The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-04-15
vr-continned.
By T. l. Pattee

#M -
my pies now. Come, clear out" The
change was instant.
but 1 want you to promise, Rose
he said, h~esitating a moment. and look
ing al her, the dumping in his hand.
.sOh, clear out. They want you ovel
TO the store. Come, start, or I'll spattel
you!" She held the dipper threaten
ingly. The old look vas in her eyes
again. He ven out laughing, MUNICH
ing at the dumping.
His good nature, however, was short
lived. When he reached the store the
group about the stove looked up ex-
p~ectantly.
Say, squire" a sharp voice piped up,
they say you're going to put the law
to that young Farthing. q -.
That's just what I'm going to do"
he responded grimly.
'Untying Karls boss"
And what law does that break?'
squire?"
tits ~trespassing, and it's attempted
damage OF property, and half a dozen
things"
''You can prove it. 1 s'pose?"
Prove It? Well, I should say! You
Just watch me. / can prove it q diff
ferent ways Say, look here, do you
know this Frarthing crowds going to
change the whole o Of this valley?
There's trouble ahead. You take my
word for 1t, they're a hard lot and
they'll bear watching. There amt a
doubt in my mind but what that critter
was actually trying to steal the boss.
Yessuh."
Say, look here, squire" Dan Tress-
Ter was moving ~uneasily on his egg
crate. Have you got q single proof
that Jim Farthing really united that
hoss wunst? Now, have yeh, squire?'
Proof? what'd I say2 I've got
proof to burn. 1 car bring half a dozen
feliers who'll swear on h bible they
saw him go out"
but does tha prove that he united
the hoss2"
well, 1t comes mighty near It,"
But will that prove it?" persisted
the man ~doggedly.
Look here, Dan. What do o mean?
OF course we can prove II. He a a
motive; we can prove that, can't we?
He had q chance: we can prove, that
He went out: we can prove that. He
profted by 1t and without the loss of
q minute; we can prove that. What
more do O want?"
And you are going to have him ar
rested and tried on that eyeidenceY'
II am going to send for the sheriff
Just as soon as 1 can telephone him"
Then let me tell you this, squire"
There was suppressed excitement In
the mans voice. IF 1t m to a
trial, then you'n have me for a witness.
II drove that bobsled myself last night.
It was my rig. I was in the tavern
room all the time and I'll swear on the
bible that Jim Farthing come In when
the rest did, and didn't go o u
room. 1 know 1t. And I'll swear
that when Karl Keichline got onto
my sled at Moon Run bridge and old
us as how Jim had unhitched his
boss wunst, three or four. and l can
tell their names still, spoke right up
and said as hoy they knew he didn't
leave the room. Joe Huber said that
he set right beside Jim all the even
ing, and Joe won't lie. You'd better
60 slow, squire"
And you'll swear to that?" and the
old mans face was twitching with
wrath. There was a threat in the tone,
and Dan felt it.
yes, sir; / will, for it's Gods truth,
squire" He was fairly trembling with
excitement.
"Oh, yes; them Paintings are pretty
fine birds, aren't they now?" he burst
with a whitening sneer. How long
has ii been since they hired you to de-
fend their doings? Heigh? You've been
hand in glove with 'em all the fall.
I've saw 1t, and now you'll swear to
that, will yeh? Height"
II won't swear to nothing but jest
Gods truth" maintained the man
stubbornly. "Al Farthing was good to
me, and I'm not going back on him
when he's In the right still"
TN the right? Well. sub, We'll see.
II III take more than YOU little swear
ing to clear up this Jscrape, I'll promise
you that" He stormed out into the back
store, slamming the door behind him.
But he did not telephone the sheriff.
In the meantime young Jim had
IA - IAaN a4nnIA N.a IL. La1
polished the little mare till she fairly
shone. He had crimed her name, and
tied her foretop with a jaunty ribbon.
and had even polished her hoofs. AS
she stood in her newly oiled harness,
with the lamb skin breastplate and the
glitterlng nickel work, she was indeed
a beauty. She showed not a trace
OF her hard usage of the night before;
she was alive in every nerve, n full
to the brim Of mettle and fire.
Punctual to the minute, young Jim
swung. up before the squire's front
gate. He could not repress q little thrill
of ~trepidation. How would Rose feel
about II after she had thought 1t over?
Would she want to try the horse now?
And what about the old squire2
He was not kept long in suspense.
He had hitched his horse and was
Just starting to the sleigh for the
blanket when he heard q sound behind
him. He turned to find the old man
coming from the store at a shuffling
run. g.. -
Here, here, young man; what do
you want?" There was no mistaking
the tone or the look on the mans
face.
= am calling for Miss Hartswick.
the-' e :nr 3
We'll, sir, you won't see her. You
unite that boss and get out Of here
Just as quick as God Almighty IL let
iyeh."
"Why, she asked me to CALL" he
stammered confusedly. She wants to
try the horse"
THAT don't make no difference" he
reared, taking a step toward him. You
Z get out of here, and don't you ever
let me see you on these premises again
Just as long as you live. Clear out
I sayi Start" Without a word, Jim
turned to the hitching post, and the
old man, fairly quivsring in his wrath
made a movement to go.
Then he caught a glimpse of the
little mare, turned automatically, drew
a step nearer, patted her on the shoul.
der, and opened her mouth with a def