The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-09-18
The Life of a Willful Boy
Who Set Upon Himself the
Responsibility Of Avenging
His Fathers Murder : :

"She said" the other rushed IN, ''ter
ask yer eff yer recollected what she was
like fore Anderson was kilt-she says
that's Their way she is now, an not
Their dead devil she's been all these
years since"
David shook his head. II don't rec
ollect how she was" he returned indif-
ferently. II don't seem ter recollect
nothin' before that--but. l tell you,
George, theirs one thing do r%ecollect,
an that's ther promise made ter my
father-an' jest now I'm ertendin' ter
that-an' nothin' else," and the mans
mouth set itself into Il straight inflex-
ible line.
"Then. Dave" said Hedrick solemn
ly, Il hate ter do hit, but l swear eff
yer go on after Kip Ryerson I'm ergo
in down ter Linden jest as straight as
EVER l know how. an notify Their sher-
if. l hate ter do hit, Dave. l certain
ly do, but l will jest as sure as I'm
er Twin man, l WILL"
Yer kin notify ther whole world fer
all l keer," broke out Dave furiously.
Yer won't none err yer ketch me-not
till I've done what l intend doin'."
Dave" said Hedrick gently, chang
ing his tone, 81 keer err whole heap fer
you, an l Jest hate ter see you ruinin'
yerself body an soul this erway jest
fer er ole promise, an l don't blieve
fer one minute eff Anderson he'd er he'd
time ter think twict that he'd ever err
laid hit on yer-he want that kind Of
er teller. Think what yer err dom,
Dave. Think, think, boy" he pleaded.
der yer reckon fer err second that yer
er dom what's right? That yer got
any kind of er right ter ruin yer own
soul, an send ernother inter Their pres
ence of God, fore He's sent fer him?'
"An' how der yer know God didn't
send me fer him%" David demanded.
"GOd'll send fer him when He's
ready. but he'll not send by you, an
yer know hit" the storekeeper return
ed, 'and' yer know hit" he repeated.
1--WE watched yer scuftle erlong ever
since Anderson was kilt an l know
ther stuff an Their spunk that's in yer.
Oh, my boy, don't go an ruin yourself
now," he implored, 'jest as yer gettin'
somewheres."
"Where's Dave-where's Dave Creep
\ girl With drawn face and sobbing
breath-a drenched and haggard wrath
Of the stOrm-was demanding frantic
ally at the kitchen door Of Whitcomb's
. lumber camp.
.. The cook-the first to be up in the
camp, and scarcely yet awake-looked
at her curiously and half startled
! Lord, how'm l ter know" he said,
u "He come here last night, but he went
, erway ergin almost Directly"
"He went erway ergin:" the girl re-
l heated, pressing her hand against hel
heaving breast.
!. The man nodded. Eyes, jest es thel
storm broke" he said.
- .Jest es ther storm broke" the cir
repeated in a dazed voice, and, turning
= stumbled away out of the yard.
~
"David Cree" the s%torekeeper Wen
70 on sternly, laying closer hands upol
ID him. "Look ut me an tell me We
% b'lieve yer dom what's right. Iool
,s ut me, boy" he pleaded. Look at m,
like yer you'd have done eff l was we
10 father, an tell me yer blieve in ye
10 soul yer dom right"
or David drew himself away with a be
~ willered look and put his hand to hi
10 forehead.
N "Gcorgc,' he said, II don't knOv
IS what's right an what's wrong n
more. Hits Gods truth l don't. II
a+ tore first one way an ther, t'Other, an
or which is right l jest don't know.
h. only know one thing fer certain. al
~ that is that l give my promise ter SCI
Int tie with that snake, an hit seems lk
an I've got ter do hit, whether hits God
work or Their devil's-an' afterwar
90 they kin settle betwixt 'em which on
ed l belong ter.
nd Yer er good little Teller. George" Il
se went on. laying his hand on the other
MS shoulder. IAN I'm much erbliged tt
ISIS yer. But l promised-I promised. Al
it'll | promised hit harder than ! ever Iii
to anything in all my life. An l can
FOR fergit hit. George, l can't"
'Then God have mercy on We
Dave" Hedrick said simply.
ief And after Il short instant Davi
a stepped by him and started resolutel
along the road to the river.
he In the water soaked woods of IL
early dawn of that May morning He,
nd rick stood still in the road. KNOWN
his defeat and watching David's stol
figure 80 steadily on its way.
nd The heavy driZZlc of rain continue
p and added to it in high sudden gust
rot the wind flung down the ~collcctt
:" moisture from ,'lc green leaves, thong
in truth they We're hardly as Yet b
Mt enough to hold Il full drop of rain.
;he In the depressing cold light Iicdrick
TO face looked old and worn. and unuS;l;
ht- ly grave. and as he wltched David
took in his breath with Il sharp clio
Of regret and compassion.
do But in that moment Il srdden bro.k,