Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-06-14

"How De Do, Miss Mac Donald"
admitted. He had a dilident manner
of receiving compliments which
pleased Billy Louise and gave her con-
fidence a needed brace.
"Mr. Seabeck, I've always heard thai
you're an awfully square man." she
said. Daddy seemed to think that
you could be depended on In any kind
of a pinch. I hope it's true. I'm
banking a lot on your squareness to.
day"
"Why, I don't know about my being
any better than my n%eighbors," he said,
with a twinkle Of humor In his eyes,
which were a bright. unvarying blue.
"But you can bank on my doing any
thing l a for you, Miss Macdonald.
I think l could be even better than
square-to help a plucky little girl
who"
II don't mea just the ordinary
sQuareness." Billy Louise put in qui.
city. ." mean bigness. too a blgness
that will make a man be more than
square a bigness that will let him see
all around a thing and Judge it from
a bigger viewpoint than mere jus.
tice-"
"Hm-mm-if you could trust me
enough to-"
sim going to. Mr.. Seabeck. I'm 20.
ing to take 1t for granted you're big.
ger than your own squareness. And II
you're motif you're just a selfish
weak, letter-perfect, honest man, I'll
feel Hke-thrashing you" Without o
doubt that was the Billy Of her which
spoke.
"T1l take the thrashing II you think
need it," he promised. looking Mt her
with something more than admiration
"What have you done. Miss MacDon.
aldf II I can help you hide the
body"
'Theref" Billy Louise dared tc
wrinkle her nose at him-and don't
know which Of her did 1t. ~ knew
you'd play up like a good sport. But
what IL 1t isn't a body? What If
what If you found some of your cattle
wfth-with a big Drum over your
brandt" She had a perfectly white
line around her mouth and nostrils
then. but she faced him squarely.
"Hm-mm |" Seabeck gave her a
quick, sldewise glance and pulled
thoughtfully at the grazing whispers
that pointed his chin. II would have
been glad to lend you money, or help
you In any way"
"Yes, I know" Billy Louise snapped
her reins impatiently. "But what
would you do about the-cattle7"
what could l do? What would you
want me to do? l should do whatever
would help you. I would"
"Would you-be as ready to help
somebody else? Somebody Thought
a-lot-of7"
Seabeck evidently saw light. He
cleared his throat and spat gravely
into a bush. II see you don't trust me
after all." he said.
81 do. I've got to; I mean, I'd have
to whether l did or not. It's like this.
Mr.. Seabeck. It isn't the big y brand
of course you knew 1t couldn't be. But
1t isn't yours, either. Some one was
tempted and WAS weak. They're sorry
now. They want to do the right thing.
and 1t rests with you whether they
can do 1t. Yon can shut them up in
Jail IL YOU like; you have "A perfect
right to do 1t. Some men would do
that and be able to sleep after 1t, l
suppose. But l believe you're bigger
than that. I believe you're big enough
to see that IL a person goes wrong and
then sees the mistake and wants to
pull back into the straight trail. a
man-eve the one who has been
wronged-would be committing a moral
crime to prevent 1t. To take a person
who wants to make a fresh, honest
start. and shut that person up amongst
criminals and brand him as a criminal.
seems 10 me a worse wrong than to
steal a few head of cattle; don't you
think so. Mr.. ~Seabeck?"
What Mr.. Seabeck thought did not
Immediately appear in speech. He was
pulling a little harder at his whiskers
and staring at the ears of his horse.
'That would depend on the person"
ne said at last. "Some men are born
criminals"
"Oh, We aren't talking about that
kind of a man. Surely to goodness
you don't call Charlie Fox a born
criminal. or Marthy Meilke?"
"Charlie Fox! Is that the person
you mean. who has been"
sYes, It Isl And he Is horribly sorry.
and so Is Harthy. and they'll pay you