Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-02-15

odd dollars from the bill dra wer,. stood
up and counted them with great DELHI
Grafton
Zone. two. three. four"
He smiled winningly at Pete. -Four
hundred dollars, Mr. Sheriff. Now will
you be good enough to hand over that
note and the change and then put
yourself and that pickle you're wear.
ing In your face on the other side Of
the door?"
II amt got the note with me, Mr..
Duncan"
"rhen perhaps you won't mind going
to the bank for it?'
Half suffocated. Pete assented. Jaw
right. I'll go and git it. Kin l have the
money!
Certainly" Duncan extended the
bills. then on second thought withheld
them. II presume you're regular
sheriff." be inquired. &c.,
Very proudly Pete turned back the
lapel Of his coat and distended the
chest on which shone his nickel plated
badge Of Office Duncan examined it
with grave admiration.
Its beautiful" he said. with a
sigh. Here"
Gingerly Pete grasped the. bills.
thumbed them over to make sure they
were real and boted as for his life,
his coattails level on the breeze. There
doated back to Duncan and old Sam
his valedictory. "Waal, III be dod.
gastedr'
With a Short quiet laugh Duncan
made as though to go out to the back
yard. where the new stock was being
delivered.
I'm going" he said hurriedly. to
find me Ratchet and knock the stuff
Ing out of some Of those packing
cases. Want to get all that truck in
doors before nightfall. you know"
But old Sam wasn't to be put off by
any such obvious subterfuge as that
He put himself in front of Duncan.
NAT. my boy" he said. tremulous.
Il can't let this 60 through. can't
allow you
"Sto. uO"' A1uuCdu tOiU ulm u0-
concernedly. yet kindly. don't say
anything more. It's over and done
WITH
But you mustn't I'll turn over the
store to you if
20 14ord" Duncan's dismay was as
genuine as his desire to escape Ora.
MANS gratitude. "No-don't! Please
don't do thatv'
But l must do something, my boy
can't accept so great a kindness un-
less" said Ora ham, with timil fash
OF hope. you'll consider partner
ship
THAT'S it!'' cried Duncan, glad of
any way out Of the situation. '.That's
the way to do it-a partnership. No;
please don't say any more about it Just
now. We can settle details later,
We've got to get busy. Tell you what
l wish you'd do while I'm bursting
open those boxes If you don't mind
going down to the station to make sure
that everything's'- -.5r
= Yes. I'll go; III 60 at once Sam
CROPPED for Duncan's hand. caught and
held it between both his own. Tiff
fate or something hadn't brought you
here today don't know what would
have happened to Betty and me-"
'Never mind Duncan tried to
soothe him. Just don't you think
about it."
Graham shook his head, still Devil
dered. Perhaps" be stumbled on.
ito gentleman Of your wealth $500
isn't much
NO" said Duncan gravely without
the flicker Of an eyelash, nothing" He
remembered well the few dollars that
now represented all his worldly goods.
Then he smiled cheerfully. There,
that's all right
ITO me- It's meant everything. IL
only hope I'll be able to repay you
some day. God bless you. my boy!
God bless your
He managed to jam his hat awry on
his white old head and find his way
out. his hands fumbling with one an
other. his lips moving fnaudibly. per-
haps IN prayer of thanksgiving.
Il was perhaps within the next thir-
t. minutes that Betty (who had been
left in charge Of tie store while Dun