The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-05-22
The Life of a Willful Boy
Who Set Upon Himself the
Responsibility Of Avenging
His Fathers Murder : ::

uAA LAY l
don't keer reckless ways Adrian's got
CIR mighty kind heart in him."
That's So" said Johnson, following, |
as usual, the majority. And as they
both seemed disposed to agree with
her, Mrs. Cooper presently took her
fierce eye from them and, shaking out
her dress, rose to her feet.
I'm cooled off now" she said, IAN
reckon I'll do my tradin'." And, TAX
ing up her baskets Of eggs, she enter
ed the cool gloom Of the little store |
with all its heterogeneous collection Of
wares, followed by Hedrick.
Mrs. Cooper's trading at length con- |
Quoted to a termination satisfactory to
both parties She once more settled her |
%sunbonnet OH her. tightly drawn hair |
and with a Good evenin' ter yer ALL"
stepped heavily off the porch and turn
ed her face homeward, already begin !
ming to pant slightly in fat anticipation
Of the first hill. Lloyd Johnson sighed
and turned a dubious gaze toward the
declining sun shutting one pale blue
eye and cooking his head sideways to
do SC.
Reckon l ort ter be travelin', too"
he said reluctantly.
"Oh, no, set erwhile!" Hedrick urged
with tolerant politeness. though 1t
must be admitted the politeness was
somewhat perfunctory, for now that
the sun sloped so low to the west there
was chance Of more congenial and ex-
citing companionship in the shape Of
other n%eighbors drifting down to the
store for a half hours crack at the
tail Of the day. Lloyd. however, ig-
eagerly at the invitation.
"Well, reckon l kin spare er little
time longer" he said, again relaxing
to his settled inertia.
Once more silence fell between the
two and they sat staring up the road
as one might start out to sea for u
long expected sail.
There is q theory that desire begets
realization. Be that as it may, Lloyd
ing eyes were presently rewarded by
the sight of Grin Snyder's large frame
swinging into view.
well, eft here don't come ole Orin,"
Lloyd announced, as though heralding
the approach Of n long lost brother.
Hedrick's face also lighted with antici-
patton, and when Grin stepped up on
to the porch he greeted him with ex-
IRENE suayity.
Good evenin', Mr.. Snyder" he said,
with an affable wave of two fingers to-
ward his hat. which sat %jauntily on
the back of his head.
Good evenin'. Mr.. Hedrick," the
other returned, bowling with equal ur-
banity. Hedrick eyed him a moment
longer, Their Hello, Orin!" he said.
Hello, George!!" Snyder responded;
and having thus, as it We're, establish
ed each others official and every day
identity, the two dropped back into
! their usual parlance.
AN what's Their news up your way:"
the ~storekeeper inquired, pushing Il
chair forward with Il hospitable foot.
"Ain't none's l know off," Snyder re-
turned, accepting the chair in the spirit
in which it was offered, "'cept that I
heered old Marthy Lamfire was took
sick"
"ls that er fact? Much sick:"
mo, not so powerful; jest kinder
grunty an ailin'; Their women folks is
takin' turns erbout stayin' with her"
who's that Teller comin':" Lloyd
Johnson broke in suddenly, pointing
up the road. The other two, turning
their eyes in the same direction. beheld
a slouched man Of middle as. coming
toward them at an uneven shuttle. His
head was down so that his hat brim
partly concealed his face, and what did
appear was covered with a rank growth
of beard Of Il streaked grayish brown.
Hedrick studied him a moment.
Looks like err stranger ter me-" he
said ut length.
II know who he u.s." Snyder struck
in. but in a lowered voice as the man
approached. Hes one er Their new
hands Aleck Whitcomb's got workin'
up at Their sawmill at ther head err
Drupe mountain. l seen him AMI some
other strange fellers Aleck he'd Jest got
in when I went up there or week err so
ergo ter see erbout gittin' some slabs"
/ AS he finished his explanation the
stranger arrived ut tie porch steps.
, Pausing, he gave the three Il quick
and somewhat furtive glance from uu-
der dropped lids.
"Good event." he said in general, and
then turning to the storekecper, kin
. l git er plug err 'Rosey Lee turbacker
. here?" he inquired.