The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-12-17

ACIl4Co.
"That I'll tell you ennuther day"
Ross began to feel seriously inter-
ested and a little bit rvo In old
Jake's words and manner he scented
the approach of danger. He was eager
to learn all he could.
49," he said, "you don't care to tell
who it Is that knows all about that at
fair?'
II hain't said l know anybody that
knows all about it," Jake replied. IT
said / know one that knows them as
does know"
"Just so. And you don't intend to
tell who that one isl"
"Not at present"
Are you sure he knows the men"
GAS shore as shootin'."
"And from him you expect to learn |
who they are"
THAT'S the way we've got it figgered
out"
"But will he tell you?'
Reckon he will"
"He may refuse"
"'Most likely. But what if he does?"
I'm that case how will you get any
information from him?"
Don't you worry bout that. We'll!
manage all right. Thar's a way O. get
tim fellers to talk sometimes, even
when they hain't a-wantin' to. Feller
is pow'fnl apt to give up a little infor-
nation like that fore he'll give up his
life"
you'll force him to tell?'
"You've guessed it exactly"
"And If you succeed in learning from
him who those mel are, then what?'
"Nothin', only Wen learn from them
all bout that jayhawk. How he got
erway. whar he went, an ever'thing."
"But If they refuse to tell?'
(Which they won't when it's a mat
ter o. life an DEATH"
"Then you think you will soon know
all about that AFFAIR."
well know it all, an if that jay
hawker is anywhar in reach O. our
hands Well blame soon make moughty
doggone short work of him."
Il presume 50. Well. l must be 60
ing"
Thine l wal movin' along some, too,
I guess. Say, if we ketch that Jay
hawk an hang i'm I'll let you know"
ut is more than likely that if you
catch him and hang him, I'll know it,"
Ross started slowly on with his head
bent in deep thought. He was seri-
ously troubled over that which he had
just heard. A very little consideration
convinced him that it meant either
flight OF death for him, and it might
mean death for those who had given
him aid.
He had gone but a short distance
when he heard his name called and,
looking back. saw old Jake coming
after him. The old man came up with
in easy talking range and then stopped.
"Mr. Stone." he said, "thar war
somethin' l forgot to tell you All what
I been a-sayin' to you air a secret, an
l don't want you to say nothin' bout
it to nobody"
every we'll, Mr.. Martin"
"'Cause, you see, if it gifts narrated
round what we're up to them fellers
will all be on their guard, an they
mought manage to head us off some
way. You see how it air, Mr.. Stone?"
Eyes, I see"
"An' If that thar jayhawk should
happen to be lurkin' round yere some
whar he mought git a holt O. what
we're up to an try to git erway. Don't
reckon he'd hardly cut the rifle, cause
we're a%-keepin' a pow'ful close watch
out fer i'm, but still we hain't keerin'
to take no chances"
IF he learns what you are up to,
Mr.. Martin, you can rest assured that
it will not be from me that he gains
his information"
"Thankee. l didn't low you'd go an
tell i'm, even If you war to ever see
"Good day."
Ross continued on his way, and old
Jake turned back. When they had
both passed out of sight another man,
with an old gun on his shoulder,
emerged from the bushes and stood in
the road. 1t was old Bob Crook.
He looked first up the road then
down it, then, slapping himself on the
thigh, burst into a low but hearty
laugh.
"Waal, by dad" he exclaimed. Don't
that beat snakes an caterpillers?
Whoever heern tell of anything like
it,"
Old Bob went off into another fit Of
laughter and, slapping himself on the
thigh. stamped around in the road, so
tickled that he could not keep still.
"Blind?" he said when he had got
his laugh over. "My land! Ole Jake's
blinder'n a bait Lowed if they ever
ketched that jayhawk an hung i'm
that young Teller mought want to be
thar, but the young Teller reckoned
not. Lord, l guess the young Teller
wal right too. Wouldn't be no fun
for him to be at that thar hangin'-
marry a grain. Guess, though, ii il
ever comes off he will be thar.
Couldn't git long 'thout i'm. Spite the