The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-04-20
CHAPTER II.
A DISTURBING SUGGESTION.

IL JeSS "dEn 30 BOOQ lOOklA, mar
tin." said Kilrain's sister to him that
evening. after she had made ready for
him the foreman's place by the cleared
supper table, ''she wouldn't be 30
headstrong, an II she warn't so head
strong she'd be more good lookin'-
which you can look at from behind side
meanin' the same thing whichever way.
Jess is spoiled, and spoiled bad, an
l amt the one what's done the spoilin'."
Agnes Kilrain had come to her broth
er from the east at the time when, his
wife dying, he had been left with Jess,
prattling child, upon his hands.
She was a capable woman, with a
will OF her own which, as the girl grew
up. was not always in harmony with
that OF her charge, and tongue which
was not always IN harmony with her
really kind heart. Kilrain idolized his
daughter, and stood somewhat in fear
OF his sister-facts which the girl had
long since found out to her own advan-
tage.
Indeed, Jess Kilrain was something
OF puzzle to those who knew her best.
She was always in hot water with
her aunt. She leased and bullied her
father. She was scornful and unkind
to Buck Brannon, whose heart, she
knew. she held in the hollow Of her
hand.
She was by turns gracious and un-
gracious to the rest of the outfit. Even
to Earle Worthing himself Jess not
infreQuently INDUCED in the caustic
filings Of her tongle that made her
something OF a wasp in the social life
Of the Loop.
Where Is Jess?" asked Kilrain OF his
sister, for she had spoken with an I'M
derCurrent of meaning in her not un-
usual disapproval OF her niece.
Agnes KiIratn shrugged.
Where? she echoed. I'm sure
don't know. With the owls out alone
on the plains, where she hadn't ought
to be. She's never indoors. Day an
night, she's always somewhere else,
Tain't right, Martin. 'Tain't proper"
Kilrain's face sobered. He was an
easy going man in his own household,
and sometimes he might have wished
Agnes We're not quite so determined.
The girl means no HARM" he said;
but TIL speak to her"
Gals don't have to mean harm to
get into harm, though l amt so sure.
Martin. that Jess wouldn't grapple with
the devil himself just to see what his
horns was made OF. Jess is powerful
pernickety. An you know what comes
of hobnobbin' with the DEVIL"
Kilrain looked up with some impa-
thence at his sisters pertinacity, lay
ing aside the Stock Gazette he had been
making an attempt to read and pro-
ceeding to relight his pipe with one of
the long, twisted paper lighters of
which Agnes made a supply each week
She was herself rather aimlessly
hanging about the oak sideboard as
though eXpectant of the question her
brother was to put.
AN who's the particular devil Jess
Is feelin' the horns Of Agnes?"
The woman lost her indecision at the
pointed inquiry. turning abruptly.
| "BlaSs Cardross."
"Blass Cardross!"
Amt YOU ever heard his name
Martin Kilrain?"
He looked at her now more than half
inclined to be angry.
| "Blass Cardross is a square man,
he said slowly, ''if he is on the wrong
track bout some things. I don't see
what you drivin' at, Agnes"
She came nearer TO him, any trace OF
lesser irritation gone from her voice
and manner alike.
| Just this, Martin. Is he square
enough to marry the gal II he might
make her love him-or is he too fine"
Only recently the realization that his
daughter had grewn into woman's es-
tate had come upon Martin Kilrair
with q shock Of surprise. Another and
q more numbing shock ran through him
now. A mother would never have beer
thus taken Dy surprise ABOUT nel
daughter. Martin Kilrain was a man.
81 don't like to think OF Jess mar
ryin'," he said, his face grave.
Tibet isn't s@Ang to keep her from
thinkin' Of It."
Helpless under this logic, he was 81.
lent. She left him at that, going init
the kitchen, andhKilrain took up thu
Gazette once more, but he could no
read.
Where was Jess?
After q time, Kilrain threw dowI
his paper rose, and went out OF TIT
house. His sisters words had takeI
an unpleasant hold upon his mind.
With his arms upon the gate n
stood smoking. The night was dark
soft with the hint Of the coming sum
mer, very still and motionless over tn
Towering prairies. Most. OF the sur
rounding cabins were already In un
lightened silence, for the boys OF tn
outfit were given to Early turning II
Kilrain opened the gate, stepping GU
into the road beyond, and noiselessl'
letting the latch fall back into place
He was not conscious Of this care n
took to be unobserved. 1t was born Of
the vague disquiet Of his mood.
Going down the lane, he reached tn
lower barn lots, the orchard lying fur
ther TO his left, pungent with the ira
GRANGE Of its full bloom. kilrain turne
his back southwark across the pratrt
IN thA Distant woods that formed q