Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-03-01

pull back into the straight trail, q
man--even the one who has been
wronged--would be committing moral
crime to prevent II. To take a person
who wants 10 make fresh, honest
start. and shut that person up amongst
criminals and brand him as criminal
seems to me a worse wrong than TO
steal few head OF cattle; don't you
think so, Mr.. Seabeck7'
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, 4"
he 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 Melke?"
"Charlle Fox Is that the person
you mean, who has been"
"Yes. 1t is And he is horribly sorry,
and so is Marthy. and they'll pay you
for the cattle. And II you do any
thing mean about II, 1t will simply kill
poor old Marthy. You couldn't send
her to the pen, Mr.. Seabeck. Think
how she's worked there In the Cove;
and Charlie has worked like perfect
slave; and he was trying to get
start so he-cOuld-get married."
"Hm-mmw Rumors had reached
Seabeck, thanks to Billy Louise's
dropped lashes upon a certain occa-
sion. which caused him to believe he
saw further light.
"And If you're going to be horrid-'
"Will the--lady ne wants to marry
give him another chanceT
'Don't you think she ought to-if
she l-loyes himT Billy Louise studied
the skyline upon the side farthest
from Seabeck.
"You say he wants to pay for the
cattle and"
Hell do anything he can to make
amends" said Billy Louise, with CON
viction. Hell take his medicine and
go to Jail II you insist" she added sor-
1T win ruin his whole life, |
OF course, and break a couple of wom-
ems hearts, but"
"Its bad thing, mighty bad
thing, when a man tries TO get ahead
too fast"
TITS a good thing when he learns
the lesson without having to pay for 1t
with his whole fsture." Billy Louise
amended the statement.
Seabeck smiled little behind his
myers that kept Juggling at his whis-
GERS.
'Did Charlie Fox send Miss Por-
ia"
'fIe doesn't know l had any inten-
ion OF coming" Billy Louise assured
rIm quickly and with perfect trrth.
They'll both be awfully surprised
When they find II out'-which was also
'erfectly true--"and when they see
ou ride up, they'll think you've got
he sheriff at your back. l haven't q
oubt they"
There are a few points I'd like
D clear up. II you can help me-" Sea-
eek interrupted. "All this rustling |
hat has been going on for the past
ear and half: are Fox and the
IeIlke woman mixed up In that7 I
amt he said. ''to help the young
lan--and her But IL they have been
ON n large scale, I'm
frald--"
II believe Charlie must have been
lfuenced In some ways by bad ac-
Billy Louise answered :
lore steadily than she felt. "But his 7
-ruStling-hns been Of petty kind. (
won't apologize for him. MIR, Seabeck. I
think it's perfectly awful. what he
as done. But l think II would be d
lore awful still not 20 give him [
nance The other rustling is some c
ntside gang. I'm sure. II Charlie )
as mixed up with them. it's very d
ightly--just enough To damn him ut q
,rly II he were arrested and tried.
e isn't a natural criminal. He's just ;
eak. And he's learned his lesson. n
IS up 20 You. Mr.. Seabeck. to say v
neither he shall have a chance 10 h
roflt by the lesson. And there's poor =
"A Marthy In II. too. She just wor~ N
lips Charlie and would do anything o
zen steal for him."
Seahcck meditotcd Tor while. ana b
lily Louise watched him uneasily Il
ON the tail Of her eye. To tell the W
ain truth. she was In panic of fear Il
. what she had done d
Last night. when she lay curled up II
, the stove under Wards wolf-sSin \
lat. this seemed the only possible a
ny out To tell Seabeck and trust to
= kindness and generosity % refrain 4
ON pushing the ease To have Char h
3 Fox give back what he had stolen s
pay for it-anything that would sat n
~ Seabeck's sense OF justice--aud Il
I him start honestly. she had
fought that Seaseck would be merci- y
Il. II she told hsm in the right way
lt now. when she stole glance st d
s bent. breeding fnce she was fright
led. He did NOT look merciful, but 3,
ern and angry. She remembered II
zen that stealing cattle IL the one d
'ime a cattleman finds II hard to for