Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-08-12

Sne SAID gratefully.
I'll, ma'am," Dan deprecated,
that warn't nothin'r' And he hurried
into the street as loud cries sounded
outside.
Goodnight, Miss Donovan" West
colt said simply. ''H you are ever
frightened or in need of a friend, call
on me. Til be in town two days yet,
and after that Pete here can get word
to me-" Then, with an admiring, hon
est gaze, he searched her eyes mo-
ment before he turned and strolled to-
ward the rude cigar case.
'All right, now, ma'am?" Pete Tim
mons said, picking up her valise. The
girl nodded, and together they went up
the rude stairs to her room, where
Timmons paused at the door.
'Well, I'm glad you're here" he
said, moving away. "We've been wait
in for you to show. may be wrong,
ma'am, but I'd bet my belt that you're
the lady that's been expected by Ned
Beaton."
you're mistaken" she replied
shortly.
AS she heard him cIatter down the
stairs Miss Stella Donovan of the
New York Star knew that her visit
would not be in vain.
The miner waited, leaning against
the desk. Timmons came down the
stairs, eager to ask questions.
LADY friend o. yours, Jim?" he
asked. "If I'd a knowed she wus
comm I'd a saved a better room"
81 have never seen her until tonight,
Pete. She got off the train and Car
son asked me to escort her uptown~-it
was dark, you know"
"What do you suppose she's come
we're for?"
'Not the slightest idea; take it
that's her business" o.
"Sure; but a Teller can't help won
derini, can he7 Donovan" he unused,
peering at the name; "thats Irish, I
take it-heyT"
"Suspiciously so; you are some de-
tective, Pete. I'll give you another
clue-her eyes are Irish gray"
He sauntered across to the stove,
and stood looking idly at the card
players, blue wreaths of tobacco smoke
circling up from the bowl. of his pipe.
Some one opened the street door, let
ting in a babel of noise, and walked
heavily across the office floor. West
colt turned about to observe the new
conner He was a burly, red-faced
man, who had evidently been drinking
heavily, yet was not greatly under the
influence of liquor, dressed in
checked suit of good cut and fashion,
but hardly in the best Of taste. He
bore all the earmarks Of a CONNER
cial traveller of certain sort-a domi-
neering personality, making up by
sheer nerve what he might lack in
brains. But for his words the miner
would have given the fellow no further
thought.
"Say, Timmons," he burst forth
noisily, and striding over to the desk,
'the marshal tells me a dame blew in
from New York tonight-is she regis
tered here?"
The landlord showed the book for
ward with one finger on the last sig
nature
"Yep," he said shortly, "but she amt
the one you wuz lookin' for-I asked
her that. furst thing"
"Stella Donovan-huhl That's no
name ever heard; what's she look
like? Dark or light?"
"WaaL sorter medium, should say
brown hair with bit O. red in it, an
pair o. gray eyes full of fun-some
girl, to my notion"
The questioner struck his fist on the
wood sharply.
well, what the devil do you sup
pose such a woman has come to this
hole clear from New York for, Tim
mons? What's her game, anyhow"
BLESSED if I know" and the pro-
prietor seated himself on a high stool.
Il didn't ask no questions like that
maybe the gent by the stove there
might give yer all the information yer
want. He brought her up from the de-
poo, an kin talk English. Say, Jim,
this yere is a shorthorn frum New
York, named Beaten, an he seems ter
be powerfully interested in skirts
Beaton, Mr.. Jim Westcott."
The two men looked at each other,
the miner stepping slightly forward,
and knocking the ashes out of his
pipe. Beaten laughed, assuming a
semblance of good nature
my questions were prompted sole
ly by curiosity" he explained, evil
IDENTIFY not wholly at ease. "I was ex-
pecting young woman, and thought
this new arrival might prove to be my
friend"
Hardly" returned Westcott dryly.
GAS the landlord informed you, Miss
Donovan is a lady"
If he expected this shot to take eff
feet he was disappointed, for the grin
never left Beaton's face.
"Ah, good joke; a very good joke,
indeed. But you misunderstood this
is altogether a business matter. This
young woman whom expect is COM
ing here on a mining dealt is not
love 4, Rpogr - on 7 ogg,,vo vyor,