The Washington herald., 1909-05-23

sen across the embers' glow. And Jen-
sen-good-natured, olundering Jensen
{ grinned,
/ Next morning the three pushed on I'd
I the Cheyenne Valley. And little Jean
I DerOin sang merTily and talked many
schemes; but things had changed a bit
I The two wee drops Of bad blood had be-
come three-aa5 FaIlon knew Il
He seemed little inclined 70 talk and
was unnecessarily rough with the mules
One evening he smashed his pipe because
il wouldn't draw; and when Little Jean
raised a lusty voice and sang about Il
settle. Fallon cursed him elaborately. All
the while he had that pinched. squirting
look about the eyes that somehow makes
you think Of the muzzle Of gun. And
when the big. patient, thiek-headed Dane
offered clumsy kindnesses. FaIOn scOwIed
and turned his back
With things in this condition. they came
IN mid-May TO the American Fur Com
pany's post at the forks Of the Cheyenne
Fallon proceeded TO set very drunk; the
other two reasonably 50. And the two
big men fought Not about the woman.
however II seemed 70 be about who was
the best shot, and who was the best
man. each casting aspersions upon the
others ancestry in language not to be
tolerated. And Fallon. carrying bigger
cargo Of liquor than the other. came of
with q severe drubbing at the hands Of
the enraged Dane
Il kept Little Jean busy for the better
part Of three days 10 patch II up between
them into the sembiance OF friendship
But Jean was very earnest (haYing q
head full Of schemes for the summer).
SO the big men shook hands listlessly.
sulleDly repeating the words Jean put
into their mouths And then the three
set out again, trailing south and west
across the edge OF the Bad Lands into the
Hills
But the mixup at the Forks hadn't
helped matters The three drops Of bad
blood in Fallon's system had Increased
TO ever so many. In the sultry nights he
lay awake for hours, thinking It all over
until he shook with great shuddering
grOans-
often on the trail Fallon hurled bitter
words AZ the Dane. who sometimes lost
his patience and talked back; until Little
Jean was at his wits end trying to pre-
serve the peace. And finally one even
ing at the edge Of the Bad Lands. where
N-4C NAtAk pms NNA ANA VI NAAE AAAiaS DEEr1Alr
Fallon called the Dane a 'tow-headed''
something or other. and they would have
fought again but for Jean, who lost his
temper and 1ashed them with all the
curses OF his expressive tongue. and
shamed them and cOaXed them. Then
they agreed to make Ii up for good
Said Fallon 10 the Dane: It's me
that's pig-headec Ir.shman. and you're
q gentleman. Lief Let's shoot the tin
cups at sixty yards again. II takes good
friends to DO that trick. eh, Jensen?"
Jensen quietly agreed and for Il time
Jean was happy. So the two fipped
copper for the first shot.
At the fall OF the coin the Danes face
went pale and his lips twitched. Fallon
had won.
Jensen leisurely paced of the sixty
yards and stopped with the side Of his
face 10 FaIlon. When the Frenchman
came and placed the cup of whisky on
his head be said quietly: Jean, my rifle
and my powder pouch and all my 'hxens
are your'n- I'm willing EN- TO you Put
me where the coyotes can't get at me"
But Jean laughed. and said he Tecko1ed
Falion couldn't miss !. he tried
All the while FallOn was leisurely load
ing his rife When he had rammed Il
OS~i ana capped the TUE ne taise0 the
gun TO his shoulder. sighted tentatively
for some time, then lowered It and said:
A little more TO the right, Lief-tnere.
Now hold mighty steady. and don't you
spoil my whisky. III be wanting drink
d'rectiy."
Again he raised the rife to his shoulder
1t seemed to hin that a dead hush feI
over all the world-an awful Stiffness
through which q faint malicious whisper
ran His brain reeled. and for moment