The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-06-14
CHAPTER VIII
N~ghbors

N~ghbors
Sim Gage. hcsitant az the door OF
his bare-noored tent in tho cool dawn
saw smoke arising from the chin
ney OF Wild Gardner's house. From
sense OF need he determined "a
pay wld a visit. Ills leg was dolnr
badly He hobbled over TO the oabir
door. where all was silent. knocked
and knocked again. more loudly. she
stlll siept-slept as shs had not
dreamed she could.
who's there she demanded a
length. "oh. yes: walt a minute"
Good morning. ma'am." said he
rive come 10 get the breakfast" Al
she could do was 20 stand about
wis,ful. pcrplexed. dumb.
Now, ma'am." said he. after h'
had cooked the breakfaHt-iikc In al
ways to the supper OF the night be
forc-"t'm agoing To ask you e
stay here alone little while today
You alnt afraid. are your"
You'll not be gone long, IT.
lonesome 20 me all IN. time. oi
course" In reality she was terrified
beyond words a, the though, OF beint
left alone.
Il know that Bu, vic got 20 gci
a dog and some hens for you.
Just thought ia so over and Sc
wild Gardner. n little while. and ialh
over things
How is your knee now" shs
asked. at seemed TO me you sound
ed rather limpy. Mr.. Gage"
lis that what you want to call me
ma am" said he at iast--'Mr Gage
II sounds sort of strange To me. but
II makes me feel taller. Folks al
ways called me Sim"
She heard him turn. hesitant
You'll no, he gone long," said she
Il reckon not"
Then bring me the pan Of potn
toes In here, 80 that can peel them.
You're mighty helpful. ma'arn.
don't see how KEEP, house here al
all without you.
"Ma'am." he went on. presently
hesitatlnE. after his baAhful fashion
This here IL a right strange place
way you and me II throwed In here
together. III TAX. care OF you this
best can. The only trouble n In
afraid about folks. that's all"
what do you nean--about folksF
III Their. was woman within M
~ miles Of you knowed you wasn't
married 10 me. she'd raise he'll sure
An women is that way. and SONS
men is. too. There Amt been nc
room for taik--yet-"
yeti" abe said What do yot
meant
But this was Carrying sim Car'
into water too deep for him. H'
only stepped closer to the door
Don't you be scared TO be abone
u,ue'while. SO long" he added. ane
No he icf, her.
/ lie saw Wild himself turn out n
his gate and approach him: dreaded
the grin on Wid's face even before
he saw g.
.wcn. there. ncIghhor.- said th'
oneomsr. You're out at last. How''
everything"
sim looked down a, his bandagec
leg with a gesture.
How come that
'One OF them damn broncr cut ms
with his forefoot when ! was un
hitchlnT. Did you Kit track OF them
! ANYWHERE They run off"
They're hanging around here,
aaid Wild indiffercntiy. He bent over
the wounded member. so he struck
you with his front hoof7 That's
bad leg. Sim. It's getting black
and here's some red g,reaks."
I'm some scared about IT. said
Sim. seems 20 me ia better get
a doctor. got 20 get me a dog first
and some hens"
wild Gardner took has'y but
careful inventory OF his friends ap
pearance, his shaver face. his clean
hands. his new clothing.
"How's your wife. S!m7- he said
grinning.
THAT lady. she's all right Left
her pairing spuds. And want to say
20 you, Wild. while I'm away from
there, everybody else stays away
too"
what. not get 10 see the BRIDE
That Amt very friendly. seems &c
me-
well. what I snid goes
You're n jealous sort OF bride
groom said Wild. laughing openly
The dull color OF Sims face showed
| "a. anger in his heart THAT lady
she's there Mt my house" said he
"and she's going to be left alons
there. she's sort OF shy. This coun
try's plumb new TO her"
But honest. Sim"-and his neigh
boris curiosity now was apparent
what sort OF a locker Is she?
"Prcttier'n a spotted pup said
Sim, succinctly.
| "sbe like the country pretty wellT
| SAYS it's the prettiest she evei
seen" replied Sim. That's what she
said"
And you owe all this TO me. come
10 simmer II down"
81 amt simmering nothing down,
said sim. Here's your gate. Down
there liz mine. Don't none OF you &c
in there until tell you It's time
| that's all"
wei. I dunno as ! care TO-" re
piled Wild.
| "Better not" said Sim Gage. 81
Amt a.going to have that girl both
| cred by nobody. OF course. you and
nm hath knoyys we Amt married