Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-10-18
the street, and with q "Thauk God!"
she hurried across to him,

the street, and with a "Thauk God!"
she hurried across to him.
After that day the little teacher
had no cause to complain of Jim's
attention to her. He as studiously
avoided meeting her now as he did
before she surprised him asleep I'M
der the trees. But he did not re-
turn to his friends at the Highspire.
He spent his time riding In the hill
country.
The evening before he was to leave
Tytown to go back to the ranch he
stood outside the schoolhouse. which
was used as a place OF worship.
Suddenly Jims attention was ar
rested by a whispering just under
the window nearest the door.
Dat Manly. he amt got no busi-
! ness having his meeting In the road
way outside my place. He's most
ruined me-" muttered the voice Of
Pedro Havez. the half Mexican. half
Indian, keeper Of the gambling hell
on the edge Of Tytown. He got ter
CO." he added fercely.
another of the same tribe.
THE boys are near by. Wen soon
settle dat. He'll not like de feel Of
dis knife He's nothin' but a voice.
| He has no fight"
Jim quietly placed himself in tho
shadows close BY the door and wait
ed 1t seemed to him an eternity be-
CT he.
congregation dispersed.
The little teacher. holding to the
landlady's arm, came out brushing al
most against her unseen watcher.
Manly sat still for some time, his
head on his arm, but finally he put
out the lights and came slowly to the
door. He was turning to place the
key In the lock when he felt himself
jerked to one side just as something
whizzed by his ear Corson, with
amazing swiftness, grabbed him Just
In time, and at the same moment
landed the sandbagger one with his
left fist. The Mexican grunted once
and dropped, then Pedro Havez
whistied. 1t seemed to Jim that for
|
vomited Mexicans. But he was elated.
He was man whose spirits rose at
the first hint of action. His fists
shot out with the regularity of clock
work He forgot his loneliness, his
heart hunger, even his love. And
Preacher Manly, too. was not behind
in the fight His wiry agility rendered
him almost unreachable
Jim was so joyously occupied that
he was actually deaf to the frightened
cries Of his beloved one. who, at
tracted by the sounds OF the fray, had
returned to investigate. She and the
landlady stood trembling in the shad-
ows of the trees the few minutes the
fight lasted.
Finally the Mexicans. badly bat
tered, slipped this way and that
through the gloom until all had dis
persed. Corson and the preacher
bound those that were left with good
stout ropes and left them in the
schoolhouse.
Il hope l shall soon be able to do
something for you, If only to show
| you liz" 81 cav LILY pIoEaSu1c WOuAu 70
In serving you." said Manly, wringing
Corsons hand.
Thanks. but l leave Tytown at
daylight" Jim replied. somewhat
sadly.
At dawn the next morning Jim
came out of the boarding house. after
bidding the landlady good-by, to
mount his horse. He was going back
to the ranch to work. to forget. II pos
sible.
Before he could reach his steed
a small figure with wistful brown
eyes and tear-stained face darted out
to him.
Aren't you going to say good-by to
me. too?" she whispered.
"Good-by, dear little teacher Be
happy"
| "Oh, but l don't want you to say
goodby," she sobbed.
| He looked at her stupidly-the va
carries Of womankind would never be
easily understood by Jim-but slowly
he became aware Of the meaning OF
her changed expression. and the mis-
'ery left his face and 1t was filled with
glory wonderful to behold.
After ALL Jm,"I cried Manly from
the doorway, there is something !
can do for you"