Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-05-03
DAMS PREPARATION
By SUSAN CLAGETT.

You must give up that foolish idea"
''Idea," scoffed Dams sister. Il love
Larry O'Connor, Dan. I am thirty
years old and he is the first man l
have ever cared for save yourself.
Knowing this, do you think that will
give him up?"
"YOu are old enough not to let your
heart get the better of your judgment,
your common sense. l have known
O'Connor for six years. 1 know him
as one man comes to know another up
| here in the mines. He is true friend.
He will divide his last penny with an
enemy if that enemy is hungry, but he
can no more keep out of game Of
chance than you can keep from breath
ing. He left here Christmas night and
went directly to McDougan's. He broke
the bank. At daybreak he took his
team and started for Fort Gibbon. /
heard today he made a cleanup there"
II must think it out, Dan," Ellen an
swered slowly.
1t had turned bitterly cold, the cold
that freezes cheeks and extremities I'M
wind, but in crossing the flats Larry
OConnor had to pause several times to
thaw the ice from the feet of his dog
team. Each time he stopped there
came a Whimper from the bundle on
the Sled and at longer pause voice
SAID irrritably:
my heart is freezing, Larry. Aren't
we almost there? D. your stub
bOrnness in making me take the trip!"
There was nothing else to do. Tim.
l had to get you away. You have about
finished me in Fairbanks, as you have
in every other place have been. Now
am through with you. / leave you at
Fort GibbOn. What you do thereafter
is nothing to me, save this: You are
to keep away from me. They will care
for you at the fort until you can
travel. Then hit the post trail for
Holy Cross
Larry left his team at Gibbon, re-
turning the next morning on Orr's
, stage. The first person he met upon
reaching Fairbanks, as he was the last
. with whom he had spoken before leav-
. ing, was Dan Holiday. O'COnnOr stiff
fened as he saw him. He could not
forget their talk, talk that had turned
tne first glmmer of happiness that he
j bad seen for years into black rage and
despair He would have passed with
a curt nod but that he saw Ellen stand
ing near her brother. His heart missed
a beat as he caught sight Of her, her
arms filled with tamarack, her gay cap
! and blanket coat making q spot of bril-
liant color against the grayneSs of the
coming night. She nodded gayly and
called to him that she was keeping
open house New Years day and he
must come and help decorate the
rooms.
Dan wheeled about and looked at
her with a heavy froWn. Larry
thanked her, but said he had an en-.
gagement.
"Break it," she commanded with a
laugh. Cali the world, including the
butcher, the baker and the candlestick
maker, are coming, and there will be
no place else for you to go, SO come
you must"
All through New Years day and eve
ming Ellen watched and waited. Then
he came, so late that her heart had
grown chill with fear. AS he made his
way toward her he was stopped by
newcomer. Ellen could not help but
Overhear their conversation.
"Where is Tim? heard he was with
yOu," said the newcomer.
Larry hesitated. "He was, for
time" His eyes rested upon Dan, who
was standing near. "The two of us
went to the fort on Christmas night.
He will go on to Holy Cross and from
there to Nome"
doing better or worse up hcreW
"WOrSe."
"And you are still the scapegoat, 1
suspect?
drop it, Jack" Larry said irritably.
The other turned to Dan. "Have you
ever seen his twin? Alike as two
peas-alike in everything save char
acter. Larry has all of that Tim is 81
lovable chap, but weak, and the worst
of his weakness is that he lets O'COn-
nor take the blame for his miSdeedS. /
think he has committed every sin save
murder and he is a confirmed gambler.
A lucky one, too, if all that l hear is
true''
LARRY left town some days ago after
cleaning up McDOugan's bank"
'"Tim, you mean," the other answered
with a show of anger. II suppose he
has been up to his usual tricks. 1t
wasn't Larry. That fellow is the
straightest, whitest white man I have
ever known"
Dan considered. Il guess it is up to
me to make reparation," he said, glanc-
ing about the room. He made his way
to his sister and Larry, who were
standing together at the further end of
the room, and talked very earnestly
with them for some minutes; then he
rannad unOn q table St0ndinp near