The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-02-08


we've handled cattle few years" hC
admitted. lie had difiident manner
of receiving compliments which
pleased Billy Louise and gave her con
tidence Il 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 pinch. ! hope it's true. I'm
banking lot on your squareness to-
day.
'Wny, I don't know about my being
amy better than my nelghbors," he said
with twinkle OF humor In his eyes,
which were bright, unvarying blue.
"But you can bank on my doing any
thing I can for you. Miss Macdonald.
/ think l could be even better than
| square-to help plucky little girl
Who"
II don't mean just the ordinary
squareness," Billy Louise put in qui-
city. 81 mean blgness, too; a bigness
that will make a man be more than
square; u bigness that will let him see
all around Il thing and Judge 1t from
bigger viewpoint than mere JUS
tlce-"
"Hm-mm-lf 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 n
doubt that was the Billy Of her which
spoke.
"Ill take the thrashing If you think
I 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"
"Thercw Billy Louise dared TO
wrinkle her nose at him-and l don't
know which of her did 1t. 81 knew
you'd play up like n good sport. But
what if it isn't body? What if
what If you found some of your cattle
with-with big Drum over your
brandt She had perfectly white
line around her mouth and nostris
then, but she faced him squarely.
'Hm-mm" Seabeck gave her
quick, sidewise glance and pulled
thoughtfully at the graying whispers
that pointed his chin. 81 would have
been glad to lend you money, or .iclp
you in any way"
eyes, know" Billy Louise snapped
her reins impatiently. But what
would you do about the--cnttle?'
"What could do? What would you
want me to do? I should do whatever
would help you. I would"
"Would you--be as ready to help
else? Somebody Thought
a-lot-of?"
Seabecl evidently saw light He
cleared his throat and spat gravely
into bush. 81 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. 1t isn't the big D brand;
of course you knew it couldn't be. But
it isn't yours, either. Some one was
tempted and was weak. They're sorry
now. They want to do the right thing, |
and it rests with you whether they |
can do it. You can shut them up in |
Jail if you like; you have a perfect |
tight to do it. Some men would do |
hat and be able to sleep after it, I |
suppose But l believe you're bigger
han that. / believe you're big enough |
o see that if a person goes wrong and
hen sees the mistake and wants to
lull back into the straight trail, a
the one who has been
be committing moral
rhine to prevent it. To take a person
Who wants TO. make fresh, honest
tart, and shut that person up amongst
riminals and brand him as criminal,
eems to me worse wrong than to
teal a few head of cattle; don't you
hink so, Mr. Seabeck?''
What Mr.. Seabeck thought did not
appear in speech. He was
ulling little harder at his whiskers
nd staring at the ears of his horse.
"That would depend on the person."
e said at last. "Some men are born
riminaIs."
"Oh, we aren't talking about that
ind of mon CnpaIyr IN |