Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-08
CHAPTER xv11r.

Say! What's this about you and
Stark? hear you had horrible run
in and that you split him up the back
like quail
1--WE had row." admitted the trad
er. Its been a long time working
out and last night It came to a head"
"Lord-ee! And to think of Ben
Stark bein' licked! Why, the whole |
camps talkin' about it! They say he |
emptied two six shooters at you, but
you kept a-comin'. and when you did |
get to him you just carved your mi. |
tials on him like he was a Eastwood |
tree. Say, John. he's goner. sure"
do you mean he's-passing out?"
ooh, no. l reckon he'll get we'll.
from what hear, though he won't let J
nobody come near him except old Doc. |
But he's lost battle, and that ends
him. Don't you savvy? Whenever a
killer quits second best It breaks his
hoodoo. Why, there's been men layin'
for him these twenty years from here
to the Rio Grande, and every Teller he
ever bested will hear Of this and begin
to grease his holster: then the first
shave tail desperate that meets him
will spit in his eye just to make
name for himself No, sir! He's q
spent shell. He's got to fight all his
battles over again. and this time the
other Teller will open the ball. oh.
I've seen 1t happen before. You killed
him last night, just as sure as II you'd
r. e, k,{l no. |,
It,"
I'm peaceable man." said Gale on
the defensive. II had to do It,"
II know! know! There was wit
nesses. This dressmaker at the fort
seen it. so hear"
The other acquiesced silently.
"Well, we'll! Ben Stark licked! !
can't get over that. 1t must "a been
somethin' powerful strong to make you
do 1t, John" When the old man
vouchsafed no more than nod to q
question the prospector inquired:
''Where's Poleon? I've got news for
him from the creek
II don't know. Why?"
"His laymen have give up. They've
crosscut his ground, and the pay amt
there. so they've quit work for good"
"He drew q blank. eh?''
''Worse'n that-three of them. The
creek Is spotteder than leopard.
Runnion's men. for instance. are into
It bigger than house, while Poleon's
people can't raise color. call it
tough luck-yes. worse'n tough. It's
hard billed and picked. To them as
has shall 1t be given and to them as
hasn't shall be took even what they
amt got. US the poet says. Look at
Necia! She'll be richer than a cream
pun. Guess I'll step around and see
/, her"
"She's gone.'' said the trader YEARLY.
turning his haggard face from the
prospector.
"Gone! Where7n
"Up river with Runnion. They got
her away from me last night
"Sufferin' snakes" calculated Lee.
$50 that's why!" Then be added sim.
ply, Lets 60 and git. her. john
The trader looked at him queerly.
Maybe won't-on the first boati
I'm eating my heart out hour by hour
waiting waiting-waiting for some
kind Of craft to come, and. SO is Bur-
rell."
whats he got to do with IT." said
the one eyed miner jealousy. Cant
you and me bring her back?"
He'll marry her! God, won't there
never be a boat?''
For the hundredth time that morn
ing he went to the door Of the post
and strained his eyes downstream.
well, well! Them two goin' to be
married" said Lee. STARK licked; and
Nicola goin' to be married-all at once.
I hate to see it. John. he amt good
enough. She could "a done heap bet
ter. There's lot Of regular men around
here. and she could "a had her pick. OF
course, always bein' broke like a.dog
myself. amt kept up my personal ap-
pearance like ought. but I've got some
new Clothes now, ofA~ got wouldn't
know me. I bought 'em Of a tender
foot with cold feet. but they're the
goods, and you'd see big improve
ment in me-"
"He's good man." said Gale, 'sbet-
ter than you or me, and he's all torn
up over this. never saw a man act
80. When he learned about It thought
he'd go mad. He's haunted the river
bank ever since, raging about for some
means Of following her, and II hadn't
fairly held him he'd have set out single
handed"
While they were talking Burrell
came In, and mo Creek saw that the
night had affected the youth even more
than 1t had Gale, or at least he showed
the marks more plainly, for his face
was drawn. his eyes were sunken as II
from hunger, and his whole body
seemed to have fallen away till his
uniform hung UPON him loose, unkempt
and careless.
i can't wait much longer, 6aid Bcr-
rell and sank YEARLY into seat. AL.
most the next instant he was on his
feet again, saying to the trader, as he
had said It q score Of times already:
"Runnion comes to me, Gale! You I'M
derstand he's mine. don't youY
The old man nodded. s'Yes; you car
take him" y
''Well, who do / git?'' asked Lee.
You can't come along" the trader
said. 1--WE may have to follow the
hound clean to thss States. Think Of
your mine. =
ITO blaaes with tho mtne!" exploded
the shaggy prospector. Il reckon I'm
kind Of daddy TO your gal, and I'm