The Bottineau courant., 1911-06-23

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himself down in the grateful shade
and closed his aching eyes.
If he could only stop thinking of the
faithless Widow Clancy, who had so
ruthessly broken his heart. Harry
would have felt better. but the love
smitten young man was sore pressed
with recollection of the tender coquet-
ries of the pretty widow who had
loved. or pretended she did. and, worst
Of all, she was going to marry that fat
faced German butcher.
Ruyter was fat faced. but there was
a certain f]orid comeliness about his
looks as he logged into Satan's guch
to search for quiet and shade. He did
not see Harry Barry, nor did the cat
tleman see him until Ruyter had dis
mounted and was stumbling about
among the stones; then Harry aroused
and sat bolt upright among the rocks
and stared at his successful rival.
What do you want?" he snarled
fercely.
The German stopped short and
stared. "'rhat's no way to speak to a
chentleman." he admonished severely.
"That's why say it to you, Ruyter!
What are you doing here?"
81 came to cool off," said the Ger
man angrily. ''Dis Satan's culch. it's
bublic property
''Its not big enough to hold both Of
u.s." warned Harry, his hand on his
hiR pocket. =.
fDen you peter pc going some."
said Ruyter imperturbably.
II was here first" argued Harry.
"Den you should go first. You had
your share of der cooness-so!" Ruy-
ter sat heavily down on a rock near
Harry and morped his crimson face.
"Chiminy. but it's cruel hot" he
groaned.
"Why don't you go back to the
ranch, then. l tell you this place isn't
big enough for both of us. I'll fight
you for it, be suggested thirstly.
Il amt fighting man." murmured
the German heavily. Its too planned
hot to fight anyways"
not be affronted, the man who would
not fight and give Harry Barry an
opportunity to lay him low and thus
place the Widow Clancy once more
on the free list. 1t came over him all
at once then that Of course if the
Widow Clancy didn't want him why
should he want her? What was love
if two did not participate? Why kill
Ruyter? Was it worth while?
He scrambled to his feet and whis-
tied to his horse. Ruyter looked up
with dull interest. "Dat's right, MIR.
Barry First you come und first you
goes-so!'
Harry Barry stood in frozen silence
at what be saw behind Ruyter's back.
There. disturbed from it's rest among
the rocks, was a rattlesnake coiled to
spring. Another instant and Ruyter
would be beyond help-Harry's rival
would be put out of the way.
There was a fash Of fire, a report
that detonated among the scattered
rocks and went echoing down the can
yon. The German lifted both hands
above his head and squealed shrilly.
Dead" be mourned. "Ah, Gott!
I'm dead as der doornails!'
law. wake up! Harry permitted
himself the pleasure of kicking Ruy-
ter into activity. That's what's dead
as doornail." He pointed to the
twitching body Of the rattler. Its
head was blown to atoms, and the big
German stared until his face was as
white as paper.
"You did that for meY' be almost
whispered.
"It's nothing" said Harry sullenly
as he threw a leg over his horse.
There came shrill cry down the
canyon and clatter of hoofs as Mrs.
Clancy pounded recklessly among the
loose stones. She drew rein at sight
of the two men. and her eyes fingered
longest on Rryter's detected form.
''They said you and Ruyter were 60
ing to fight" she said to Harry accus-
ingly. her eyes blazing. her hair tinged
with the red Of the sun.
II haven't hurt your Dutchman."
said Harry rudely. Hes perfectly
safe.'
HE safed my life from dat, Mrs.
Clancy" said Ruyter agitatedly. point.
ing Il fat finger at the remains of the
rattler.
She shuddered and then recovered
her equanimity. Once more she was
the cool, level headed little woman that
Harry Barry had fallen in love with.
go on. Ruyter," she commanded the
German; you've got lot Of matters
to clean up. you know"
eyes, Mrs. Clancy" he said, gladly
leaving the place. When the echoes
Of the sorrels shambling hoofbeats
had died away Mrs. Clancy lifted her
eyes to Hary's handsome, sullen face
and spoke:
"Why did you call Ruyter my Dutch.
man?" she demanded crisply.
'They say-they say-you're going to
marry him." stammered Harry. feeling
hot and foolish.
81 don't know who they are, but they
are dead wrong. No. sir; keep your