Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-15

There was no one In sight. Softly,
almost stealthily, 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 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 q 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 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
cordiality.
Say. what are you folks looking
for?' he demanded.
Quest pointed to Craig.
I'VE want that man. he announced.
This Is Inspector French from New
York. / am Sanford Quest.
There was tense silence. Craig
covered his face with his hands. then
suddenly looked up.
Il won't GOMEZ he cried f1ercely.
You've bounded me all around the
world. am innocent. won't come
Quest shrugged his shoulders. He
took q step forward, but Long Jim.
as though by accident, sauntered in
the way. ....
Got a warrant" he asked tersely.
ave don't need It, Quest replied.
He's our man, right enough"
Right this minute he's our cook, -
drawled Long Jim, land we amt ex-
actly particular about going hungry
just to please bunch of strangers.
Cut 1t short, mister. II you amt got
a warrant, you amt got this man."
"All right" Quest agreed. The in
spector here and will soon see to
that. Well ride back to the TOWN.
ship. With your permission, the ladies
and our elderly friend will remain for
q 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 q
little apart. They had been treated
Hospitality but coldly
Don't seem to cotton to US, these
boys" Laura remarked. a....
They don't like u.s." Lenora replied,
because they think we are after
Craig. / wonder what Long Jim has
been whispering to him, and what
that paper is he has been showing
Craig. Do you know how far we are
from the Mexican border7"
Not more than five or six miles,
I believe" Laura replied.
Lenora rose softly to her feet and
strolled to the back of the range
wagon. In few moments she reap
peared, carrying a piece Of paper In
her hand. She stopped down.
''Craig's saddling up" she whis-
pered. Look what he dropped"
She held out the paper. on which
was traced q roughly drawn map.
That lines the river that marks
the Mexican border" she explained.
"You see where Long Jim's put the