Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-05-19

do. Now. about this time the Lord
noticed that Sandy was going to make
q mighty big mistake, SO took hand.
Daddy Sands" little voice said,
why don't you take me in your
arms? I do so want your arms!"
Sandy, naturally. couldn't kill a man
and hold Mods at the same time, and
when he grabbed up the boy. the
Lord. having interrupted at the right
minute. kind Of took him out of his
madness. and led him into sanity.
The red things quit floating around
In front of his eyes. His brain, so
weary and so tired for all the sleep
less nights since Mods had gone, grew
clear again, and he saw what a big
mistake he was about to make.
Sandy finally put Mods down on the
ground. When he did so, he saw
three black-and- blue welts on the bare
skin, where the unbuttoned blouse
was open. Well-he would have a
little satisfaction for that, anyway.
He made one quick jump to where
the man stood, his arm shot out with
terrific force, and Mods father fairly
flew up into the air.
Before he could realize what had
happened. Sandy was on him, one
hand on his throat and the other bat
tering his face.
81 came here to kill you" he rasped
between his teeth. You've been
beating Mods. Take this as a prom
Use that I'm coming here now every
day, and If ever find another mark
on him, by God. I'll tear your heart
out of your body. as sure as my
names Smith"
1t seemed there wouldn't be any
necessity for a return trip. the way
Sandy's arm was working. His blood
was boiling again, and the desire to
kill SO strong that, unless the Lord
had interfered again, 1t would have
ended differently. II must have been
the Lord who put it into Mods IA.
theirs mouth to say: Let me go!
Let me go! II you want the kid so
bad, why don't you buy him?"
sandy's fingers released their hold.
Buy Mods? Buy Mods? He had
never thought of that before. It
reemed SO incomprehensible that any
body would offer to sell anything as
dear as Mods; that of all the ways
he had contemplated in these last
weary days. this had been the one
way overlooked.
Slowly he climbed to his feet, and
Mods father, shrinking and battered
and cowed. but hopeful for his craven.
worthless life, also arose. Cupidity
was in the mans every look. He was
reaching the very end for which he
anne. and for which-alone-he had
claimed the boy. This was his
chance.
Give me your claim" he said.
and I'll deed you all my right. now
and forever-to him."
TITS done!" said Sandy, without n
moments hesitation. His claim, the
richest in all this land, the thing
that could produce the gold which
would buy a kings ransom. could go
as a ransom for this boy. Gold?
What was gold7 Nothing! A paltry
metal, which. though all of 1t in the
world we're within his reach. couldn't
nay for one clasp of those little arms
that again Rugged him around his
Feet, and were soon after transferred
to his sun-tanned throat
They went into the cabin, where
Sandy, on a sheet of paper, wrote:
Know all men by these here docu.
one William Martin does
hereby sell to one Smith. known to
most folks as Sandy Smith, one white
boy named Nodsawana. And this
here thing calling himself a man
aforesaid. and whereas known as Mar
tin-takes as full pay number four
Hlaim on Canada gulch, and it's
agreed by one of the aforesaid named
Sandy-that he will kill this man
Martin II he ever speaks to or claims
this aforesaid boy Nodsawanna again.
So help me God.
"P. S.-This Is also a quit-claim deed
to the aforesaid boy. and Just the
same as a bill of sale for a pony or
else lawyer might write
transferring the boy to Sandy Smith"
They signed It in several places,
Sandy wanting to make dead sure.
and Martin, who was mighty pleased
at the deal. being perfectly willing.
There had been time when 9 pay.
ing claim. big cabin. heap Of fur.
niture. and a field of flowers. would
Rave seemed Just about all in lifq
that Sandy wanted. But the boys on
the gulch know. and will tell you that
all these things were passed up like
a pawn and without thought, when
on the following day Sandy and his
family rode away.
They got up to that point you can
see on the very brow of the hill
where the trail dips off toward the |
sunrise, the morning after. In the
lead was Sandy Smith. holding Mods
on the pommel of his saddle. Next
came two pack-ponies with an outfit
another pony with old Rebecky. and
then Pete. on whose back was packed
a big basket. in which a three-legged
dog could ride.
Right up on that point they
stopped and looked back. most of us
hope and believe without regret. on
the cabin, and the claim, and tho
flowers. Somehow IL was like the