The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-01-07
can YOU hain't seed 'im?"

Gam l in the habit of lying? Here
is the house. If you think he is here
search it for yourselves"
"Mebby if he amt yere now he's
been yere. You jest tell us whether
he has or not"
Minerva drew herself up with an
air of offended dignity.
"What's the use in you asking me
qucstions,' she said, eff you doubt
my word when l answer them? IL
you are determined to make it appear
that l am a liar l have no more to
say"
CHATS all right, Miss Stevens, but
l blieve you know somethin' bout
that Teller that you hain't wantin' to
tell"
She made no reply, but assumed a
hurt expression.
Jake" one of the men said, eff
Miss Stevens hain't seed the Teller she
hain't, an if she don't know nothin'
bout i'm she don't. an that's all thar
is to it. Thar hain't no use in standin'
yere tryin' to make it out that she's
a-lyin', an I'm a-gittin' tired o hear
in it. SO jist shet up yo' mouth"
Old Jake whirled on the speaker an
grily.
'Who in the dickens air you?" he
snorted. "And what for yo' gittin' yo'
back up:"
"1m one that hain't a blamed bit
afeared o you," the other replied, "an'.
while / dunno as I'm gittin' my back
up none, I don't mind sayin' that I'm
doggone tired O your actin the dad
rotted fool. If Miss Stevens don't
know nothin' bout that fcllcr she
don't. So what's the sense O. carryin'
on we're the way you do:'
GLOW yo' come to be so smart all at
once as to know she don't know moth
in bout 'im:'
"Dadburn it. Hain't she said SOP"
".No, she hain't."
"ENaal, she's jest the same as said
so. Anyhow. it hain't goin' to do no
good to stand ycre an chaw words.
Hits jest like I said at fust-that fell
lcr's gone right to Alb Slocum's, an
it YOU all nd a-done like l wanted
an gone hal std O. COMM we're we'd
a-ketched i'm"
"Mcbby we would an mebby we
wouldn't. Anyway, we didn't go thar
std o comm yere. an since we air
we're want to Farm all that thar is to
be Earned. b'lieve that teacher come
we're, an l b'lieve Miss Stevens knows
somcthin' bout i'm"
r,l,nr %,~.;,- ,.,,r1 ~ lo, ~1H
Jake added:
"Miss Stevens. do yo' say pint blank
that yo' hain't seed hat teacher since
this mornin' an that he hain't been
yere since Them
81 have nothing whatever to say. Mr.
Martini" she replied. with al offended
air. "Whenever YOU assume that
utter %falsehoods I am done"
"Then YOU aim for us to take it fol-
granted that you don't know nothin
bout 'im?'
"You are at perfect liberty to do just
as YOU please about that. Further
than that l am not ware that it is
my duty to keep track of Mr.. Stone
and l don't see that l have IL occa
Sloil " tame iIiN Il III llltc1CSL Al
your affairs"
you take a good deal of interest il
his affairs, though one Of the maske5
mel observed, "a blamed sight more
interest than you got any call to take
Minerva flushed With anger ant
shame. She knew what those word:
meant. and, while she resented thei
uttcrance in the presence of all those
men, she felt that to some extent she
deserved them.
George" she said quietly. "remem
Der | am your wife and bear you
name"
You don't seem to have remembered
it, he replied.
"God knows I have. ! have beer
true and loyal to YOU in spite of ALL"
He laughed i%nsolently.
II am not blind" he said, NOR
hain't quite a fool. l know what l see
That was a pow'ful intrestin' littl,
scene that took place out thar by til,
barn the other evenin'--pow'ful intrest
in sho'. Reckon you didn't forgit thel
that you was my wife an all that:'
For a moment Minerva was confus
ed at the discovery that George hat
seen that incident, but presently she
held her head erect, and her eye me,
his unflinchingly.
II did not forget" she said, sever
in that moment. But why do yo,
choose to speak of those things now
in the presence of all these men,"
because it suits me, and because
want people to know what kind of /;
wife I've got. Besides, you oughtn''
to do things you're ashamed Of"
Minerals eyes flashed with resent
ment.
II have done nothing of which I an
ashamed" she said. II am guilty OF
no act that | am afraid of all thu
world knowing"
'Evcn letting that man make love t.
you. chg