The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-05-02

out ono Of tho children; because Il
was this way: Il he Jumped out him.
self the children were 70 little they
couldn't drive, and they'd 10 tipped
up. and all three Of them lost, 80 he
throwed out the child he loved tho
best, and they got to town safely; but
he went raving crazy. Well. Thought
of him, and I said; II bshy died,tAere'd
be the more chance for the others"
Look here. Wesley" his companion
interrupted. quit 1t! You're getting
light-headed. Get rid Of such fool
thoughts as those or you'll be going
of to the insane asylum: and mighty
little use your family will have of you
there!" W. -
Orr gave him no answer. Robbins
watched his impessive face and
frowned. = = 1'i
Hes not bad!hearted, but he's des-
perate. You can appeal to a desper-
ate man." he thought, and the aother
boys are the same way. There'll be
wild work there ,tontsht,y pnless that
young fool has the papers with him
and will giv4 them ups You're a. fool,
George Robbins, to mix yourself up in
1t on the schance Of getting a few dol
lars from &, Kansas City paper for a
telegram" J S.~.s.y,i ~
Silently the two men looked at the
nearing lights, while the wagon creak-
ed and swayed and ratified over tho
road. as.5' :.
I'VE got to save the lantern to 20
home BY" Orr remarked. at last, "else
I'd light up they amt got any. more
lights in the streets. But l guess We
can see."
There were enough lights in the
windows to reveal the wide untidi-
ness of the street, the black. boarded
windows Of the empty shops, the gaps
in the sidewalk. the haggard gardens,
where savage winds had blown the
heart out of deserted rose-trees and
geraniums. In general the skyline
was low and the roofs the simplest
peaks; but it was broken in a few
places by three and four stored brick
buildings of the ford pomp on which
raw western town loves to lavish
its money. Now they doomed, dark
and silent, landmarks of vanished am
bition. Robbins, who was a man of
parts and education, with a fanciful
turn, felt the air of defeat and desola-
like miasma.
The upper story of the hotel was
dark, and the greater part of the
lower story; but the kitchen was
bright, and yellow light leaked through
every chink and crack in the Office
blinds.
Boys have turned out we'll, l
guess" said Robbins.
''They better turn OUT" said Orr.
No word was spoken by either while
they unhitched their horses, led them
within the sheds, and tied them
among the sorry company already
housed. Robbins noted that after Orr
had laid the blanket which had served
them for robe on one thin back, he
flung his own quilt over the other.
Then they stumbled (for they were
unwieldly with cold) through the yard
to the hotel
The Office was full of men, gathered
about the stove, talking to each other.
The 1nnkeeper sat behind his counter,
affecting to busy himself with a blot
ted ledger. Originally he had been
stout man, but he had lost flesh Of late
years. He was wrinkled and fabby,
and the furtive eyeshots that he cast
toward the stove were anxious beyond
his concealing. Any one, however,
could perceive that matters Of heavy
Import were being discussed. The
miserably clad men about the stove
all looked sullen. There was none of
the easy-going badinage so habitual
with westerners. They. exchanged
glances rather than words; what
words were spoken were uttered in
low tones. x
Where Is he?" said Orr, in tho
same undertone to large man. in 4
buffalo coat. The large man was the
sherif Of the county. He jerked his
thumb over his shoulder in the direc-
ton of the dining-room
What's he like?"
Little Teller with a game leg."
Orr frowned. Robbins felt uncom.
Portable. A gaunt man on the out
skirts Of the circle added: Hes
powerful slick, though; you can bet
your life. That girl Susy is all won
over already; and she's suspecting
something, sure's shooting. + guess
she's warned him there's something
In the air.
well. If there is, don't know it."
said the sheriff.
You never will know anything
about it. either" gray-haired man
added.
That's right. Kinney" two or
three spoke at once. But Immediate
ly silence fell on them. Robbins,
who felt himself an outsider, could
see that the others drew closer to-
gether. Once or twice he caught sim
lister murmurs. He began to wish
that he had not come.
II would be no earthly use for me
to chip in and try to soften them," he
thought. They're crazy with defeat
and misery and the fool stun cam
paign orators have cramme1 down
their throats."
Just then the dining-room door
opened, and Robbins was the only one
OF tho group to turn his head. The
other men gazed at the fire, and tho
heavy silence grew heavier.