Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-11-03
"oh. You Mean Hope? Do You Know Herr"

>~~~~~~S~S~.~~>~~-~~~s-~~~
boots. skipping about on one toot
amid much profanity. That the boot
conquered was evident when the man
crawied into the creaking bed. an
| nouncing defiantly, IF the landlord
wants them boots off. let him come
| an pull 'em off Across the hall
was rattle of chips. and the voices
| OF several men. occasionally raised In
anger. Now and then they would
| stamp on the floor as an order for
liquid refreshments from below From
somewhere beyond. the long-drawn
melancholy howl of distressed dog
greeted the rising moon.
Out from all this pandemonium
| Keith began to unconsciousiy detect
the sound of voices talking in the
room to his left In the iuli OF OBJ
structing sound few words reached
him through the slight open space be.
tween wall and ceiling
Hell. Bill. what's the use gotn' out
again when we haven't the price?'
'Oh. we might find Bart somewhere
and he'd stake u.s. ! guess | know
enough to make him loosen up Come
on; I'm goin'"
MOT me: this town is too near
Fort Hays: I'm liable to run into
some of the fellows"
chair scraped across the floor as
Bill arose to his feet; evidently from
the noise he had been drinking, but
Keith heard him lift the latch OF the
door.
All right, Willoughby," he said,
th;ckly, I'll try my luck. an ii see
Bart I'll tell him yer here. So long
He shuffled along the hall and
went, half sliding. down stairs, and
Keith distinguished the click OF glass
and bottle in the next room. He was
sitting up in bed now. wide awake.
obsessed with desire to invest1-
gate The reference overheard must
have been to Hawley. and ii so, this
| Willoughby. who was afraid OF meet
| ing soldiers from the fort. would be
the deserter Miss Hope was seeking
There could be no harr in making
sure. and he slipped into his clothes.
and as silently IS possible. Unmatched
his door There was noisy crowd at
the farther end of the hall. and the
sound OF some one laboriousiy mount
ing the stairs Not desiring to be
seen. Keith slipped swiftly toward the
| door of the other room. and tried the
latch 1t was uniastened. and ne
stepped quietly within. closing it be
| hind him.
A small lamp was on the washstand.
| a half-emptied bottle and two glasses
| beside it. while a pack of cards lay
scattered on the floor. Fully dressed.
| except for coat. the sole occupant
| lay on the bed. but started up at
| keiths unceremonious entrance.
reaching for his revolver. which had
slipped to the wrong side of his belt
What the hell!" he exclaimed.
startled and confused.
| through the dingy light-a boy OF
! eighteen. dark hair. dark eyes. his
face. already exhibiting signs of dis
| sipation. yet manly enough in chin
and n.outh-and smiled
Il could draw while you were think
i ing about it, he said easily. but
am not here on the fight. Are you
| Fred Willoughby?'
The lad stared at him. his uncer-
! tain hand now closed on the butt OF
his revolver. yet held inactive by the
| others quiet assurance.
What do you want to know for?
Curiosity largely: thought I'd like
to ask you a question or two
"You-youre not from the fort?'
Nothing to do with the army: this
IS private affair"
The boy was sullen from drink. his
eyes heavy.