The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-28

| guson. fei'
y reckon you're wantin lob
awful bad" sneered the young man
Ferguson smiled "Takin' your ta,l
you an STANFORD amt very eood
/ friends" he said.
Inc young man did not answer He
dismounted and led his animal ia =
small corral. and then returned to the
| porch. carrying his saddle. Ferguson
mad risen to his feet and was prepar-
ing TO descend from the porch, intend
ing TO resume his journey to the Two
diamond. But as he chung to thu
slender post near the step the young
woman came out. A sharp exclama.
lion from her halted him.
You're not going now!" she said
You have got to remain perfectly
quiet until morning."
me young man dropped his saddle
to the porch floor, grinning mildly at
| ferguson You don't need to be in a
hurry" he said. What said about
Stafford don't mean you" He looked
up at his sister. still grinning. Il
reckon he amt got nothin' to do
with it?" ~
i hope not" returned the young
woman, blushing.
We're goin' to eat pretty soon"
said the young man. 81 reckon that
RATHER didn't take your appetizer
Supper is ready now" announced
the young woman
| ferguson followed the young man
inside. after washing from the tin
basin that stood on bench Just out.
side the door. The three took places
| at the rough table, and Ferguson was
helped to a frugal, though wholesome
supper. The dusk began to fall while
they were yet at the table. and by the
time they had finished the young
woman had lighted the kerosene lamp.
Ferguson then followed the young
man out to the porch for smoke.
They had scarcely become seated
when there was clatter of hoofs and
pony and rider came out OF the
shadow of the cottonwood, hating
| just beside the porch.
The newcomer was a man Of forty.
| The light of the kerosene lamp
| cleaned fairly In his face as he sat
Ill the saddle, showing pair of cold,
steady eyes. and thin, straight lips
that were wreathed In smile.
| Thought I'd ride over an keep you
| company for little while, before / go
down the crick to where the outfits
| worlsin'," he said. And now his eyes
swept Ferguson's lank figure with a
searching glance. But l didn't know
you was havin' company" he added
The second glance that he threw
toward Ferguson was not friendly.
Ferguson's lips curled slightly under
1t. Each man had been measured by
the other, and neither had found in
the other anything to admire.
Fergusons thoughts went rapidly
back to Dry Bottom He saw man
In the center Of the street, putting five
bullets through can that he had
thrown into the air. He saw again
the mans face as he had completed
his xhibition-insolent, filled with
sneering triumph He heard this
mans voice as he himself had offered
to eclipse his feat:
You runnin' sheep. stranger"
The voice and face of the man who
stood before him now was the voice
and face of the man who had pre-
coded him in the shooting match in
Dry Bottom.
His thoughts were interrupted by
hearing the voice of his host, explain
ing his presence
This here man was bit by RATHER
this afternoon" he was saying. Hes
layin' up here for tonight. Says he's
reckonin' on gettin' a job over at the
Two Diamond"
The man on the horse sneered.
He'll" he said; "bit by rattler!"
He laughed insolently, pulling his
pony's head around. II reckon I'll
be goin'," he said You'll nurse him
SOS he won't die?' He had struck the
pony's tanks with the spurs and was
gone into the shadows before either
man on the porch could move
There was short silence, while the
two men could still hear the beat of
his ponys hoofs. Then Ferguson
turned and spoke to the young man
You know him?"
The young man smiled coldly
Yep" he said: hes range boss for
the Two Diamond"
The next day Ferguson rode over
to the Two Diamond ranch house.
The ankle was nearly back to normal,
and he was able to draw the boot on,
though it panied frightfully. The
girl had bandaged the ankle before
he left. and had followed him to the
door when he was ready to depart.
Her brother had gone away an hour
before.
I'm thankin' you, ma'am," said Fer
guson, as he stood for a moment at
the door ~ reckon I'd had bad
time il it hadn't been for you
:" 1t was nothing" returned the girl.
Ferguson hesitated. "Tll be ridin'
over here again some day, If you don't
mind" he said
Her face Redeemed a trife. "I'm
sure brother would like to have you,"
she replied.
Ferguson smiled guilelessly. "I
don't remember that said was COM
in over to see your brother" he said.
But 1t would have to be him." she
returned looking straight at him.
You couldn't come to see me unless
asked you"
Ferguson looked gravely at her. II
reckon you asked that Two Diamond
range boss?"
She frowned. 81 did not!" she de-
clared hotly; hes my brothers
friend!"
To her surprise Ferguson grinned
broadly. 81 reckon that guy is wastin'
bic tin,n Ia enid