Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-05-28

In YOU for this'"
He snatched At his sun with his
other nand and tho cowboys scattered
little The cook stepped back the
gun flashed out. only &c be suddenly
lowered Jim looked iacredulously TO.
wards his lett arm which hung no
longer heiplessly py his side He
swung Il backwards e,id forwards and
q broad grin slowly ~ up his lean.
brown face lie thrust the gun In his
holster and held out hts hand
Cookie, you're all right he ex.
claimed You've done the trick this
time. Say you're a miraolel"
The cook smiled
Your arm was iust out of Joint
he remarked 1T was rather a hard
pull. but it's all right now
jim looked around al the others
And 20 think that I might have
Killed hint" he exclaimed. Cookie.
you're a white boy Your do We're
going 10 like you here
Craig watched them ride OF. The
bitterness had passed from his face.
Evening came and with Il a repett
ton OF his labors. When everything
was ready 20 serve. he stepped from
behind the wagon and looked across
the rolling stretch Of open country.
There was no one In sight Softly,
almost stealthny. he crept up to the
wagon, fetched out from its wooden
case small violin, sat down with his
back to the wheel and began TO play
Suddenly the bow rested mo;ionless.
A look OF fear came into his face. lie
sprang up, The cowboys were all
stealing from the pther side of the
wagon. They had arrived and dis
mounted without his hearing them.
He sprang 70 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 nddle,"
The cook looked at him for a mo-
nent incredulously. Then he real
lied that the cowboy was in earnest.
He picked up the bow and commenced
20 play again They sat around him,
wondering. absolutely absorbed No
one even made a move towards the
food. II was Graz 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 me
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, too"
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
cordiality.
say. what are you folks looking
tor?' he demanded.
Quest pointed TO Craig.
I'VE want that man" ne announced.
This is Inspector French from New
York. l am Sanford Quest
There was a tense silence. Craig
covered his face with his hands, tnen
suddenly looked up
4 won't come. he cried fercely.
You've bounded me all around the
world. am innocent, | won't come. y
Quest shrugged mis- shoulders. ne
took step forward, but Long Jim,
as though by accident, sauntered In
the way
Got a warrant" he asked tersely.
"We don't need - 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. II you amt got
a warrant, you amt got this man.
"All right" Quest agreed. The in
spector here and I will soon see TO
that. Wen ride back to the town
ship. With your permission, the ladies
and our elderly friend win remain for
& rest"
You're welcome to anything we've
got except our cook" Jim replied,
turning away.
Darkness came early and the little
company grew closer and closer to the
camp fire. where Craig had once more
taken up his violin. The professor
had wandered of somewhere into the
darkness and the girls were seated a
little apart. They had been treated
Hospitality but coldly.
Sn a.