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


said. nor did | question him. The
trail ended before a two-room log
cabin, so deeply hidden in the woods
as to be revealed merely by glimmer
Of light shining out from within
through Chinks In the walls. Tim FUN
bled for the latch and finally opened
the door, lurchlng across the threshold,
dragging me along after him. There
were two men at sloppy table, dis
reputable looking white woman stir
ring the contents of n pot hung over
the open fire, and a fellow behind the
bar, attired in a dingy white apron. 1t
was all sordid enough, and dirty-a
typical frontier grogshOp; but the
thing Of most interest to me was tie
proprietor. The fellow was the same
red-mustached individual whom / had
watched disembark from the steamer
that same afternoon, slipping In the
yellow mud as he surmountCd the
bank, dragging his valise along after
him. SO II was this fellow passenger
who had given these fugitives refuge;
ii was his presence In these parts
which had decided Kirby 20 make the
venture ashore. He glanced up at our
entrance the glare Of light overhead
revealing a deep, ugly scar across his
chin and a pair of deep-set, scowling
eyes.
Back in time fer supper, hey, Ken
nedy," he growled, none too cordially.
"Who's yer frien?'
"A feller whuts goin' ter enlist.
He's all right, Jack" the deputy hlc-
coughed thickly. Les liquor, an then
We'll eat. I'm payn' the blll-so
whuts It ter yer?'
"Nuthin' tail; eny frlen' O. yers gifts
ther best I have"
He set out a squat bottle on the bar,
and thinking 1t best to humor the both
of them l poured out a stiff drink,
fully aware that Rale was observing
my features closely.
"Seen yer afore sumwhar, amt II"
81 reckon" l replied indifferently,
watching Tim fiji his glass. Il worked
my way up on the boat; saw yer on
board"
Sure; that's It; 'tain't in my line
fer ter forgit q face. Yer amt en-
listed yit?'
NO l reckon III wait till maunin',
an clean up a bit furst. How bout
sum soap an water fore l eat?-an'
yer cudn't loan me razor, cud YEP
"WaP got plenty O. water, an may
be cud scare up sum soap. Tim yere
he's got razor, an if he's frlen' O
yers, reckon he mought lend it ter
yer"
The deputy g2lped down his drink,
and smacked his lips, clinging with
one hand to the bar regarding me low
ingly.
Sure; he's a friend o. mine. Shave
him myself soon's I git sober Whuts
thet? Yer can't wait? Oh, all righ
then, take it yerself. Mighty fin razor,
OF man."
Rale found me q tin basin, water. q
bit Of rag for a towel, and a small,
cracked mirror, in which my reflection
was scarcely recognizable. He was a
man of few words, cpntenting himself
with uttering merely a dry comment on
Kennedy, who had dropped back into
a convenient chair and buried his face
on the table.
Tins a good fellow, an never saw
him so blame drunk afore," he said, re-
gretfully. He an Kirby he'd a row,
an l reckon thet's whut started him
drinkin'."
"a row; a quarrel, you mean2" for
getting myself in surprise. "Who's
KirbyT
Joe Kirby; yer sure must know him
If yer a river man. Slim sorter feller,
with a smooth face; slickest gambler
ever wus. I reckon"
'Why, Of course" getting control of
myself once more. I'VE picked him
up, long with Tim, down river. He'd
/ two women with 'em, didn't theyi
runaway nigCers?"
Rale winked facetiously, evidently
rather proud of the exploit as it had
! been related TO him.
Wal, ther way I understan', they
want both of 'em niggers; however
that was the story told on board. This
yere Joe Kirby is pretty slick, let me
tell you. One of ems n white gurl
who just pretended she wus a niger
I reckon thet even Kirby didn't catch
on ter her game at furst; an when he
did he wus too blame smart ter ever
let her know. She don't think he
knows yet, but she's liable fer ter find
out mighty soon"