Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-01-11
raised his. The others followed suit.
Then all drained them simultaneously

Then all drained them simultaneously
and set down the empty glasses.
And now" went on Johnny in the
same cheerful, friendly tone, lets all
pay for themw
The loafers stared at him a moment.
One growled menacingly, but fell ST.
lent under his clear glance. One or
two others forced a laugh. Under
Johnny's compelling eye they all paid.
Billy, behind the bar. watched with
sardonic amusement. When Johnny
proffered his dust the barkeeper thrust
it back.
my treat here" said he briefly.
But objected Johnny.
"It's a privilege"
"If you put it that way, l thank you,
Sir" said Johnny in his grandest man
ner, and we walked out. "Those buns
made me tired" was his only comment
to us. "Now let's go hunt up Talbot.
III bet my extinct toothbrush that he's
a we'll known citizen around here"
Johnny's extinct toothbrush vas per-
fectly safe. The first man Of whom
we inquired told us where Jul friend
lived and added the gratuitous infor-
nation that the Ward block was near
ing completion. We looked up the no
tel, a new one on Montgomery street.
The clerk spoke with respect Of Talbot
and told us we would probably find
him at one Of the several places Of
business he mentioned OF at the Ward
block. We thanked him and went di-
rect to the Ward block first. All Of
us confessed to a great desire to see
that building.
1t was to be q three story brick struc-
ture and was situated at one corner Of
the Plaza. We gaZed upon it with APP
propriate awe for VIC We're accustomed
to logs and canvas. and to some extent
we were able to realize what imported
bricks and the laying Of them meant.
The foreman told us that Talbot had
gone out mission way With Sam
Brannan and some others to look at
some property and would not be back
until late.
Johnny and ! spent the rest Of the
afternoon wandering about. Ianll re-
tired to tile soft chairs of one of the
numerous gambling places. His brok-
en- leg would not stand so much tramp.
Ing.
In the evening. us Talbot had not
| yet returned. we wandered from one
place of amusement to another. The
gambling places were more numerous,
more elaborate, more important than
ever. Beside the usual rough looking
miners and laborers. who were in the
great majority. there were small groups
Of substantial, grave. important look
ing men comforting. | noticed again
the contrast with the mining camp
gambling halls in the matter of noise.
Here was heard but tie clink of coin
or the dull thud Of gold dust, n low
murmur Of conversation or an occa-
sienal full voiced exclamation.
Johnny. who could resist the
tables. was soon laying very small
stakes on monte. After u time 1 tired
of the close air and heavy smoke and
slipped away. The lower part of the
town was impossible OH account of the
mud. so made my way out along the
| edge of the hills. Tire moon was sail
ing overhead. The shadows Of the
hills hung deep in tho ho1lows. ard
abroad a wide landscape slept in the
unearthly radiance. A thousand thou
sand cheerful frogs piped up q chorus
against the breeding moon stiffness
they could not quite break. After the
| glare Of the Arcade and the ~feverish
hum and hustle of the busy new city
this still peace was, almost overpower-
ing. | felt somehow that I dared not
give way to it all at once, but must
admit its influence trickle by trickle
until my spirit had become Il little &C
custo1ned. Thus gradually dropped
into a reveric. The toll. excitement.
strain, striving OF the past eight or
nine months fell swiftly into, the back
ground. | relaxed. and in the calm OF
the relaxation for the first time Old
memories found room.
How long l had trafnped, lest I'm Tits
dreaming. did not know, but ut @sonae
point l must have turned back, for ]
came to somewhere near the end OF
oO\ dL1Clit' 81 SSls IL IL NclA1 VIC oo1N
to have an end. to find the moon far
up toward the zenith. \ man over
took me. walking rapidly. caught
the CLEAN of n watch chain, and on q
sudden impulse l turned toward him.
Can you tell me what time it isT'
asked.
The man extended his watch in the
moonlight and silently pointed to its
face with the muzzle of a revolver.
"Half past H." said he.
"Good Lord" l cried, with n shout
of laughter. "Do you take me for q
robber, Talbot"
CHAPTER xxx.
The Golden Web.
Y E thrust away his watch and
the pistol and with 4 shout OF
joy seized both my hands.
a well, wei, well, WELL" he
cried owe and over again. "but I IN
glad to see you. I'd no idea where
you were or what you were doing
Why couldn't You write a man occa