The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-12-04

why had Rale told me all ths7 ! felt
convinced the maI had some purpose
in his conversation. and that he had
not finished all he Intended to say.
when the entrance of customers COM
PEELED his return to the bar. Ills part
ing words implied that. Perhaps the
revolt Of the deputy made II necessary
for the conspirators 70 select another
helper 10 properly carry out their ne
farious scheme. and Rale had decided
that ] might answer | hoped this
might prove the explanation and de-
termined to see the earliest Opp0r.
tunity 10 Impress upon that individual
the fact thar ! was desperately in
need Of money. and decidedly indiffer-
ent AS 70 how it was obtained.
The two soldiers. whose entrance
had Interrupted our talk. remained at
the bar drinking until after | had
completed my toilet, and were still
there listening 10 u story Rale was
telling when the slatternly white wOin-
an announced that supper was ready
TO serve. Tim slept soundly. while the
other men remained engroSsed in their
game of cards. Rale glanced about
at these as though to reassure him
self that they were intent on their
play then, removing hts apron, he
crossed the room and drew up q chair
opposite me.
"All right, Sal" he grunted shortly.
Bring on whut yer got"
He remained silent. staring moodily
at the fire. until after the woman had
spread out the dishes on the table be-
fore him. Then his eyes fell upon the
fare.
Nice looking mess that" he
growled, surveying the repast with I'M
disguised disgust. NO wonder we
don't do no business with thet kind ov
a cook. No yer needn't stay-gO an
make up them beds in tie other room.
I'll watch things we're"
| judged the fellow had come owe
intending to resume our interrupted
conversation, but hardly knew what
he had best venture. / decided to Civ.
him a lead.
II amt got no money, myself" be
gan to explain. apologetically, "bu
Tim thar sed he'd pay my bill"
"Sure. that's all right: | amt a wor
rim none. Maybe | might put yer ii
an easy way o. gettin' hold o. a Iittl
coin-thet is if We amt too blame per
ticular."
Me-" / laughed. swell. / reckon
| don't aim fer ter he thet. I've Dir
ten years knockin' bout between New
Orleans an Saint Louee, steambOatin
mostly. Thet sort q thing don't maxi,
no saint out'r eny kind man, / reckon
What sortr job is it,"
He eyed me cautiously, as though
not altogether devoid of suspicion.
"Yer don't somehow look just the
same sort o. chap. with them Their
whiskerS shaved Off" he acknowledged
sobcrly. Yer a sight better loOkin'
Their ] thought yer wus, an a sight
younger. VIVA wus 1t yer cum frum?"
"Frum Saint L0uee, on the boat, If
thet's what yer drivin' at"
Jhln WHAT LIN uTINln III. "Hdr
else did yer cum frum afore then?
Yer amt got nc buns face"
"Oh, ee; well. ! can't help that,
kin /? | wus raised down in Mississip',
an run away when | wus fourteen.
I've been a driftin' long ever since.
/ reckon my face amt goin' ter hurt
none so long "A the pay is right"
mo, | reckon maybe it won't. I've
seed sun baby faces in my time tibet
sure he'd the devil behind 'em. Whut's
yer name?"
"Moffett-Dan Moffett."
He fell silent, and l was unpleasant.
iy aware of his continued scrutiny, my
heart beating iierceiy, AS j ~endeavored
to force down more of the food as an
excuse to remain at the table. What
would he decide? Finally he spoke