Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-04-07
ner argument.

women, never natives, not ureSSeQ ike
this exactly. but in dainty, soft things,
not at all like fine ones wear. seem
to have n memory. although it's hardly
that either; it's more like Il dream, as
if were somebody else. Father says
it is from reading too much"
"A memory of wharf"
Its too vague and tantalizing to tell
what it is. except that I should be
called Merridy."
"Merridy: Why that:"
"I'll show you. See" She slipped her
hand inside the shawl and drew from
her breast thin gold chain on which
was strung band ring. ut was
grandmother's That's where got the
fancy for the name of Merridy, / sup
pose"
May l louk?''
"Of course. But daren't take it OF.
haven't had it off my neck since l
was baby" She held it out for him
to examine. aud, although 1t brought
his head close to hers. there was no
trace of coquetry in the Invitation. He
read the inscription. From Dan to
Merridy," but had no realization Of
what it meant, for he glimpsed the
milk white flesh almost at his lips and
felt her breath stirring his hair, while
the delicate scent of her person SEEM
ed to loose every strong emotion in
him. She was so dainty and yet so
virile, so innocent and yet so wise, so
cn1d and vat Gu p,,1co f{nr
at is very pretty" he said namely.
At the look in his eyes as he raised
his head her own widened, and she
withdrew from him imperceptibly, dis
missing him with mere infection.
II wish you would send Poleon here.
It's time he saw his present"
AS Burrell walked out into the air he
shut his jaws grimly and muttered:
Hold tight, young man. She's not
your kind-she's not your kind"
Inside the store he found Doret and
the trader in conversation with man
he had not met before, ragged nom
descript whose overalls were blue and
faded and patched, particularly on the
front of the legs above the knees,
where a shovel handle wears hardest:
whose coat was of yellow macliinaw,
the sleeves worn thin below the ell
bows, where they had rubbed against
his legs in his work. AS the soldier
entered the man turned on him n
small, shrewd, weather beaten face
with one eye while he went on talking
to Gale.
ut amt nothin' to git excited over,
but it's wuth follerin'. If wasn't SO
cussed unlucky I'd know there was n
pay streak som'ere close by
Your luck is bound to change, Lee"
said the trader, who helped him to roll
up pack of provisions.
"Mebbe so. Who's the dressmaker?"
He jerked his bushy head toward Bur-
rell, who had stopped at the front
door with Polcon to examine some yell
low grains in folded paper.
"He's the boss soldier"
"Purty, amt hep
"If you amt good he'll get you"
said Gale, a trifie cynically, Mt which
Lee chuckled.
| The cne eyed man snorted derisive-
ly. at amt wuth considerin'"
'Why not?" insisted Gale guardedly
Maybe I've got a record You don't
| know"
"If You have, don't tell me nothin'
about it. hastily observed Lee Pm a
God fearin' citizen myself, leanin' ever
toward peace and quietudes, but what's
past is dead and gone, and I'd hate to
see lispin' child like that blue and
yeller party try to reezurecll it,"
Hes got the American army to
back him up, at least five of them"
give agin hundred. He aims to
overawe us. don't he?" snickered the
unregenerate Lee, but his wrinkles
changed and deepened as he leaned
across the counter conidentially.
"You say the word, John. and I'll
take some Teller along to help me, and
we'll transfer this military post"
"Pshaw! I'm just supposing," said
the trader
"All right. It's up to you. How
ever, If happen to leap down on this
pay streak before it sees me comm
I'm goin' to put my friends in first
and foremost and shut out these dress
makers complete. So long,
Having given Necia's message to Po-
leon, the lieutenant took up his bust
ness with the trader. 1t concerned the
purchase of certain supplies that had
been omitted from the military outfit.
and when this was concluded lie re-
ferred to the encounter of that morn
ing.
81 don't want you to think bungle
everything in that manner" he said,
"for l don't. l want to work with
you, and want to be friends with
you"
Pm willing" said Gale.
Nobody dislikes playing policeman
more than do. but it's part of my