Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-07-15

sockets and rocking to and fro as he
stood. "Let me show you how 1t
stands. Look me in the eye and you'll
see that I don't lie. It's this way. I
had met Edie-Miss Calder, that is
before I came that morning, and there
were things which made ms look upon
her as free, and, thinking that, I let
my mind dwell on her. Then you said
she wasn't free but was promised to
you, and that was the worst knock
I've had for a time. 1t clean put me
off, and I made a fool of myself for
some days, and it's a mercy Tn not
in Berwick Jail. Then by chance I
me her again-on my soul, Jock, 1t
was chance for me-and when I spoke
Of you she laughed at the thought. 1t
was cousin and cousin, she said, but
as for her not being free, or you being
more to her than a friend, it was FOOLS
talk. So you see, Jock, I was not so
much to blame after all, the more so
as she promised that she would let you
see by her conduct that you were mis-
taken in thinking that you had any
claim upon her. You must have no.
ticed that she has hardly had a word
for you for these last two weeks"
laughed bitterly. "It was only last
night" said /, "that she told me that
I was the only man in all this earth
that she could ever bring herself to
love"
Jim Horscroft put out a shaking
hand and laid 1t or my shoulder, while
he pushed his face forward to look
into my eyes.
"Jock Calder" said he, 81 never
knew you tell a lie. You are not try
ing to score trick against trick, are
you? Honest, now, between man and
man."
"It's Gods truth" said l..
He stood looking at me, and his face
had set like that of a man who is hav-
ing a hard fight with himself. 1t was
a long two minutes before he spoke.
"See here, jock said he, "this
woman is fooling us both. D'you hear,
man?-she's fooling us both. She loves
you at West Inch, and she loves me
on the brae-side, and in her devils
heart she cares a whin blossom for
neither of us. Let's join hands, man,
and send the hell-fire hussy to the
right-about."
But this was too much. l could not
curse her in MY own heart, and still
less could stand by and heal another
wan do it. not though it was my old
~ friend.
-"H."'' "nn cali names" cried.
"..r!l vow sicken me with ycur soft
talk. I'll call her what she should bst
called"
"Will you, thought said 1, Juggling
off my coat. Look you here, Jim
Horscroft, if you say another word
against her I'll lick it down your
throat if you We're as big as Berwick
castle. Try me, and see!!"
He peeled off his coat down to the
elbows and then he slowly pulled it on
again.
Don't be such a fool, jock" said
he. 1.-Two old friends mustn't fall out
over such a-well, there, l won't say
it. Well, by the Lord! if she hasn't
nerve for ten"
1 looked around, and there she was,
not twenty yards from us, looking as
cool and easy and placid as we were
hot and fevered.
Il was nearly home," said she,
when I saw you two boys very busy
talking, SO I came all the way back
to know what it was about"
Horscroft took a run forward and
caught her by the wrist. She gave a
little squeal at the sight of his face,
but he pulled her toward where 1 was
standing.
Nov. Jock, we've had tomfoolery
enough" said he. "Here she is. Shall
we take her word as to which she
likes? She can't trick us now that
We're both together"
Il am willing" said L.
"And so am /. If she goes for you
l swear I'll never so much as turn an
eve on her again. Will you do as
much for me?"
Eyes, 1 WILL"
"Well, then, look here, you! We're
both honest men and friends, and we
tell each other no lies, and so we know
your double ways. I know what YOU
said last night. Jock knows what you
said today. D'you see? Now, then, fair
and square! Here we are before you,
once and have done. Which is it to
be, Jock or me?'
You would have thought that the
woman would have been overwhelmed
with shame, but instead of that her
eyes were shining with delight, and ]
dare wager that it was the proudest
moment of her life. AS she looked
from n to the other of us, with the
cold morning sun glittering on her
face, I had never seen her look so
lovely. Jim felt it also, Lam sure, for
he dropped her wrist, and the harsh
lines were softened upon his face.
"Come, Edie! Which is it to be?s
he asked.
Naughty boys; to fall out like this
she cried. "Cousin Jack, you know
how fond I am Of you.''
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