The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-12-03

o,dHu ulln up tHeTe DOys, HbdlnSt tHdi
rail. Stop your bowling or i'll smash
you one in the face. Where did you
find the fool, Jack?'
Locked In a closet yonder; looks
like II might be the girls room. The
darn fool is too skeered ter talk yet"
We'll, III make him, er else thar'll
be a dead preacher In bout minute.
! reckon as how I'll do as much skeer-
ing as anyone. Now, Nichols, We see
theft Whut the devil wus yer doing
in tibet closet7"
"They-they done put me thar.
Anse."
60 on. Who wus we're beside the
girl when yer cum?"
"A Yankee leftenant, cavalryman
] reckon from Their yellow stripes on
his legs"
"A Yankl Did yer hear the fellar's
manner"
Damn IL I'm sure; he's right good
sized man. an not bad lookin'. Pears
to me. now think of 1t, she called him
Raymond"
There was a gasping sound as
though Anses hand had closed again
heavily on the fellows throat.
Raymond! l reckon yer lynn ter
me, parson Yer heard tell o. tibet fell
Ter over In camp, an Their name stuck.
'Twont be healthy fer yer ter play no
game yere."
Il amt, Anse. Quit a chokin' me. !
never heard tell O. no Yank named
Raymond afore. Be thar one round
yerc?"
Wall, thar was, but don't reckon
thar is now" doubtfully. Last !
heerd tell O. him he wus over in Fay
cite ridin' like hell fer Charleston
Monte's band picked him UP, an he
didn't find this kentry none too healthy
fer his line o. business, which was re-
cruitin'-whut's that, Kelly?"
Better let Their preacher tell his
story, Anse. We're losin' lot O. time;
| reckon thar must bin some kind O
male critter we're; faint likely Their
girl locked him up alone, an it don't
make no odds whut the Yank's name
was, nohow."
Go on, Nichols; whut happened?
Tell us the whole os II. but make 1t
short"
The preacher drew in long breath.
evidently relieved to have the pressure
of Anse's murderous fingers removed
from his throat. He sputtered bit as
ne began to tell his story and there
were muffled words we could not dis
tinguish Occasionally someone of his
auditors interrupted with an oath, or
exclamation. He spoke faster as he
proceeded as though feeling less fear,
and eager to have the task over. Final
ly Cowan interjected brief question.
you damn coward! Did you tell?"
Honest, Anse, | don't jest know;
but reckon l did spit it most cnt. fer
he'd killed me If hadn't"
do you mean to say you told them
was comm yere tonight, an goin' fer
ter make the girl marry me-you
whinin' cur?"
How could help it, Anse? reckon
| IL tibet Teller he'd a pistol ct your head
you'd did some talkin'. Maybe he's
recruitin officer, but he amt no
sorter man ter fool with onct he gifts
mad"
well, I'd sure like fer ter know who
he is. He can't be Their Teller what got
away from Monte, fer he lit out fer
Charleston. How did this yere Teller
git yere-on horseback"
Il didn't git sight o. no boss; thar
wus only one four-legged critter in
, Their barn, an reckon as how the girl
must hev' rode thet."
Say. Anse," broke in the voice oil
Kelly, I'll bet this Yank is the one
tibet wus with Fox. an got away. He'd
he'd time 'nough fer ter git this fer or
fut."
but what does he call hisself Ray
mond fer?"
Damn If / know-maybe he jest
heerd tell of the other Teller, an
thought as how he'd git long easier
under tibet name"
We'll, l reckon it won't make much
difference whut the cuss' name Is II
ever | git my hands on him." growlee
Anse savagely. go on, Nichols. What
became of them?"
Skipped out. | reckon. never seer
nuthing more ov EN-"
Anse must have completely lost his
temper, for there was the sound of 8
blow, and the noise of a falling body
feet shufiing as the others drew back
Then moment of silence.
pick the oil fool up" said voice
Throw him back into the room thar
Maybe he'll hev sum sense when he
wakes up. Kelly, take Jim with yer
an see II tibet boss is in Their stabl,
yet. II them two left on fut. they
amt gone fur in this storm. Enyhov
thar's one thing sure-they amt {
hidin' up we're. Cum on, boys, let!
take mother look round down be
low"
! We heard their feet on the stairs
and the light. which had streamed vi
through the crack in the scuttle. fadet
away, leaving us in utter darkness
CHAPTER X.