Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-10-16

man striking me dumb. This then had
probably been his real purpose from
the start. He had followed Beaucaire
deliberately with this final end in view
of running him, and thus compelling
his daughter to yield herself.
"And you actually. mean that you
propose now to force Judge Beau
calre's daughter to marry you?"
"Well. hardly that, although shall
use whatever means possess. in
tend to win her If can, fair means, or
foul"
drew a deep breath, comprehend
ing now the full iniquity of his plot,
and bracing myself to fight 1t.
"And what about the other girl,
Klrbyp for there is another girl"
"Yes," rather indiffsrently, "there is
another" Vs.
"Of course yea know who she ISL"
"Certainly-a niger, a white mig
ger; the supposed illegitimate daugh-
ter Of Adelbert Beaucaire, and slave
woman. There is no reason why I
should fret about her, is there2 She
is my property already by law" He
laughed again, the same ugly sneering
laugh Of triumph. "That was why I
was SO particular about the wording Of
that bill Of sale-I would rather have
her than the whole bunch Of field
hands,"
"You believe then the girl has never
been freed-either she, or her
motfer?"
Believer know. I tell you never
play any game with my eyes shut"
"And you actually intend toto
hold her as a slave?" .M
swell, I'll look her over first before
I decide-she would be worth pot
full Of money down the river"
The contemptuous, utterly indiffer-
ent manner in which lie voiced his viii
famous purpose, would have crazed
any man. To me this utterance was
the last straw, breaking down every
restraint, and leaving me hot, and
furious with anger. forgot the muz-
zle of the pistol pressed against my
side, and the menacing threat in
Kirby's low voice. The face of the
man was indistinct, mere outline,
but the swift impulse to strike at it
was Irresistible, and let him have the
blow-a straight-arm jab to the jaw.
My clinched knuckles crunched against
the flesh, and he reeled back, kept
from falling only by the support of
the deckhOuse. There was no report
Of a weapon, no cutlery, yet, before I
could strike again, I was suddenly
gripped from behind by a pair Of arms,
which closed about my throat like a
wise, throttling me Instantly into silent
helplessness. I struggled madly to
break free, straining with all the art
Of wrestler, exerting every ounce of
strength, but the grasp which held me
was unyielding, robbing me Of breath,
and defeating every effort to call for
help. Kirby, dazed yet by my sudden
blow, grew eager to take hand in the
ARRAY, struck me a cowardly blow in
the face, and swung his undischarged
pistol to level with my eyes.
ID you'll" he CALCULATED, and for
the first time his voice really ex-
hibited temper. I'D kill you with this,
but for the noise. No. by Godi there
is safer way than that to settle with
you. Have you got the skunk, Carver?"
"You can bet I have, Joe. kin
choke the life out o. hfm-shall II"
mo; let up bit-just enough 80 he
can answer me first. I want to find
out what all this means. Now look
here. Knox, what is all this to you?
Why are you butting in on my gamer
Was Beaucaire friend Of yours?"
II can hardly claim that" I admit
ted. Eve never met until I came
aboard this steamer. All am inter-
ested in is Justice to others"
ITO others? Oh, suppose you mean
those girls-you know them then2'
Il have never even seen Them" ]
said.
II see; a self-appointed squire Of
danes; actuated merely by romantic
desire to serve beauty In distress. Ex-
tremely interesting, my dear boy. But,
see here, knox," and his tope changed
to seriousness. LET the romance go.
and talk sense a minute. You are not
going to get very far fighting me alone.
You haven't even got the law with you.
Even If I cheated Beaucaire. which /
do not for q moment admit, there Is
no proof. The money is mine. and 50
Is the land and the niggers. You can
be ugly, Of course. but you cannot
overturn the facts. Now, you acknowl.
edge that what has occurred is per.
sonally nothing to you Beaucaire war
no special friend, and you don't even
know the two girls-all right then
drop the whole matter. I hold nc
grudge on account Of your striking me
and am even willing to share ny witt
you to avoid trouble"