Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-11-18


| "IIl be dam'd!" calculated the sher
if.
"Ye will be If ye don't keep them
fins clustered in front O. We" growled
Mr.. Peace, resenting the others sur
prise.
But such q cantankerous old whelp
as Jem Peace ever bein' in love-" re.
monstrated the sheriff, hardly needing
the warning. THAT gifts me-"
BE We game, or not?" barked MIR.
Peace angrily. and tapping the table
| with his gun.
81 be-. cried the sheriff, warmly,
AN it speaks well fer ye, Jem, t
have these soft feelin's. I'll be hanged
if We amt almost human. Come right
back t. tn younker's room, an in we
| go, an out he ONE Ye kin trust
me t. keep my word, l reckon"
81 never asked or give much credit,
demurred Mr.. Peace. Besides, there's
a leetle more t tn game. TIL next
pint is this: on tn nine o'clock stage
termorrer,. Kate Connolly arrives t
visit her son an t. take him back
home with her. Her dude husband is
dead an she's lonely. She's writ him
several letters which he didn't git,
as he was hidin' up, until t%wenty-four
hours ago, when he rode inter Sears.
vile. Ye nabbed him there a hour
arter he showed me tn last letter,
what said she'll be here termorrer.
He'd "a jumped a train an cut her
out from tn Crick. only it was too
late"
AN ye're wantin', Mister Peace?"
81 want him free from sunup ter.
morrer, t. meet his ma an spend tn
day with her. I want her t find him a
highly respected citizen. What's more,
she must find me a highly respected
citizen. He'll take her away on tn
AFTERNOON stage; then ye kin have my
gun"
The sheriff gazed long and earnestly
at the blue circle across the table and
then stared intently into the old mans
narrowed eyes. At last he suddenly
decided: I'm game. I'll do It,"
Mr.. Peace slipped his weapon into
the holster under his arm and rose
and said: "Lemme see tn younker
alone fer a minute. t. explain things
t him. Then If yell kindly have yer
deputy take down all decorations from
tn street, where I'm branded as wurth
five hundred. I'll drop inter Big Mikes
place early in tn mornin' an mention
I'd like t have tn posters removed
from tn barroom. Not that she's
likely t. go in there, but I'm keen t
have tn whole town play my game
fer a few hours"
Then as they walked to the door,
still cycling each other warily, Mr..
Peace suddenly reminded: AN ter.
morrer's Thanksgivin' day. Wa-al, |
don't know whether / oughter be
thankful fer SEEM her once more or
not"
The adult male population of the
settlement, almost to a man, was
gathered in Big Mikes place. busy in
pledging many healths. The spirit of
the day had been invoked right early
as an excuse for a liberal indulgence,
and the proprietor, now approaching
the sentimental stage. had called for
volunteers to emulate him in toasting
the entire state in n all.encompass.
ing potation.
AS the pleasing invitation vas about
to be accepted the door swung smart
ly open and a genial voice saluted:
"Howdy, folkses."
"Or Jem Peace!" suffered Big
Mike, staggering in front of the cash
drawer, while in mechanical unison
a forest Of appraised hands left the
array Of glasses untouched.
Mr.. Peace took a lazy attitude at
the end of the bar and seemed lost in
meditation, quite u%arnindful of the
row of startled eyes focused on him.
But his right hand thrust carelessly
inside his rough coat was suggestive
enough to continue the tensity Of the
situation. Suddenly he Strengthened
and sharply explained: I'm spendin'
Thanksglvin' with tn sheriff, an he's
backin' me In what ! have { say. |
would like fer them signs I'D there
t. be took down fer tn day." and his
Colts swung in a circle at the m
Gus placards bearing his name. KIN