Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1920-12-23
CHAPTER u.
The Master Of the Dirty Mary.

A week before this story opens,
Uriah Devon had steamed the length
Of the lake, anchorlng his boat as near
Ithaca as he dared. Even to his wife.
Edith, he had not confided why he had
brought her to town where yawning
prison doors gaped for her every pass
ing hour.
II won't 60. Riah," Mrs. Devon had
cried when her husband had made the
statement that he intended to visit
ithaca. "You couldn't get me near
that place with a rope around my
neck"
But the very fact that she now sat
on small bench against the boat rail.
ga,ing modify at the water, proved
that Uriah Devon had contrived to
have his way.
Occasionally Mrs. Devon lifted her
head to listen and turned her eyes to
the west where a narrow path zig
Jagged its length up the hill to the
boulevard. 'Into her tortured soul
had come belief since the night be-
fore, that Tony's "GlOriest Cod"
WOuIU SellO her man nome,
:, Suddenly the sound of heavy foot
steps in the forest path brought her
sharply around. At last lie was COM
ing. this man she loved. perhaps
drunk. perhaps to beat her; but new
ertheless he. was coming, and that was
all she cared about @..
Uriah Devon slowly walked up the
.gangplank in silence.
"Where you been?" the woman
forced herself to say. But instead of
replying, he demanded:
"Wheres TOnnibel?'
J II Dunno" was the answer. "a min
ute ago she was over there not ten of
your legs jumps from here. {.
Where you been all this week?"
He'd been on terrible spree. she
decided. He looked as II he had been
drunk for days. That he had some
thing unusual on his mind. she knew,
and she knew, too. 1t was about Ton
nibel, for hadn't he asked for the kid
the moment he'd returned?
Its about time we was doing
things. Ede," he said. turning grimly.
1--WE waited rs long as dared. Rcge
says Paul Pendlehaven hasn't an inch
leeway before he's in his coffin.'"
Mrs. Devon's face grew deathly
pale.
"What do you mean, honey?" she
faltered.
I'VE live like rats In hole" took
up the man. after pause, "while If
Tony was made to do her part. we'd
be on easy street. That's what mean
We've got to have money and lots Of
It. Reggie's willing to marry the kid
IL you mind your business afterward.
His marryin' her amt sayin' he'll stick
to her. But we got to have Doodle.
and we can't get it only through her."
"He shan't have 'er." the woman
said, with hard tones and flashing
eyes. "How many times we got to
say 1t over to you7 If that's the why
you've come to Ithaca. you might as
well turn the old scow north and 60
back again. He's bum," she went
on. "a dude and fool and every
thing else that's bad. He's thief,
too"
Devon laughed
$50 am I, Ede." said he. $50 re you
for that matter. If Reggie knew that
Tony was Paul Pendlehaven's kid. we
wouldn't get one d|n cent of her
money. He SWITCHES from the Pendle-
Ravens and his mother because he
don't get cash enough other ways. A
fellers got to have spendin' money"
"Pretty small pickin's." sneered
Edith Devon. "Stealin' from folks al
most in the grave amt my style. Reg
gie's some second-story man, that
young duffer is." t4
"You sneaked Paul's KID" tainted
Devon. "He wouldn't he almost In
his. grave now II you'd kept your
hands off'n Tony"
The woman turned on him savagely,
paying no heed to his words.
Get your blasted Reggie to steal
enough for Us all from the Pendleha-
vens," she said. 'God knows they've
got It and to spare. It's better'n
handin' Tony over to i'm. He lives at
Pendlehaven's, don't he?"
"He won't do It," cut in Devon.
Reggie amt got the nerve to burn his
fingers too deep. Paul Pendelhaven'd
send him up for that. n he caught
film. Ny plan I. to get Tony married
10 Re-e, snd before the lids screwed
Aown ~ I'sndlehayen's face. shows