Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-08-26

Il
as il in pain. Scotty woofed.
What is ut. lad?"
Scotty leaped up and barked loudly.
Out of the utter dark from behind
came a sound of bare feet and pres
emily there appeared a man attired
only in trousers and sleeveless gauze
shirt.
I'm Golfer" the man painted,
shrinking back from the lighted door
way. Il got away from Buckamuck and
came here"
AN what for?"
"She told me to come to you-the
lady. | was in Broderic's saloon two
nights ago to buy bottle of wine. 1t
was our wedding anniversary and Net
tie suggested that we celebrate. Van
reb was there and undertook to have
fun with me. was unarmed and got
away. He was knitted in the back
later that night"
go on" said Magoon. Scotty was
quiet again.
"They locked me up the next morn
ing before / knew the charge. Nettie
came to me last night. Higgins was
guarding the door. He saw a bottle
of whiskey sticking out of her shawl
, and appropriated it. There was a
sleeping-dope in it and when 1t
worked she took his key and told me
to come here to you"
They had moved inside. The sher-
IFS lips were white, distorted; his
face was drenched with sweat and
the dim glow of agony was manifest
in the gray eyes. Suddenly Magoon
lifted the lamp from the table. showed
il close to the pale face of the pris-
oner and stared into his eyes.
"Nettie knows that | was with her
before Vanreb left Broderic's and that
/ never left the cottage that night,
Golfer said.
GO into that ROOM" the sheriff
commanded in a grating voice. as he
! put the lamp down. II may be gone
week or tn small part av wan, but
stay you here an make no noise. TIL
Chink will feed you, sor."
That night Magoon rode down the
river-bed to Buckamuck for the first
time in two years and Scotty fol
lowed almost gaily. for night-rides had
come to mean action. Dawn was per-
ceptitble when he reached the Belle
Mare" claim His old cabin had been
enlarged and improved. He stumbled
over circlet of stones and the smell
of geranium leaves was borne up to
him. The voice of the woman which
answered his knock was softer than
he had ever heard it.
Hello, Nettie. It's me-Magoon. -
"Oh, all right, Danny. Just min
ute and I'll let you in"
Then Magoon's throat frightened as
if in the wrenching of powerful fin
gers. There was another voice. in the
cottage. The door was opened and
she stood before him in the lamp.
| light, the red hair hanging down in
thick braids. her face pale and anx-
ious. but ineffably sweeter to him
and bit of babe in her arms.
81 told him to go to you. Have you
seen him, Danny" she asked quickly
Hes safe in me shack up the
river" he answered and his eyes were
moving about the room. 1t was not
as he had left it, There were plush
chairs about and a comfortable, sup
porting books and fancy lamp whose
light brought out wildly the sweeping
figure of the carpet on the floor. The
child was grieving a little.
In trouble thought of you first
Danny"
Il toll We t. do ut. Nettie, gurrl."
But why are you here?"
He turned to her swiftly and an
swered: CT larn if we wore happy
deere. Is he good t YEP"
! Good as gold, Danny. No woman
could have been happier than ! til
now. tell you it's shame-no word
is strong enough-that they can't lei
him alone with their horse-play
Haven't | always been square to the
boys? Then why can't they let me
be happy, Danny? lie was with me
at nine O'Clock the night Vanreb was
killed. He's home every evening
reading or talking with me or playing
with little Danny here
did / hear you say Danny In
reference { annything?"
Its the name OF the baby" she
said. smiling at him.
"Oh, Larud, let me holt ay ut"
ut was his fathers suggestion
and mine," the woman answered
Full day was upon the Mammor
when he emerged from the cottage.
couple of miners were passing.
"Ill take case of you. IT'S nothin
but misunderstanding, on the parr
av tn byes. I'll set thin straight
Nettie. deere. Come Scotty, lad
Goodbye an wipe your eyes, gurrl.
He turned in the saddle and saw
her standing in the morning light
holding the child and waving her fire,
hand to him. He set his jaw hard
but it would not stop the twitchini
of his lips. Buckamuck was quiet
The two miners who had seen him il
the Golfer doorway rode hurried,
through the town headed north A
Broderic's saloon Magocn learned
that most OF the miners had laid of
to find Golfer; that the men had beer
III.