Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-01-30
Continued from last week


"And wus this the cause of the quar-
rel between Kirby and KennedyY
"Wal', I reckon it wus; leastwise
Tim wudn't be mixed up in the affair
none. They he'd it prutty blame hot,
an [ reckon thar'd bin a dead deputy
if hedn't bin fer me. Tim thought |
wus IA prutty gud frien' an cum over
we're ter liquor, an eat. Their joke ov
it is, he never knOw'd tibet Joe he'd told
me all bout the fix he wuz in, .afore
we cum ashore. H, it wus all fixed
up whut wus ter be dOne-only we
didn't expect the steamer wuS gOin' on
north. Thar's sum boys wantin' a
drink; see yer agin."
1 finished shaving, making no at
tempt to hurry, busily thinking over
this new situation. In the first place
why had Rale told me all this? | felt
convinced the man 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. His part
ing words implied that. Perhaps the
revolt of the deputy made it necessary
for the cOnSpiratOrS to select another
helper to properly carry out their ne
fariOus scheme. and Rale had decided
that [ might answer. | hoped this
might prove the explanation and de-
termined to seek the earliest oppor-
tunity TO impress upon that individual
the fact that / was desperately in
need of money, and decidedly indiffer-
ent as to 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 to story Rale was
telling when the slatternly white wom-
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 his apron, he
crossed the room and drew up q chair
opposite me.
"All right, SAL" he grunted shortly.
Bring Oh whit 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.
mice looking mess that he
growled, surveying the repast with I'M
disguised disgust. "No wonder we
don't do no business with tibet kind ov
a cook. No, yer needn't stay-go an
make up them beds in the other room.
III watch things yere."
judged the fellow had come over
intending to resume our interrupted
conversation. but hardly knew what
he had best venture. [ decided to give
him lead.
Il amt got no money, myself" be-
gan to explain. apOlogetically, "but
Tim thar sed he'd pay nay BILL"
Sure, that's all right I amt wor-
ryin' none. Maybe 1 might put yer in
an easy way o. gettin' hold o. little
coin-thet is if ye amt too blame per
ticular''
Me-" 1 laughed. "Well, I reckon
I don't aim fer ter be tibet. I've bin
ten years knockin' bout between New
Orleans an Saint Louee, steamboatin'
mostly. Tibet sort O. thing don't make
no saint out'r eny kind man, reckon.
What sOrt'r 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
sOberiy. eyer a sight better lookin'
then l thought yer wus, an sight
younger. VIVA was it yer cum frum? 2"
'Frum Saint LOuee, on the boat, if
thet's what yer drivin' at"
Tain't what I'm drivin' at. Whar
else did yer cum frum afOre then?
Yer amt got no buns face"
~Oh, l see; well, can't help that,
&ln L? ! wus raised down in Mississip',
an run away when | wus fourteen.
I've been a driftin' long ever since.
I reckon my face amt g0in' ter hurt
none SO long as the pay is right"
mo, / reckon maybe it won't. I've
seed sum baby faces in my time tibet
sure he'd the devil behind 'em. Whut's
yer name?"
''Moffett-Dan Moffett."
He fell silent, and | was unpleasant
Nv aware of his continued scrutiny, my
heart beating fercely, as [ endeaVored
TO force down more of the food as an
excuse 10 remain at the table. What
would he decide? Finally he spoke
once more, but gruf1ly enough, leaning
forward, and lowering his voice to q
hoarse whisper.
'WaP now see yere, Moffett, I'm
gOir' fer ter be d plain with yer.
/ reckon yer whit yer say We are. fer
thar amt no reason. fer as I kin see,
why we should lie bout it. Yer fiat
broke, an need coin, an I'm takin' We
at yer own word--thet We don't care
overly much how yet git it. Tibet
frue?"
~JuSt 'bout-So it amt no hangfn'