The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-02-19


II was such night ms this; he had
Just returned from the drive. as they
were doing now. But then II had been
the Upper Nashwank--not Cross Creek
---and they had stopped to celebrate
their freedom at Stanley. or course.
he had sworn to let the bottle alone.
and In those days his word was ms
good as his bond. But what II he had
been fool, and his intractabIe enemy
had got the better OF him?
Hadn't man a right to kick over
the traces once In while without be-
Ing called to account? Still. he
shouldn't have gone to Madge In that
condition--he knew that. But he had
only meant TO catch a glimpse OF her
through the window. until he saw that
she had company. Even then he might
have restrained his jealous rnge II Nc
Knight hadn't looked ut her the way
he did, and she hadn't played and sung
those very songs she always sang for
him.
Every one knew that Mcknight was
after her, too, though he had never let
that fact worry him before. II had
ended with his entering and creating
scene that no self-respecting girl
could overlook. He could see the ex.
preston of pain and pity IN her eyes
now, hear Hugh's quiet words OF rea-
son. see himself tumble for his clasp
knife. and have It ierked from his
shaking fingers. Then. as he was ienv-
Ing, he had sworn to "get even"
That, Mt least, was an oath he Ind
never forgotten. As he sank lower
and lower II had become more and
more OF an obsession--become the one
ambition of his bestial existence. What
was he waiting for2 Curse the music
II was vengeance, not regret he wished
to dwell on.
The song came to an end. and he
slowly rose to his feet. Bud and Lefty
would be covering In the shadows.
curslng his delay Before he had taken
three steps. however, singers sweet
voice held him again. OF all the dear
songs that Mndge had sung TO him.
"The Banks OF Loeb Lomond" was the
dearest. the one most pregnant with
his passion; and with stifled oath he
leaned against the wall and surren-
dered himself to its spell.
You take the high road and I'll take the
low road
She seemed TO be there In person
pleading with his warped soul as she
had pleaded In the past. reminding
him of all those shattered promises
and the love he had forfeited.
The phonograph whirred and
stopped. draft caused the lamps
to flare and smoke. and
up with yer paws, you louts !" came
a harsh. nasal voice.
Angus North awoke with an inar.
ticulate shout. and sprang toward the
: door. where two mufiied figures were
standing with leveled pistols. The log
gers had Jumped to their feet, and a
few weres obeying the order. But the
boss was not OF this number. For all
his big frame. he had brain and body
trained for sudden action. and scarce.
fore he was charging recklessly down
the camp.
Luckily for him the stranger was
!, nearer the door, and as Lefty's finger
+, contracted on the trigger he threw
!. himself between them. At the report
North pitched on his face, and Nc.
Knight. clearing his body without a
pause. was upon the robbers before
a they could fire again. Lefty went
down before the knotted fist as II he
9 had been struck by n peavey. and
though Bud made an effort to dodge
! he was caught by an arm and crumpled
j violently to the floor. A dozen rough
a hands made further resistance impos
o sible.
e Then the boss dropped beside the
l. man who interposed and gently raised
g his head The bullet had bored through
n his right shoulder, but without touch
ing the bone.
/ "pm done for. Hugh" announced
, the tramp without emotion.
: The boss started. "By Jove It's An
gus North |" he cried, and he stared II
amszement ut the wreck Of his one
y time friend.
u "Sure thing. Come back ter stay"
II "An' Jest In the nick o. time. too
e He'd have winged me, I guess, II yel
hadn't got In the way"
,, The woodsman is not demonstrative
u and the tone rather than the word
evidenced the gratitude he felt for thu
D act North's weak features suddenl!
J. hardened.
n Don't fool yourself. 1t was for he
: sake done It. ! had meant them te
Is kill yer. but-but that pesky phono
r graph got me all balled up an butte'
'e In fore l knew what l was erbout
q Give me drink. some one"
'e The cook ran for a mug Of water
Il and Mcknight held him higher as h,