Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-09

too fine and shiny, and cost a sight o
money TO an old whisky runner like
me. wouldn't get that leg out in the
rain and mud 70 a pretty! So we hung
it up In the parlor."
But Uncle Mich"
Finest leg, l reckon. in this yere hull
government! And yere's another man
who knows Louisany where the birds
where Aurelie done come FRONT"
There was a scurry. Ladeau was gu
and beaming on Curran. terrierwise.
or Mich"-he cried-"we struck up.
talkin' dem OF days! And I come offer
my legal knowledge to dis case, Wiley"
Legal knowledge?" Curran had put
the unpieasing fact of Ladeau away
of money. Now he was reminded.
II study dat correspondence school
Of Pittsburgh when 1 vas In Kansas.
All. dat law-it hurt my healt'. So I
carry bats for RUDE. But dat law, I
know heem. l advise m'sieu in dis
trouble"
THE Lord will direct me-" Johns
deep voice had the majesty with which
martyrs walk to the stake. The iron
was In his soul. Curran felt the vanity
of argument. But Ladeau shifted Of
some compromise he was about to
make. He went on with a great ha-
rangue Of terms and settlements, while
the Dane sat in his Cromwellian faith
In the right and grimly listened. On
the table was a shotgun, and hanging
on the wall. a repeating rifle. Outside
his lean hounds watched the road with
instant warning Of approach.
But here's your family. John? What
can you hope. if o get into trouble,
for them"
God will answer. So told the sher-
lift. Mr.. Curran. when he came to see
me. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a
TOOTH. So l told him, n he went
away. The holiness brethren have
prayed with me, Mr.. Curran, and they
tell me God will see my cause just"
Wiley reasoned charitably that this
was to be expected Of a university thai
had no windows open to the sunny
side. John. I'd think twice"
Ladeau beamed i~ngratiatingly. IT
nave fought for m'sieu. My legal
knowledge. Tree t'ousand dollars we
Gemand stand by m'sieu to get hees
fight" we
Curran turned sharply on him. Now
you keep still in this, Ladeau! Graft
ing on John and Uncle Mich, now. are
you?" "AS
The cajun shrugged. 81 eat. I sleep.
Up IN dat loft with Uncle Mich" he
II wait 10 mam'selle who run off TO-
de stage!"
He sighed again, d~eprecating such
1ooilsh sentiment. But Curran looked
past MIN. It was Aurelie's room. Mrs.
mlndstrom was by his side at he door.
NO MOI a thlng changed, sir-just wait
ing Tor her." She glanced at John.
My a think he's sorry. Aurelie
vas always a good girl-kind as could
De. Her toi1-Weary eyes lightened.
nneetlng Curran's own. The bows
creWded nearer. Old Michigan lifted
ms shaggy head. Albert, the pitiful
pedler agent, raised his glance from
the catalogs he was everIastingly az
Even John listened imperturbably.
word of Aurelie! Aurelie off In the
world doing some sort Of marvelr Al-
relic, their defiant protector, the red
coated champion of old days when she
iough. the town boys for her ragged
OF them forget.
Done comm home!'' muttered Mich
1gan-'some day!"
And she won't be stuck UP either,"
SAID Peter. She wrote Knute she was
goln, huntin' with us up Eagle Point
When Nellie's pups grew big!"
They looked in the tiny room. spot-
less. the bed hung in pink and white
emit, contrasting with the squalor
OF the kitchen room without. Her love
or cleaness, of pretty things; her buoy-
ant hopefulness and nicely spoke in
svely me. On the dresser was her
latest photograph in a frame made Of a
walnut tree bur which the bows had
ound n the slough and which Michi-
gan mad dressed from its r%oughness
IN a pitcher was a spray of late cosmos
Maich MRS. L1ndstrom had saved from
tne iast 1rost. Some way, for Aurelie
they would shyly bring whatever of
sentiment their hard lives held. I'M
seen, some grace Of love she had LETT
Tor them still lowered. Thew wore
Wa1ting-the little white room held he
air of a shrine.
And Curran, who knew of the clothes
n food m~ysteriously carried into this
house. for which Albert's piteous earn.
1ngs n Mich's Illicit trade had never
suf1ced, since John was crippled feIt
the throb of their love. It had done
more than give food, 1t had held them
up with hope, with laughter and with
JOY. In spite Of all; n even John no
ne would not speak Of her.
Peter pulled open the drawer to her
dresser. Heres her little rosary, Mr..
Curran. We found it under he clap
boards, when the dogs chewed through
a ered t r faeeit; Tse boys rs tsaes,d low {.
Sohy Il dW, uo LfrOWe0 1t
there the night he made her run off
ne said it was Catholic! And we hid it
20 wait till she comes home again. Mr..
Curran." ~
Wiley took the bronzed chain and
silver cross. A crude and simple piece
OF work such as a child might wear.
But it was the only reminder of her
vagabond life down river. Michigan
touched it in C%urran's hands.
CONTINUED next weekly