The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-01-01
~h, had Raj. ..a me all mis-, fell

Shy mad RaiS oe,d me all thlsf teh
convinced the man had some purpose
N his conversation. and that ne nau
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 II necessary
for the conspirators TO select anothef
helper to properly carry out their ne.
farious scheme, and Rale had decldeu
that | might answer. l hoped this
might prove the explanation and de-
termined to seek the earliest oppor.
tunity to impress upon that indivlduai
the fact that was desperately IN
need OF money, and decidedly indiirer
ent as TO how II was obtained.
The two soldiers, whose entrance
had interrupted our talk, remained az
the bar drinking until after l hso
completed my toilet, and we're SUI
there listening 10 a stssy Rale WA
telling when ths Tiatternsz white woiD
an announced that supper was ready
to serve. Tim slep, soundly. while ms
other men remAiDed engrossed In thef
game OF cards. Rale glanced about
at these as though TO reassUre MIN
self that they were intent on their
play then. removing his apron. ne
crossed the room and drew up chair
opposite me.
"All right. SAL" he grunted shortly.
Bring on whut yer got"
He remained silent. staring mOodily
at the fire. until after the woman had
spread out the dishes on the table be-
fore Atn. Then his eyes fell upon the
fare.
"Nie looking mess that" he
growled, surveying the repast with IN
disguised disgust. ''No wonder we
don't do no business with thet kind ov
a cook. No. yer needn't stay-gO an
make up them beds in the othe! room.
I'll watch things yere."
l judged the fellow had come over
intending to resume our interrupted
conversation. but hardly knew what
he had best venture. / decided to give
him a lead.
81 amt got no money. myself" he
gan 10 explain, alphabetically. but
Tim thar sed he'd pay my hill"
"Sure, that's all right; l amt wor'
ryin' none. Maybe might put yer 10
an easy way o. getin' hold O. little
coin-thet is If We amt too blame per
ticular."
mel" I laughed "Well, reckon
l 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, l reckon
What sort'r 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 sight better loollin
then ! thought yer wus, an sight
younger. Wha wus 1t yer cum frum?"
"Frum Saint L0uee, on the boat. II
thet's what yer drivin at"
"'Tain't what I'm drivin' at. Who'll
else did yer cum frun afore theni
Yer amt got no buns face"
"Oh. / see well, csn't help thet.
kin ]? wus raised down in MISSISSIPPI,
an run away when | vus fourteen
I've been driftin' long ever since
reckon my face amt goin' ter hurt
none so long as the pay is right"
mo. ] reckon maybe IL went. I've
seed sum baby faces in my time thet
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 endeavored
to force down more of the food as an
excuse TO remain ut the table. What
would he decide2 Finally he spoke