The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-11-19


aYou measly f1oundi Coin to marry
her for money, am II Maybe you'd
ike to say that ag'in, d--n you !
That's bout the size o. your soul,
Cowan. Take that, You whelpl You
won't be so d--n beautiful yourself
when get through. There nowt Per
haps you'lI lay quiet awhileP
He got to bis feet and glared about
into the ring of interested faces de-
family.
aAny more of yer want to say what
he didr' he demanded. Here, you,
Kelly; you laughed when that dirty
pup said she was homely as hedge
fence! Come here, you red-headed
terrier" and he gripped him by the
throat shaking the fellow helplessly
back and forth In his mad rage. I'm
goin' ter marry that girl, If she'll have
me. an there amt nobody goin' to
slam the looks O my wife, either. You
get that. you coyote? What do yer
think Of 1t now-hey? Spit 1t out:
what do you think Of her nowT
Kelly had to spit 1t out; it was all
he could do with those fingers grip
ping him.
Set go-d--n it-let go! Hill
She's-she's the handsomest woman
ever saw; you-you let go o. me!''
Shelby flung him to one side In utter
disgust, hurting an oath after him as
he reeled dizzily into the protection
of tine crowd. He cast his eyes once
in contempt about the circle, seeking
some other antagonist and finding
none.
ITO hi with all Of you'll" he de-
clared. sect out OF the way therel"
They fell back to give him safe pas
sage and he strobe straight on past
the dance hall and turned down the
dark path leading back to Calkins'
shack. He had but one thought. now.
one purpose: he had burned his
bridges behind. him. After what he
had said and done only single course
remained. Without a pause or a re-
greet he went straight to the door and
raped. 1t was no rfmid touch of the
knuckles this time; he was still too
angry TO either hesitate or doubt. And
there was no sign of embarrassment
in word or act when the door opened
and she stood there looking at him
in wonderment.
I've come back to say another word
to YOU" he announced simply. I'D
like to come in"
Something has happenedY
ut has; I've just had to lick two
pups who got too gay bout you. They
said some things an said some
things. Now I'm aimin' to make good.
You said you'd marry me awhile ago:
does that holdT'
She was leaning against the table,
staring at him: her face seemed to
go white and her hands toyed nervous
ly with knife she had picked up.
"You-you had trouble with two
men, over me?' she asked. her voice
trembling slightly. "What men?'
Red Kelly and a gazabo named
COwan; they was both here"
oh; they were angry at you for
thatT"
Sure; not because you didn't take
no notice Of them; then they got drunk
an undertook to ride me: said il was
a put-up job between US ter get away
with that money"
What money!"
THE twenty-five hundred You was
goin'r to get. The preacher told You
about that, didn't he?"
She shook her head. evidently be-
wildered.
Where was going to get all that
money!"
why. Mccarthy was putin it up;
he and some other bucks, so as TO give
you start after you was married"
She drew a deep breath. looking
straight into his eyes.
You mean those men came here for
that?' Indignantly. They were will
ing to marry me so as to get that
money? Good God was to be soLat