Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-03-08


ns be was coming up 10 the house
"Well how bad is IL. Mr.. Seabecky'
abe asked sharply, Just because she
felt the imperative need OF facts--she
who had struggled so long In the quick
annds Of suspicion and doubts and
fears aud suspense.
"iimmm-mm-how bad ~ it--in the
house7" be countered. 'sThe real crime
has been committed there. IL seems 10
me. A few head OF cattle. more or less,
don't count for much against the bro
ken heart OF an old woman"
"Ohl" Billy Louise. her hands
clenchcd upon the gate. stared up
wideeysd into his face. And this was
the real Seabeck. whom she had known
impersonally all her llfci This was
the real man of him, whom she had
never known: a finwlcss diamond OF n
soul behind those bright blue eyes and
that pointed, grnying beard; poet. phi
iosopher, gentleman TO the bone. ooh
You snw that. too And they're your
cattle that we're stolenl You say it.
oh. you're~-you're-"
'llmm-mm--n human beirg, / hope,
Miss Macdonald. as wen as mere
cnftieman"
Marthy did not attempt 10 rise when
Seabeck followed Billy Louise into the
sitting room. She caught up her apron
aud wiped her eyes. After that she
faced senbeck with harsh composure
aud waited for the settlement.
"iimm-mm l have been looking
over the cattle" he began. sitting on
the edge Of chair and turning his
black hut abeently round and round by
the brim. You-mm-mm-you tell
me there were seven head OF grown
stock"
'@rhat they shot and throwed IN the |
river. with the brands cut out" inter
polaled Marlhy stolldly. II heard 'em
say that's how they would Kit rid Of /
'em. an l heard em shootin' down |
there"
'IImm-mm-ycs! DO you know just
what"
'Iflve dry cows m two steers-Iong
two yeeroies, l lodged 'em 70 be-"
Marthy was certainly prompt enough
and explicit enough. And her lips were
grim. and her faded blue eyes hard
aud steady upon the face OF Seabeck.
"Hmm-mm-yes l ind Also" he
went on in his somewhat precise voice
that had earned him the nickname OF
"Dcacoa" among his punchers. that
there are more young stock vented and
rebraadcd than - er - sold your
nephew. Fourteen head. 20 be exnct.
fan ..altl fA I
werc--mm.m-~dsposed OF last night,
that would make twenty-one head Of
stock FOR whlch--mm-mm-I take II
you are willing to pay"
II amt got the money now" Marthy
stated, too apathetie 90 be either de- !
liant or placating. "You Gu fix up the !
papers 4 suit yourself. I'll sign any !
thing yuh want"
"Bmm-mm--ycsi A note covering 4
The amount. with legal rate Of interest, I
xlli bs,-Quite satisfactory, Mrs. Nell ,
Ike. I shall make n lump sum at the q
going price for mixed stock. II you I
have blank note. l." l
sYou kin look Ia that desk over q
Mere permitted Marthy. III yuh don't
ind any there. there Amt none mo- l
where
Seabeck ala not find any blank notes. d
Re found an eloquent confusion OF [
umblcd letters and accounts and pa .
,ers. and guessed that the owner had q
lone some hasty sorting and straight v
ming II his affairs. He sighed. and Z
It's blue eyes hardened for a minute. A
Then Billy Louise moved from the door 4
lnd went over 60 kneel comfortingly j
reside Marihy. and Seaheck looked at \
he two and sighed again. though his 5
yes were no longer stern. He a
pulled sheet OF paper toward him :
md wrote steadily In prlm. upright h
that had never a flourish
but carefully crossed IS and h
'arefuiiy dotted Is aud punctuation n
marks Of beautiful exactness. q
-rou win piencs sign here, Mrs. b
icilke~ he said calmly, coming over q
o them with the sheet OF paper laid C
'moothiy Rpon a iast-year's best-seller q
md with Charles fountain pen In his a
lther hand. ''And II Miss Macdonald o
VII also sign. rs an iudorser. Thick S
can safely do away With any mort
page or other legal security" +
Billy Louise stood 10 and gave him U
zoe iook--which Seabeck did not APP
'reciaie. because he did not see u.
I'D ruiher give a mortgage" Marthy
laic uneasily. sitting up suddenly and
ooking from one 20 the ether. Il don't ,
want Billy Louise 70 git tangled up NJ
ny troubles SHE'S gos plenty OF her
'wn. Her maws just died, SIR. Sea a
beck. And IN bet there was hos q
,lsai n doctors bill blgger'n this eat- 81
lie note. 10 be paid. l don't want 70 q
,lle on
-Now. Marthy. you be ssill. I'm per "
Getty willing 70 sign this note with h
ron. II Il viii satisfy Mr. Seabeck, b
.'m sure it's the very best we can do a
,r-expect" Billy Louise. bless her p
heart, was trying very hard TO be CRATE L
.ui 10 Seabeck In spite OF the slump .
ie had suffered In her estimation.
Swell. III want your written word b