Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-04-28

MIN the pullOr OF aSneS, Wnlle MS
mouth twitched and his head rolled
slightly from side to side like a palsied
old mans. But evidently Poleon meant
no violence. for he allowed the passion
to run from him freely until 1t had
pent Its vigor, then said to Runnion:
Somebody goin' die for wat you say
JUS now. Mebbe it's goin' be you,
m'sieu; mebbe It's goin' to be him. I
can't tell yet. but lin hope an pray
it's goin' be you, because / t'ink wat
you say is lie, an nobody can spik
dose kin Of lie bout Necia Gale"
He went crashing blindly through
the underbrush. his head wagging, his
shoulders slumped loosely forward like
those of a drunken man, his lips franz
ing words they could not understand.
When lie had disappeared Runnion
drew a deep breath.
81 guess I've framed something for
Mr.. Burrell this time"
you go about 1t queer" said Stark.
I'D rather tackle gang saw than a
man like Poleon Doret. Your frame
up may work double"
Huh! No chance. The soldier was
out all night alone with that half
breed girl, and anybody can see she's
crazy about him. What's the answer:'
Have you got your eye on her too?'
Sure! Do you blame meY'
mo. but she's too good for you. Bet
ter. stay out" the gambler advised.
As matter of fact, don't like her
father any better than you like her
lovers
"Wel, it's mutual. l can see Gale
hates you like poison"
land l don't intend to see him and
his tribe hog all the best ground here
abouts."
They've already done 1t. You can't
stop them"
Eyes, I can stop them" said Stark.
II want the ground that girl has
stakcd, and I'm going to get 1t. 1t lies
next to Lees, and it's sure to be rich.
Ours is so far away it may not be
worth the recorders fees. This creek
may be as spotted as coach dog. so
] don't intend to take any chances"
"She made her locations legally"
said Runnion.
"You leave that to me. When will
the other boys be here?"
Tomorrow morning. told them to
follow about four hours behind and
not to run in Oh us till we had finished.
They'll camp a few miles down the
creek and be in early"
You couldn't get but three, eh:"
."That's all could find who would
agree to give up half" II
Can we count on them?"
Huh" the other grunted. "They
worked with Inc and soapy Smith on
the Skagway tail"
"Gootl-tive against three, not count
Ing the girl ana the lieutenant" Stark
mused. well, that will do it, He
outlined his plan; then the two re-
turned TO the cabin to find Lee cook
ing supper.
Poleon had finished several pipes
and after supper sat in the shadows in
the open doorway apparently tired and
detected, though his eyes shone like
diamonds and roved from one to the
other. Half unconscionsly he heard
Stark saying:
This girl was about your size, but.
not SO dark. However, you remind me
of her in some ways. That's why 1t
puts her in my mind, suppose. She
was about your age at the time-nine-
teen"
"Oh. I'm not eighteen yet" said Ne
cia.
well, she was q fine woman any
how, the best that ever set foot in
Chandon, and there was great deal
of talk when she chose young Bennett
over the Gaylord man, for Bennett
had been running second best from
the start, and everybody thought it
was settled between her and the other
one. However, they were married
quietly"
The story did not interest the Cana
dian. His mind was in too great agi-
tation to care for dead tales. His
heart burned within him too fiercely,
and he felt too great Il desire to put
his hands to work. AS he watched
Burrell and Runnion bend over the
table looking ut little can of gold
dust that Lee had taken from under
his bunk his eyes grew red and blood
shot beneath his hat Drim. Which one
of the two would 1t be? lie wondered.
From the corner of his eye he saw
Gale rise from Lees bed, where he
had stretched himself to smoke, and
take his six shooter from his belt,
then remove the knotted bandanna
from his neck and begin to clean the
gun, his head bowed over it earnestly,
his face in the shadow. He had ever
been a careful and mcthodical man,
reflected Poleon, and evidently would
not go to sleep with his firearm in bad
condition.
Nobody imagined that Gaylord
would cause trouble" Stark was say
ing, "for he didn't seem to be jeal-
Gus sort, just stupid and kind of heavy
witted. But one night lie took advan-
tage of Benefits absence and snealied
up to the house." The story teller
and Necia, who was under the
spell OF MS recital, urged him on:
Eyes, yes. What happened thcn7
Go on!' But Stark stared gloomily at
his hands and held his silence for a
full minute, the tale appearing to have
awakened more than a fieeting inter.
est In him.
1T was one of the worst killings
that ever happened in those parts" he
continued. Bennett came back to find
his wife murdered and the kid gone"
oh" said the girl in shocked
voice.
yes. there was a deuce of a time.
The town rose up IN II body. and we
.ou see. happened To he there-we
followed the man fer weeks. We
trailed him AID the kid clear over into