The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-04-05

NFf AN al III &C vi llltlIl lOSl, 50 lie
throwed out the child he loved the
best, and they got TO town safely; but
ne went raving crazy. Well. | thought
OF him. and | said if baby died thered
be the more chance for the others"
Look here, Wesley" his companion
interrupted, quit it, You're getting
Hght-headed. Get rid of such fool
thoughts as those or you'll be going
on TO the insane asylum: and mighty
l!f''e use your family will have OF you
.aere,"
Orr gave him no answer. Robbins
watched his impassive face and
frOwned.
He's not bad-hearted, but he's des-
perate. You can't appeal TO a Gesper-
ate man he thought, and the other
boys are the same way Therell be
wild work there tonight, unless that
young fool has the papers with him
and will give them up. You're a fool,
George Robbins, to mix yourself up in
it on the chance of getting a few dol
lars from a Kansas City paper for a
telegram"
Silently the two men looked at the
nearing lights, while the wagon Creak-
ed and swayed and ratified over the
road
We got 10 save the lantern 10 go
Rome by" Orr remarked at last. else
I'd light up; they amt got any more
. lights in tho z n
can see"
There were enough lights in the
windows to reveal the wide un,iGi-
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
geranfums. In general the skyline
was low and the roofs the simplest
peaks; but ii was broken in a few
places by three and four storied brick
buildings of the forid pomp on which
a raw western town loves to lavish
It's 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 well, 1
! 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 innkeeper sat behind his counter,
affecting to busy himself with a blot
ted ledger. Originally he had been a
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.
Where is he?" said Orr, In the
same undertone to a large man In a
buffalo coat. The large man was the
sheriff Of the county. He ierked 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"
We'll, If there is, l 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
ly a 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.
1T would be no earthly use for me
70 chip liz and try to soften them" he
thought. They're crazy with defeat
and misery and the fool stuff cam
paign orators have crammet 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
was young, slight of figure, and he
limped a little. Nevertheless. there