The Monticellonian., 1918-05-03

I'VE learn to do things quick when
we've handled cattle a few years" he
admitted. He had diffident manner
of receiving compliments which
pleased Billy Louise and gave her CON
tidence a needed brace.
Mr. Seabeck. I've always heard that
you're an awfully square man." she
said Daddy seemed to think that
you could be depended on in any kind
of a pinch. l 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 neighbors," 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 | can for you Miss Macdonald
| think l could be even better than
square-to help a plucky little girl
Who"
Il don't mean Just the ordinary
squareness." Billy Louise put in qui-
city. 81 mean bigness, too; bigness
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-"
"Hn-mm-if you could trust me
enough to"
I'm going to, Mr.. Seabeck. I'm GO
ing to take it for granted you're big
ger than your own squareness. And if
you're motif you're just selfish,
weak, letter-perfect, honest man, I'll
feel like-thrashing you" Without
doubt that was the Billy of her which
spoke.
"I'll take the thrashing If you think
need it," he promised, looking at her
with something more than admiration.
what have you done, Miss MacDon-
aid? If I can help you hide the
body"
There !" Billy Louise dared to
wrinkle her nose at him-and | don't
know which of her did it. 81 knew
you'd play up like good sport. But
what If 1t isn't body? What If
what If you found some of your cattle
with-with 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, sidewise glance and pulled
thoughtfully at the CRAVING whispers
that pointed his chin. Il would have
been glad to lend you money, or help
you in any way"
Eyes. know" Billy Louise snapped
her reins impatiently. But what
would you do about the-cattleY
"What could I do? What would you
want me to do? l should do whatever
would help you. | would"
"Would you-be as ready TO help
somebody else? Somebody Thought
a-lot-of?"
Seabeck evidently saw light. He
cleared his throat and spat gravely
into bush. Il see you don't trust me,
after ALL" he said.
81 do. I've got to; mean, I'd have
to whether | did or not. It's like this,
Mr.. Seabeck 1t isn't the big d 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 Ii. You can shut them up in
jail if you like; you have perfect
right to do It, Some men would do
that and be able to sleep after 1t, |
suppose. But | believe you're bigger
than that. believe you're big enough
to see that If person goes wrong and
then sees the mistake and wants TO
pull back into the straight trail,
man-even the one who has been
wronged-would be committing moral
crime to prevent 1t. To take n person
who wants to make fresh, honest
start, and shut that person up amongst
criminals and brand him as criminal
seems to me worse wrong than to
steal few head of cattle; don't you
think so, Mr. Seabeck?"
What Mr.. Seabeck thought did not
Immediately appear in speech. He was
pulling little harder at his whiskers
and staring at the ears of his horse.
THAT would depend on the person."
he said at last. "Some men are born
criminals"
"Oh. we aren't talking about that
kind of a man. Surely to goodness