The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-09-17

There was no one in sight. Softly, |
almost stealthily, he crept up to the
wagon, fetched out from its wooden
case a small violin, sat down with his
back to the wheel and began to play.
Suddenly the bow rested motionless.
A look of fear came into his face. He
sprang up. The cowboys were all
stealing from the other side of the
wagon. They had arrived and dis
mounted without his hearing them.
He sprang to his feet and began to
stammer apologies. Long Jim's hand
was laid firmly upon his shoulders.
Say, cookie, you don't need to-
look so scared. You amt done moth
| ing wrong. Me and the boys, we like
| your music. Sing us another tune
on that fiddle!"
The cook looked at him for mo-
ment incredulously. Then he real
lied that the cowboy was in earnest
He picked up the bow and commenced
| to play again. They sat around him,
wondering, absolutely absorbed. No
one even made a move towards the
food. 1t was Craig who led them
| there at last himself, still playing.
Long Jim threw his arm almost caress-
| ingly around his shoulder.
Say, cookie" he began, there amt
never no questions asked concerning
the past history of the men who find
their way out here, just so long as
they don't play the game yellow. May
be you've fitted up a nice little hell
for yourself somewhere, but we amt
none of US hankering to know the
address. You're white and you're one
of us and any time any guy wants to
charge you rent for the little hell
where you got the furniture of your
conscience stored, why, you just let
us settle with him, that's all. !"
The interruption which came was
from outside.
More of these id tourists" Long
Jim muttered. Women, tool"
Craig turned his head slowly. Quest
was in the act of dismounting from
his horse. BY his side was the pro-
fessor; just behind, Lenora and Laura.
Long Jim greeted them with rough
cordially.
Say, what are you folks looking
for?' he demanded.
Quest pointed to Craig.
1--WE want that man." ne announced
This is inspector French from New
York. l am Sanford Quest
There was tense silence. Craig
| covered his face with his hands, then
suddenly looked up
Il won't come" he cried fiercely.
you've bounded me all around the
! world. am innocent. / won't come.
Quest shrugged mis- shoulders He
i took a step forward. but Long JIM
as though by accident, sauntered In
the way.
, Got a warrant" he asked tersely
t 1--WE don't need it. Quest replied
He's our man, right enough"
: Right this minute he's our cook.
drawled Long Jim, and we amt ex
actly particular about going hungry
Just to please a bunch of strangers
! Cut it short, mister. If you amt go
warrant. you amt got this man.
"All right" Quest agreed. "The in
spector here and will soon see t
that Well ride back to the town
ship. With your permission, the ladies
and our elderly friend will remain fol
! a rest
You're welcome to anything We've
/ got except our cook" Jim replied
i turning away.
Darkness came early and the littl'
company grew closer and closer to thu
camp fire, where Craig had once NOR
taken up his violin. The professo
had wandered off somewhere into tn
, darkness and the girls were seated |
, little apart. They had been treaties
Hospitality but coldly
Don't seem to cotton to US. thes
boys" Laura remarked.
They don't like us, Lenora replied
because they think we are aftel
Craig. l wonder what Long Jim ha
3 been whispering TO him, and wha
that paper is he has been shown
Craig. Do you know how far we ar
) from the Mexican border?"
4 Not more than five or six miles
i believe" Laura replied,
Lenora rose softly to her feet an
e strolled to the back of the rang
e, wagon. In few moments she real
e peared, carrying a piece of paper j
her hand She stopped down.
Ie "Craig's saddling up" she viii
e. pered. Look what he dropped"
+ She held out the paper. on whic
G was traced roughly drawn map.
N That lines the river that mark
IS the Mexican border" she explained
v. You see where Long Jim's put th