The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-04-01

didn't expect the steamer wus goin' ou
north. Thar's sum boys wanun'
drink see yer pgin."
| finished shaving, making no az.
tempt to hurry, buslly thinking over
this new situation. In the first place
why had Rale told me all This? fa.t
convinced the man had some purpose
I'm his conversation, and that he hat
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 # necessary
for the cOnspiratOrs to select another
helper to properly carry out their ne.
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 iu
need Of money, and decidedly indliier-
ent as to how it was obtained.
The two soldiers, whose entrance
had interrupted our talk, remained as
the bar drinking until after ho.
completed nv toilet, and were still
there listening TO a story Rale WAS
telling when The slatteruly white Nom-
an announced that supper was ready
to serve. Tim slept sOundly, while che
other men remained eugrOsscd i'm their
game of cards. Rale glanced about
at these as though to reassure him
self that they were intent on 'heir
play then, removing his apron he
crossed the room and drew up chair
opposite me.
"Au right, Sal" he grunted shortly.
"Brng on whut yer got"
He remained silent, staring moodIv
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.
'Nlce looking mess that" he
growled surveying the repast with un-
| disguised disgust. mo wonder we
don't do no business with thet kind ov
cook. 10, yer needn't stay-go an
make up them beds in the other 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 q lead.
Il amt got no money, myself" ] be
gan to explain, apologetically, but
Tim thar sed he'd pay my bill"
"Sure, that's all right ain't wor-
ryin none Maybe l might put yer q
an easy way o. gettin' hold O little
coin-thet is if We amt too blame per-
/ tlcular."
Me-" I laughed "Weu, I reckon
I don't aim fer ter be thet. I've bin
ten years knockin' bout between New
/ Orleans an Saint Louee, steambUatiu
mostly Thet sort O. thing don't make
no saint out'r eny kind man, l reckon
! What sortr job is itT'
He eyed me cautiously, as though
| not altogether devoid of suspicion.
yer don't somehow look just the
same sort O. chap, with them ther'
whiskers shaved off, he acknowledged
| soberly Yer a sight better lookln
then I thought yer wus, an sight
younger. Wha wus 1t yer cum frumF
"Frum Saint Louee, on the boat II
thet's what yer driyin at"
"'Tain't what I'm drlvin' at. Whar
else did yer cum frum afore then?
Yer amt got no buns face
"Oh, l see; well, can't help that,
kin I? wus raised down in Mississip',
an run away when I wus fourteen.
I've been a driftin' long ever since,
I reckon my face amt goin' ter hurt
none so long as the pay is right"
mo, I reckon maybe 1t won't I've
seed sum baby faces in my time thet
sure he'd the devil behind 'em. Whuts
yer nameT
"Moffett-Dan Moffett"
He fell silent, and was unpleasant
ly aware of his continued scrutiny, my
heart beating tiercely, as I endeavored
to force down more of the food as an
excuse to remain at the table. What
would he decide? Finally he spoke
once more but gruftly enough. leaning
forward, and lowering his voice to
hoarse whisper
"War now see yere, Moffett, I'm
goin' fer ter be d plain with yer.
l reckon yer whut yer say ye are, fer
thar amt no reason, fer as l kin see,
why we should lie bout it. Yer fiat
broke an need coin, an I'm takin' ye
at yer own word-thet ye don't care