The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-11

ooh. Marthyl" cried Billy Louise.
with the sound OF tears In her voice.
Don't oh. Marthy' me-" said the
harsh voice. fatty. Il don't want
no Marthyin' nor no sympathy.
Well. old man. you're here 20 col
leck. I s'pose. I've allus paid my
debts. Seabeck. I'm willin' 10 pay
now fer bein' n fool"
"W.where'a Charlie7" Billy Louise
whispered the question.
II a. no, and ! don't care. He's
pulled out--him an that breed. I'll
have 20 pay yuh for seven growed
cattle never seen TIL yistday. Sea
beck. You can set yer own price
on 'em. Amt sure. but I've got an
idee they was shot las night an
dumped in the river. You en- st
yer price. I've got the rheumatic
30 bad I couldn't 20 m put a stop
10 nothin'-but--if you Kit after
Charlie. I1l--kili yuh. You let i'm
go. I'm the one he hurt most
and | Amt goin'---" She laid her
frowsy old head on her arms, like
one who is utterly crushed and
dumb.
You've got 10 como and lie
down, Marthy." said Billy Louise.
after long. unbroken silence.
The old woman rose stiffly, and
with a fesblensss that seemed vt.
teriy foreign 10 her usual ener-
Ky. permitted Billy Louise 10 lead
her fron the kitchen
Seabeck was gono somewhere
on his horse. Billy Louise guessed
shrowdly that he was looking over
the cattle and trying 20 estimate
tho extent OF the thicvery. She
put Blue in tho stable. She would
not 20 on 90 tho Wolverine. MArthy
needed her tonight. Mar'hy was
facing her bitterest sorrow since
Mineryy died. and Aarthy was old.
scabeck returned after awhile.
and Billy Louise. who was watching
from tho doorway. met him at the
little nate.
Wei. how bad il II. Mr.. Sea
beek7" ahe asked.
Hmm bad IL tin
the housed" he counteref. The
real crime has been committed
there. II seems TO me. A few head
Of cattle. more or less. don't count
for much against the broken heart
OF an old woman"
Obi" Billy Louise stared up
wtde.cycd into his face. "oh, You
saw that tool And they're your
cattle that werc stolen, You saw
| it-oh. you're-you're-"
"Hmm.mm-a human being,
hope. Mias Macdonald. as well as q
mere cattleman. How Is the old
LADY,"
Crying said Bnly Louise. with
brief dIrectness. Crying over that
picture OF thR,--rwine."
do you think. Miss Macdonald.
she would feel like talking business
for a few minutes'"
"Oh. yes: n shes like me. she'll
want TO re; the agony over with"
Billy Louise turned with a witch
OF the shoulders.
Marthy did not attempt TO rise
when seabeck followed Billy Louise
into the sitting room.
''Hmm-mm--i have been looking
over tho cattle" he began. you
--mm-mm-you tell me there were
seven head OF grown stock"
THAT they shot and throwed In
the river. with the brands cut out
inserpola,ed Marthy stolidly.
Il amt got the money now.
You en- fix UP tho papers q suit
yerself I'll sign anything yuh
want"
"Hmm.mm-yes, A note cover.
ing the amount, with legal ratio o.
interest. viii be--ouite satisfactory,
Mrs. Melkle. II you have a blank
note. l."
you kin look in that desk over
there" permitted Marthy. III yuh
don't find any there. there amt
none nowhere"
seabeck did not find any blank
notes. He pulled a sheet OF paper
toward him and wrote.
"Yor viii please sign here. Mrs.
Meikie." he said calmly.
And IL Miss Macdonald WIN
also sign as an indorser. ! think !
can safely do away with any mort
gage or other legal security"
Il don't want Billy Louise to git
tangled up In my troubles" Mar
thy said uneasily. she's got
plenty OF her own. Her maw's Just
died. Mr.. Seabeck. And I'll bet
there was a hospital n Doctors
bin bigger n this cattle note, to be
paid. / don't want TO pile on"
Now. Marthy. you be still. I'm
perfectly willing TO sign this note
with you. II II will satisfy Mr..
seabeck. I'm sure IT'S the very
least we can do-or-expect." Billy
Louise. bless her heart. was trying
very hard TO be grateful to Sea,
beck.
Whercupon Marthy signed the
note. Then Billy Louise wrote her
name. Seabeck took the paper. re
turned with II TO tho desk for a
blotter, hunted an envelope. fold
cd the note carefully. laid II away
inside and left the room with wha,
haste his natural dignity would
permit.
That ended the Seabeck part OF
the whole sordid affair. except that
he remained for another hour, do