Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-12-26


ed all his nerve. Now the Bantam
knows what he knew well enough be-
fore, only he knows it d sight
better and that Is that no man living
can shoot in moonlight and tell where
the bullet will go.
''He won't shoot again." ne finished,
turning to her with a CHASTITY smile.
$50 you're safe-safe with me. / don't
ask you to love me for my Iooks-only
for myself"
Andrea looked anywhere but at his
face. "You and know" she said after
a pause, that l am quite safe with
the man you once were"
"Here," said Manchester, his eyes
narrowing. Its too late to pull any
of that stuff. Why didn't you try 1t
back there when l was really softY
"When you were sincere" answered
Andrea, 81 was sincere. You knew it;
but you wouldn't have known tit
wouldn't have been true-if had taken
the chance to save my skin"
That's So" conceded Manchester
thoughtfully. But if you're not going
TO be persuaded to love me, will you
please tell me where 1 get off? What
are you good for. anyway? Do you
realize that | gave up a case of gin
for you and that a case of gin in these
troubled times Is worth all Of three
pounds sterlingT
Andrea WINGED. $50 I'm really not
worth three pounds" she said half to
herself.
Manchester heard and took quick
pity on the usefulness In her voice.
"Well," he said. comfortingly, 81
wouldn't say that. Where it was q
question Of sentiment or a matter Of
having something pretty around the
house a man might go further. Why
even among the blacks"
he paused, looked calculatingly at
her and then went on: "Old-timers viii
tell you that there are two qualities
that don't exist In Africa at all one To-
gratitude and the other is affection. /
think they're right about the first. but
about the second. know better. There
are cases where black likes a partic-
ular woman. and when that happens
his face is marked by a peculiar look
l know 1t and every time catch sight
Of 1t I'm two extra pounds in pocket"
"Why?" asked Andrea. what do
you mean?"
"Why, my dear? Don't you known
Didn't Trevor tell you that Pm-Tm
in trader"
HE said" answered Andrea, "that
you were engaged in some horrible
business, but that he couldn't conceive
Of any reason why he should tell me
what it was. I was very curious then,
but now I really don't care"
"Finieking, Growing prude" er-
claimed Manchester, his mind on Ire
FOR. "Why, It's the most legitimate
hundred per cent little business that
ever crawled out of big brain. If 1t
wasn't for me this whole back coun-
ry would run short OF wives"
You mean you buy and sell wom--
M" asked Andrea.
mo, not exactly" answered Mac
Iloster. Il raise them. I'm the legal
'ossessor of hundred and eighty-two,
II five, or six, wives. Can't just re-
member"
"Ohp' gasped Andrea, crouching still
arther into her corner.
There you CO." said Manchester.
almly. Don't let your imagination
un away with you, my dear. 1 said
IN the legal pOssessor and 1 mean :
ust that. But what's the use of talk
ng. You'll see."
All through the night and we'll into
he next day the boat Travelled stead
y upstream. Manchester yawned pro-
iglously three or four times. but
ever gave up the tiller to boy"
In the early morning they entered a
ing reach of the stream fianked on
9th sides by flat plains. Manchester
TODD erect and his eyes made the cir
1it of the horizon. Nothing" he
lid "If he could have beaten us to
his our name would have been Dem
is. He's given up his favorite little
'otted hen. Flap your wings and say
ood-by."
Andrea's heart, already low, sank a
t lower. Not once through the night
Id she closed her eyes and she knew
NV that she had been hoping and 7
aging that the first CLEAN Of morn
g would find Trevor. the avenger, on
lie bank. She could not know, as did
acCloster, that an impossible forest
unbroken thorn stretched for miles
tween the two camps. There was
st one open road to MacCloster's-
e river-and on that no other boat
uld equal the speed of his own.
"Say," said Manchester, moved by
dden thought. sis there anyone that
'uld give lot of money for your"
Andrea's brows drew together in
nest valuation of what was left of
r old self. Il don't know" she said
,ekly. Perhaps not now"
what would he give for your" Mac