Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-11-05

OAs ~NA pe''>NA SS ~ ~
that he had caused her us much pain
as he had before caused her pleas
ure.
A few days later Tucker IA stop
ped by Madge. He looked at her with
a puzzled expression. but this time
she was not frightened away. She had
something to say, and she said it.
THAT galoot is laying for you"
What galoot!"
"The one V slapped in the jaw"
"Oh. | remember. You're the girl he
struck. aren't you?"
Yes"
She looked at him earnestly, but
said nothing. She wished she knew
how to express her gratitude, but she
did not. However. Tucker understood
her expression and said:
"Don't fail to let me know II he dOeS
it again. Next time III give him some
thing to make him remember that a
woma is to be respected"
Madgc, who could talk only by her
expression, showed plainly that her
warming was Il matter Of Importance.
and she was troubled that her cham
pion showed no disposition to heed 1t.
She tried to say something. but wheth-
er it was through IN embarrassment
that was new to her or her conscious
ness Of the uncouth manner of express
ing herself she gave it up and went
on her way. Tucker returned to what
he had been thinking about before the
interruption. and the incident passed
out of his mind.
But what Madge had to say to Tuck
er was Of too much moment to be
omitted simply because she did not
know how to talk to q gentleman. One
day when he was sitting in the little
cabin which served for an office and a
lodging she appeared at the door.
"Y' didn't pay no %'tention to what l
tole " t'other day. Eff " don't you'll
git shot in the back. Don't go down
the road to the Jackpot mine without
lookin' about YOU"
Who's to do the shooting?"
John"
"The fellow 1 slapped for striking
you?"
Eyes"
"Now, look here, my girl. Don't you
go about worrying for fear that miser-
able coward is going to bother me. He
hasn't the pluck of a mouse"
ut don't require no pluck to shoot Il
man in the back"
"Well, since you seem to think the
matter is serious l promise you to be
on my guard
But the promise was forgotten as
500 as made. a week passed and
nothing happened. Tucker was getting
near the end of his professional work
and expected to leave the camp in a
few days. One a~fternoon-it was the
day before his appointed leaving-he
started for the Jackpot mine, which
was his field of labor, for some arti-
cles he had left there and which he
wished to take away with him. AS
he walked along his mind, now freed
from his duties, fell upon Madge and
her warning.
IF a man is going to consider" he
unused. 'the dangers that threaten him
in this world he'll never have time for
anything else. Only timid persons are
troubled by the threats Of towards.
If that fellow had had any disposition
to injure me he would have shown it
when I cuffed him."
He was approaching u turn in the
road, and ut the moment he heard the
crack Of some weapon very near and
directly ahead of him. He ran for
ward to see what it meant, but before
he reached the turn there came another
crack. He rounded some trees and
saw a woman lying in the road with a
rifle beside her. STOPPING over her, he
saw that she was Madge. Looking
about for the cause of her being there.
he caught a glimpse of John running
like a deer through the wood.
For a moment he hesitated between
| the man and the girl; but, remember
ing that the former would keep and
the latter needed his attention, he rails
ed her. She was drawing the last
breaths of life. but she knew him.
1IclC vas q lOSA ~ uCl ldNC VI VIZ
who was dying in place of the man
who would have died had she not &C
cepted the sacrifice.
Tucker held her while her life ebbeQ
and when it was over carried her in
among the trees and laid her down till
he could go for assistance.
Madge was removed to the camp
All importuned Tucker as to who had
killed her. Tucker made no reply
He was satisfied that John had not
seen him and looked for the murderer
to remain about the camp, expecting
that his deed would be q mystery
Tucker did not intend that a court OF
even Judge Lynch should try John
Both were liable to err. He knew the
facts and would not err. This girl
had warned him and, finding that he
would not heed the warning, had con.
stituted herself his defender. Johr
had been on the road to kill him
Madge had waylaid the would be muir
derer, shots had been exchanged, and
n 49, H.