The Dolores star., 1920-03-19


jers. Cum W, long with him frum
Beardstown. Frien' o. mine. Yer just
cum long with me-thas all"
permitted him TO lead me. his voice
never ceasing as we followed the dim
trail l made out little Of what he
said, nor did l question him. The
trail ended before two-room log
cabin. so deeply hidden In the woods
| as to be revealed merely by a glimmer
of light shining out from within
through chinks in the walls. Tim fun
bled for the latch and finally opened
the door. lurching across the threshold,
dragging me along after him. There
were two men at n sloppy table, dis
reputable looking white woman STIR
ring the contents Of 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 the
proprietor. The fellow was the same
red-mustached individual whom l had
watched disembark from the steamer
that same afternoon, slipping in the
yellow mud as he surmounted the
him. So 1t was this fellow passenger
who had given these fugitives refuge !;
1t was his presence In these parts
which had decided Kirby to make the
venture ashore. He glanced up at our
entrance, the glare of light overhead
revealing a deep. ugly scar across his
chin and q pair of deep-set. scowling
eyes.
Back In time fer supper, hey, Ken
nedy," he growled. none too cordially.
"Who's yer frien'T
"A feller whut's goIn' ter enlist
He's all right, Jack" the deputy hic-
coughed thickly. Les liquor. an then
we'll eat. I'm payin' the bill-so
whut's IT ter yer?"
"Nuthln' tall; eny frien' O. yers gifts
ther best l have"
He set out squnt bottle on the bar.
and thinking II best to humor the both
Of them l poured out stiff drink,
fully aware that Rale was observing
my features closely.
"Seen yer afore sumwhar. amt II"
II reckon" replied indifferently,
watching Tim fill his glass. 81 worked
my way up on the boat; saw yer on
board"
"Sure; that's 1t; 'tain't in my line
fer ter forgit a face. Yer amt en-
| listed yit?"
"No: I reckon I'll wait till maunin',
mn clann r,,r VI.
sum soap an water fore l eat?-an'
yer cudn't loan me razor. cud yer"
| "Waf l got plenty O. water. an may.
be cud scare up sum soap. Tim yere
he's got razor. an II he's frien' O.
yers. reckon he mought lend 1t ter
yer"
The deputy gulped down his drink
and smacked his lips. clinging with
one hand to the bar, regarding me low
ingly.
Sure; he's friend o. mine. Shave
him myself soons git sober. Whut's
thet? Yer can't wait? Oh, all righ'
then, take 1t yerself. Mighty fin razor,
OIL man."
Rale found me tin basin. water, n
bit of rag for towel, and a small,
cracked mirror, in which my reflection
was scarcely recognizable. He was a
man of few words. contenting himself
with uttering merely dry comment on
Kennedy, who had dropped back into
a convenient chair and buried his face
on the table.
Tins good fellow, an never saw
| hf hIa, ., r..
gretfully. "He an Kirby he'd row,
nu' | reckon thet's whut started him
drnkn'."
"A row; quarrel, you mean?" for.
getting myself in surprise. who's
| Kirby?"
Joe Kirby; yer sure must know him
If yer river man. Slim sorter feller
with smooth face; slickest gambler
ever wus, reckon"
"Why, of course" getting control OF
myself once more. 1--WE picked hin
up, long with Tim, down river Het
two women with em. didn't they.
runaway niggers?"
Rale winked facetiously, evidently
rather proud of the exploit as 1t hat
been related to him.
"Wal, ther way ! understan', They
want both of 'em niggers; however
that was the story told on board. Thi.
yere Joe Kirby Is pretty slick, let me
tell you. One of ems white CURL
who just pretended she wus niger
l reckon thet even Kirby didn't catcf
on ter her game at furst; an when h,
did he wus too blame smart ter evel
let her know. She don't think ht
knows yet, but she's liable fer ter fine
out mighty soon."
But he cannot hold a white won
an" l protested stoutly.
Cant, hey! Wal. I reckon ther,
are ways O. even doin' tibet. an II thai
be. Kirby'll find 1t. I reckon she won
find no chance ter raise holler for,
he's got her tied good an strong"
| "DO Won mean" I 8sked horrjfiad