Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-04-09

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was this way. II Re jumped cut him
self the children were so little they
couldn't drive. and they'd be tipped
up, and all three Of them lost. so he
/ throwed out the child he loved the
best. and they got 70 town safely; but
( be went raying crazy. Well. thought
Of him. and said. II baby died there'd
be the more chance for the others"
Look here. Wesley" his companion
/ interrupted. quit IT, You're getting
light-headed. Get rid OF such fool
thoughts as those Or you'll be going
I on to the insane asylum; and mighty
little use your family win have of you
there,"
Orr gave him no answer. Robbins
watched his impassive face and
/ frowned.
He's no. bad-hearted, but he's des-
/ perate You cant appeal to desper-
| ate man." he thought. and the other
boys are the same way. Theren be
wild work there tcnight. unless that
young fool has the papers with him
and will give them up You're fool,
George Robbins, TO mix yourself up In
II on the chance OF getting few dol
lars from Kansas City paper for a
tf'egram."
Silently the two men looked at the
nearing lights, while the wagon creak-
ed and swayed and ratified over the
road
We got to save the lantern to go
home by" Orr remarked at last. ~eIse
I'd light up; they amt got any more
I lights In the streets. But l guess we
can see"
There were enough lights In the
windows TO reveal the wide untldi-
ness Of the street, the black. boarded
windows OF the empty shops. the gaps
In the sidewalk, the haggard gardens,
whore 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 storied brick
buildings Of the ford pomp on which
a raw western town loves to lavish
its money. Now they doomed. dark
and silent, landmarks Of vanished am
bition. Robbins, vino was a man OF
parts and education, with faneiful
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 WELL 1
guess" said Robbins
They better turn out!" said Orr.
No word was spoken by either whils
they unhitehed 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 innkeeper at behind his counter,
affecting to busy himself with blot
ted ledger Originally he had been a
stout man, but he had lost flesh of late
years He was wrinkled and fiabby,
and the furtiye 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
glanees rather than words: what
words were spoken were uttered in
low tones
Where is hep said Orr, In the
same undertone to large man in
buffalo coat The large man was the
sheriff OF the county He jerked his
thumb over his shoulder In the direc-
tion OF the dining-room.
What's he like?"
Little Teller with game leg"
Orr frowned Robbins felt uncom.
Portable. A gaunt man on the out
skirts OF the circle added: He's
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. II there is. don't know It,"
said the sheriff.
You never will know anything
about It. either" a gray-haired man
added.
That's right. Kinney" two or
three spoke at once. But immediate
~ silence fell on them. Robbins,
who felt himself an outsider. could
see that the others drew closer to-
gether. Once or twice he caught sin
lister murmurs. He began to wish
that he had not come.
1t would be no earthly use for me
TO chip in and try 10 soften them" he
thought They're crazy with defeat
and misery and the fool stuff cam
paign orators have crammef down
their throats
Just then the dining-room door
| opened. and Robbins was the only one
Of the group to turn his head. The
other men gazed at the fire, and the
+ heavy silence grew heavier.
The man who came out OF the room