Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-30
CHAPTER VII.
Il CAN HELP YOU"

A HALF hour spent with Hexford
IVA in and about the clubhouse
80 and SweeIwater was ready for
the road. Musing and NUT
tering, he plodded up the road, his
Insignificant figure an unpromising
break in the m%onotonous white Of the
wintry landscape. Under ordinary cir
cumstances Sweetwater would have
met not more than u half dozen carts
or sledges between the clubhouse gates
and the city streets. But today the
road was full of teams carrying all
sorts Of incongruous people, eager for
a sight of the spot made forever no.
torious by a mysterious crime. He
noted them all-the faces Of the men.
the gestures Of the women-but he did
not show any special interest till he
came to that portion Of the road where
the long line Of half buried fences
began to give way to a few scattered
houses. Then his spirit woke, and he
became quick, alert and persuasive.
He entered houses; he talked with the
people. Though evidently not a dis
sipated man, he stopped at several
saloons, taking his time with his glass
and encouraging the chatter Of all
who chose to meet his advances. He
was a natural talker and welcomed
every topic, but his eye sparkled at one
only. This he never introduced him.
self; he did not need to. Some one
was always ready with the great
fh0rnn onH 0nan II rryoc Gro rfo1 h0
did not let the conversation languish
till every one present had given his or
her quota Of hearsay or opinion to the
general fund. t~
1t seemed a great waste Of time. for
nobody had anything to say worth
the breath expended on it.
He had left the country road behind
and had entered upon the tumble Of
sheds, shops and streets which marked
the beginnings of the town in this di.
rection when his quick and expert.
enced eye fell on a woman standing
with uncovered head in an open door
way, peering up the street in anxious
expectation Of some one not yet in
sight. A second survey of the wo-
mans face convinced him that his or
binary loquaciousness would not serve
him here. There was a refinement in
her aspect quite out of keeping with
the locality in which she lived, and
he was hesitating how to proceed
when fortune favored him by driving
against his knees a small lad on an
i'll directed sled. bringing him almost
to the ground and upsetting the child,
who began to scream vociferously.
1t was the woman's child, for she
made instantly for the gate. which. for
some reason. she found difficulty in
opening. Sweetwater was at his best
with children. and. catching the little
fellow up, he soothed and fondled him
here. Ask any one on the hill in what
stable you a find a gray horse with
a large black spot on his left shoulder.
Now / must dish up my dinner"
Just n question, madam. Was the
hat what folks call a derby? Like
this one, madam he explained, draw
ing his own from behind his back.
Eyes, I think so. AS well as I can
remember it was like that. I'm afraid
/ didn't do it any good by my han
ding. I had to clutch it quick, and
I'm sure l bent the brim, to say moth
ing Of smearing it with flour marks.
I had been cutting out biscuits, and
my hands were white with -four" she
explained simply.
Sweetwater made one final plea. and
that was for her name.
ELIZA Simmons" was the straight
forward reply. and this ended the In
terview.
Sweetwater went on up the hill.
Toward the top he anne upon a livery
stable. Stopping In his good humofed
way, he entered into talk with a man
aoitering inside the great door. Be-