Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-01-02
why had Rale told me all th!sr I ssss

why had Rale told me all thssF I fzat
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 me-
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 l had
completed my toilet, and We're still
there listening to a story Rale was
telling when the slatternly white wom-
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 his apron, he
crossed the room and drew UP a chair
opposite me.
"AIl right, SAL" he grunted shortly.
Bring on 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. mo wonder wa
don't do no business with thet kind ov
a cook. No, yer needn't stay-go an
make up them beds in the other room
I'll 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.
II amt got no money, myself" ] be-
gan to explain, alphabetically, "but
Tim thar sed he'd pay my BILL"
''Sure, that's all right; amt wor-
ryin' none. Maybe l might put yer in
an easy way O. gettin' hold O. little
coin-thet is if We amt too blame, per-
ticular."
''Me!''s laughed. "Well, / reckon
1 don't aim. fer ter be tibet. I've hin
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 sortr job is it?''
He eyed me cautiously, as though
not altogether devoid of suspicion.
eyer don't somehow look just the
same sort O. chap, with them Their
whiskerS shaved off" he acknowledged
soberly. eyer a sight better lookin'
then I thought yer wus, an sight
younger. Wha wus it yer cum frum?"
"Frum Saint Louee, on the boat, If
thet's what yer drivin' at"
"'Tain't what Ipo drivin' at. Whar
else did yer cum frum afore then?
Yer amt got no buns face"
ooh. l see; well, 1 can't help that,
kin 1? wus raised down in Mississip',
an run away when l wus fourteen.
I've been a driftin' long ever since.
1 reckon my face amt goin' ter hurt
none SO long as the pay is right"
mo, I 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
ly aware of his continued scrutiny, my |
heart beating fiercely, as l endeavored
to force down more of the food as an
excuse to remain at the table. What
would he decide? Finally he spoke