
with McGill's dog than with you,'
say, and | smile in his face.
, Men say l am too quick to shoe
, but even las night, l give him muc
time. He had his gun out before
draw. Then | draw quick. but hav
I no fear, for it was my time. 1t wa
fate. Then | cut the notch smooth o
a my pistol handle. See! / feel good
; Lanfranc laid the pistol down on tn
: bench before the other man. Sergear
a Mack's hand went out mechanical
. to the pistol, and his fingers ran cares
. ingly along the smooth cut in tn
wood. Good! good!" he muttere
. half to himself.
4 Lanfrancs finger touched the bac
OF the sergeant's hand for a secon'
"Shall we go. mon ami?" he aske,
!. softly.
!. Sergeant Mack Strengthened up as
0 he were about to salute. mo, Lal
e franc, hang 1t, no! / am more ma
! than this!"-and he touched III
e stripe on his sleeve.
Lanfranc's black eyes flashed with
brilliant smile. You have the grei
). heart, mon ami" he said simply.
;. ride north tonight to keep the wor
|. with Great Bear"