The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1917-08-24

4 thlngD bur oIis, driving motive had sur
vised. aud IL had grown to the stature
OF an obsession: the determination to
wiring victory out Of defeat for Timan-
yonl High Line; to fall, II be -,nst fall,
fighting to the last gasp and with his
face to the enemy.
Il kaow." he said. replying. after the
reflective pause, to the charge passed
On by Colonel Dexter, There Is q
friend of mime here from the East, and
| have been obliged to show her some
attention, so they say am neglectng
my Job. They are also taking IL
around that am your Jonah. and say
ing that your only hope Is to pitch me
| overheard"
That's Dave kinxle," growied the
Missourian. "He seems TO have II In
for you, some way"
Nevertheless. he was right" Smith
returned gioomiIy. Then: II am about
at the end OF hey rope, .colonel--the
| rape / warned you about When you
brought me here aud put me into the
| saddle; and I'm trying desperately to
hang IN until my Jobs done, When IL
IL done. when Tmanyoni. High Line
can stand fairly on It's own feet and
fight It's own battles, I'm gone"
"Oh. no. you're not" denied the
ranchman- president Ia generous pro-
| test. You come on out home with me
tonight and get away from this muddle
for few minutes, Itll do you Ii heap
of good: ynu know It always does"
Smith shook his head reluctantly bat
| firmly.
""NsSer asala colQgnel II, can >Qn,T h tee.
a maftnr az i lew days now, ahd iii
mt going TO pull you aud your wife
and daughter into the limelIght If / can
help IT,"
Colonel Dexter got out OF his chair
and walked to the Office window. When
he came back II was 10 say: Are they
snre-enough chasing you. Johnf-fo
something that you have done7 Is that
what you're trying to tell mer'
THAT is it-und they are nearly here
Now you know 1T least one OF the rea-
sons why ! can't SO with you tonight"
IN be shot II do" stormed the
generous one. Il promised the missus
Id bring you"
"Iou must make my excuses TO her
and To Corona you may say that am
once more carrying gun. She viii IN
derstand."
(which means, l take II. that you've
been telling Cory more than you've
told the rest Of VIZ. That brings on
more talk. John. haven't said Il word
before, have IT.
no"
well. I'm going TO say It now: I've
got only Just one daughter la the wide.
wide world, John"
Smith stood up aud put his hands
behind him, facing the older man
squarely.
Colonel. I'd give ten years Of my
life, this minute. II might go with you
to Hillcrest this evening and tell Co |
roma what have. been wanting to tell
her ever since have come TO know
what her love might make Of me. The
fact that | can't do 1t IL the h!tterest
thing l have ever had to face, or can
ever be made TO face"
Colonel Baldwin fell back into his
swtRs-ehasr and thrust hsx hands into i.
his pockets.
ut beats the Dutch how things
tangle themselves up for us poor NOR
tails every little sowhile," he com
mented after frowning pause. And |
then. "You haven't said anything Ike |
that to Cory. have your"
"No." r-" ~.'1t ''
THAT was white, anyway, And now
| suppose the ether woman--this Miss
Rich. something brother over ~ the no.
telhas come and dug you w and got |
YOU on the end OF her trailing rope. /
That's the way II goes when a ruan I
mixes and mingles too much. You |
never Gag tell"
Hold on" Smith interposed what
ever else may be, I'm not that kind
OF seoundrel. | don't owe Miss /
Richlander anything that I can't pay |
without doing injustice TO the woman
love. But In another way ! am q
scounirel. colonel. For the past two |
days | have been contemplate enough |
"a play upon wonan's vanity merely |
for the sake Of keeping her from talk
Ing too much.
The srixzled old ranchman shock his I
head sorvowfully
II didn't think that Of you, John; !
sure didat. Why, that's what you
might call w-dowu. tin-horn sort Of /
ii game
Il. is inst that. and know II rs
we'll as you 10, But its the price /
have 10 pay for MY few days Of grace. !
Miss Richlaader knows the STATIONS I
they've made II their hEstness-to get !
acquainted with her Onc word from I
her 10 Crawford Stanton. and Il wire t
from him 10 MY home town In the mid /
die West would settle me-"
The elder man strsightened himself /
In his chair. and his steei-gray eyes
hlaEed suddenly.
"Breas away from 'eu. john" he
urged. Break II OF short. and let EN- |