Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-11
CHAPTER TX.

brl6r was sitting on the porch VI LIS
house. a horseman rode up and light.
ed" The horseman was not Of pleas
ant expression, but he knew his mis-
sion and was sure of his welcome.
'Evenin', Luke" welcomed the Nc
Briar chief, and as the visitor sank
into q chair with q nod, he laconically
announced:
I've done found out who kilt Nash
Watt"
Old Milt never showed surprise. 1t
was his pride that his features had
banished all register Of emotion. Now
he merely leaned over and knocked
the ash from his pipe against the rail-
ing.
WALL" he commanded CURLY. Tets
hev yore tale"
They picked out man fer Their Job
tibet hain't been mixed up In no feud
fghtin' heretofore" pursued the other
with unrufned calmness. Hes fel.
Ter tibet nobody wouldn't suspect; him
bein' peaceable an mostly sober. But
he shoots his squirrels through the
head every time he throws up his
gun. Thet war ther kind OF man they
wanted"
Milt McBriar shifted his position q
little. He seemed bored.
who war this feller?"
The bearer Of tidings was reserving
his climax and refused to be hurried.
81 reckon ye1l be right smart as
tonished when I names his name, but
thar hain't no chanst of bein' mistook.
I've done run Their thing down"
II hain't nuver astonished," retort-
ed McBriar who war he?"
Very cautiously the second man
looked around and then bent over and
whispered name. There was short
pause. after which the chief comment
ed: wall. reckon l don't need ter
tell yer what ter do now"
II reckon knows" confessed Luke
with a somewhat surly expression.
But Milt McBriar was paying no
attention His face was darkening.
II wish I could afford ter git the
real man" he exclaimed abruptly. Il
wish I burst hev Anse Havey kilt"
'wAii"-ihis time !: was the un.
derling who spoke CASUALLY reck.
on mought a. well die fer a sheep az
lamb. Shell kill Anse Havey fer
ye!"
The chieftain looked 1t him during
long pause, then slowly shook his
| head.
mo. Luke" he said quietly. II
;; hain't quite ready ter die myself yit
reckon IL I he'd ye ter kill Bad Anse
thet's bout what'd happen. Jest gil
ther lamb this trip an let Their old
ram live SPELL"
So. one unspeakably sultry morning
few days after that informal session
Good Anse Talbot arrived at the
Widow Everson's house. As Juanita
Holland appeared at the door to greet
him he came at once to the point.
"Fletch McNash hes done beer
kilt" he said. Bout twilight last
night. es he was a-comin' In from thel
barn somebody shot ono shoot from
Their la'rel. I reckon hit'd be righ
smart comfort ter his woman an
little Dawn Of 70 could ride over thai
an help tend ter ther buryin'. XIX
ye start now?"
Go! Juanita would 90 II 1t wer'
! necessary to run 4 santlet Of all tn
combined forces OF the Haveys ant
McBriars. Her heart ached for thu
widow and the boys, out Tor Da~: tn
| ache was az deeply poignant as i
could have been for little sister o
| her own. So with set face and hot In
diKnation Juanita mounted for tn
| journey.
| At last they reached the McNasl
| cabin and found gathered about 1t
score Of figures with sullen and scowl
ing faces.
From the barn came the screech o
saw and rat-tat Of hammer. wher
those whose knack ran into carpentr.
were fashioning tho box which was t.
serve In lieu Of . casket.
There was no IRE now, and tn
cabin was very dark. In q deepl
Swallowed corner lay Fetch McNast
/ made visible by tho white sheet tina
covered him.
Juanita had come In silently. an
for q moment thought that no on
else was there. The younger childre
had been sent away, and the neigt
bors remained outside with roug
sense Of confederation.
4 There, in squat chair near tn
cold hearth, sat Mr.. McNash, he
back turned to the room. She va
4