The Meeker herald., 1917-10-13


KID was ri wsrk. The Kid look, al
and the officer looked down. some w1ia
surprised.
We've met before said Nilsson r.
Yes, we have I'm looking {, r t
,nan named Hughes"
'Ie was called away suddenly as
night"
Where hns lie gomez"
Don't know"
The officer turned away. diss,ustc q
He told several persons that he H. ~
been sent out for Hughes, tlnr lie ha q
met Missouri Kid In the canyon below
the day before. and by his Inquire 8
the Kid had discovered his mission and
doubtless warned Hughes.
"What do you w,tnt him for?" the
officer was asked
That's my business" he replied.
The Kid was inv tied to give tnfOrma-
ton ON the same subject, but he was
not communicative
This made more Of n mystery OF the
matter than before and the miners
of Castle Rock found endless occupa
ton when not at work wondering what
sort Of crime Husbe, had commit
ted and what part in it Missouri Kid
had taken. But for time there were,
mo further developments, and grud.rnt-
lily the excitement gave place to other
iincidents Of mining camp life, such as
THE expulsion OF the gamblers, tlle
shooting OF n man who had struck paw
ing dirt and other Various happenings.
But Hughes did not return. and Mis-.
souri Kid stopped working In the mina
What kept him III ere no one knew.
Months passed and there was ne
change In the sit nation. Missouri Ki&
seemed to be waiting for something.
He kept shaI1.t guard over the mine.
and. If Sny one showed a disposition to
pry, the boy ordered him of. at the
same time put ting his hand on the re-
vover at his hip. This was quite
enough. though 1t began to he whl-
pered about the camp that paying dirt
had been struck in the Hughes hole
But what the Kid was doing there
alone while his partner was dodgin .
the l,olice no one could sIrmise. Al 4
the Kid did not enIighten them. ] r..
sinaply stayed around the mine or fln
'iis cabin. reading when he could rat
anything to read and amusing hin saal'f
As best he could.
One day Hughes suddenly retr rmed
lie seemed to hare experien NJ a
change. He was well dresse a and
brought ,ao trunks with him. com.
panion accompanied him. u gentlsnnn
with professional look about him.
What he had. come for was not diyuIc.
ed, but 1t was evident that 1t was
something connected with the mine.
He spent good deal of time down uu.
der the surface and was continually
bringing mp specimens of t1e ore. 1t
was said that he had ASSAY materials
but he was not observed using them.
Although Jack Hughes did not bear
himself NJ = criminal, an officer of tho
law had fseen hunting him, and he
was considered a crfulnai-not that
this changed very murh bis status IA
the comm unity, for quite a number OF
the miners had been in jail. and NO one
knew how many Of them IL they had
been In a civilized community would
have been tried for homicide. Indeed
II the officer shoukl return a number
OF persons would give Hughes warn
ing But Hughes did not appear TO
taNe amy fear of his returning.
One evening light was obseryeA
bun4ing brightly in Jack Hughes
cabin. and as the weather was warm
! and the door was wide open Hughes
Missouri Kid and the stranger were
seen busy over papers. A notary pub.
nic had been called In. and he was
seen working his seal stamp. Hughes
and Missouri KN were seen to sign
Y papers, besides taking on their hats
and holding ur their right hands in sn
attitude OF taking an oath. When 1t
was all smashed the stranger stuffed
the papers In his gripsack. and rhat
was the last seen of him at Castle
Rock.
but tue great surprise came the next
mornhg. A woman was seen in Jack
Aughes' hut. More than that, one wha
haa got close enough for a good yicv
III her reported that she was Mimcari
Hid In woman's clothes. This s4srte,l
the curious toward Hughes hut to see
Tor themselves. Hughes saw them
coming and. taking the woman by The
hand, sed her forward to meet then.
Its Missouri Kid, shorer' cried an.
Mebhe it's bis sister," cried apothee
II a1us Thought the Kid wns more
of gal than 4 man." cried n third,
WAen the couple reached the party
HsKhes. turning to the lady. said:
Fellow citizens. this is my wife"
After cries. shouts and all manner
Of expression OF satisfaction Hv,be. |,
resumed:
Il owe you aa explanations Some
time ago became Involved DO anclally
and my creditors proceeded against
ne criminaliy- Bankrupt prison star.
ing me In the face. fed hoping to flnd
fortune here. One day. as you know
Missouri Kid. or wy wife. Joined me
she worked with ne. but was princi.