The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-04
CHAPTER III.
Louise.

Wind City, but the rain had soon
been distanced. Perhaps the judge
was right when he said itinever
rained north or west of Wind City.
But the judge had not wanted
her to go. Neither had the
judges wife. Fsri
Full 20 minutes, only day be-
fore yesterday, the judge had de-
layed his days outing in order
to make it perfectly clear to her
that she could not be expected to
go, and that the prosecuting at
torney up here had merely asked
her out of courtesy, in Difference
to her position. 1t wasn't at all
necessary for the court reporter
to hold herself in readiness to
answer the call for anything out
side her prescribed circuit duties.
The judges wife had not been
SO diplomatic, not by any means.
She had dwelt long and earnestly
on the uncivilized condition of
their neighbors up the line. Yes,
it was very evident Aunt Helen
had not wanted her to go.
But Louise had already sent
her answer to the states attor-
ney's letter. The letter had been
oall to arms:
"My Dear Miss Dale: The 18th
of August is the date set for the
preliminary hearing of Jesse
Black. Will you come and take
the testimony? 1 am very anx-
ious that the testimony shall be
taken by competent reporter,
and shall be grateful to you if
you decide to come.
1.-THE judge will tell you about
our poor accommodations Let
me recommend to your considera-
ton some good friends of mine,
the Willistons, father and daugh-
ter. They live three miles north
west of Kemah. They are cul-
tured people, though their way of
living is necessarily primitive.
eff you decide to come. Mary
Williston will meet you at Vel
pen. Please let me know your
decision. Very sincerely,
ORCHARD GORDON"
So here she was, going into the
Indian country at last. A big
state, South Dakota, and the
phases Of its civilization mani
fold.
There was a moments bewild-
erment on the station platform.
There was no one anywhere who
seemed to be Mary-no one who
might be looking for her. Some
one pushed her rudely aside. She
was in the way of the trucks.
"Chuck it! None o. your sass,
my lad! There's my fist. Git out
o. this, say!"
The voice was big and convinc-
ing. The man wasn't so big, but
some way he looked convincing,
too. The truckman stepped aside,
but with plucky temerity an
swered back:
Get out yourself! Jest run
your own affairs, will your
"Thanky. Glad to. Add as
my affairs is at present a lady,
I'll thank you to Jest trundIe this
here railroad offspring to- the
back o. this here lady-the back,
l say-back amt front, f. it?
And ef you amt satisfied why,
I belong to the Three Bars. Ever
hear o. the Three Bars?" ~
The cowboy with the temper,
having routed the enemy. tefned
abruptly to Louise. ~
Are you herr" he asked
II don't know" said louise,
smiling fearlessly at her chAm-
pion. Il am Louise Dale the-
new court reporter. ext cted
Miss Mary Williston to meet me, ;"
Then you. are her." SAID the
man, with renewed cheerfuIness,
seizing her suit case and strfdingI
off. Come along. Well git
some supper afore we start.
You're dead tired, more'n likely.
It'll be moonlight so't Won't mat
ter eff we are late a gittin' home"
. = . =
An hour prior to this little cpl
sods Jim Munson had sauntered
up to the ticket window only to
find that the train from the East
was 40 minutes late, He turned
away with q little si1fug Oh relief.