The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-06-30
Too Much
Mounted Police
(Copyright.)
By EDWARD PERRY

with the expression every homesick |
Englishman throws backward. when
his thoughts and footsteps have turned |
to the island whence comes his name
and fame.
A moment only, and the horse loped !
southwark into Montana. Delay Is
never advisable when desertlng the |
Canadian service.
II was only step to England now,
n bit of n way down the country to
New Orleans, and then just over the
water. Two years OF chasing his
legs of after beggarly Indians and
white men not worth the killing. And
she waiting while the folks were
growing old and II was time girl
should be settled in home OF her
own.
lie was going back where he left
her. with her blue eyes among the
roses, the chnnnel-wind running
through her hair. What difference did
II make to anybody but him and the
girlY
When he pulled up again he uE-
rolled his blanket and shortly remount-
ed, merely an Englishman in miners
outfit.
Presently the Englishman entered
the mountaln-hotel barroom. He found
the place filled with miners. heavily
1ulet under the restraint OF some com.
mon purpose. The Englishman en-
countered the conclusion OF Its clinch-
ing argument:
Law and order Is the proper COM
binatlon where It works right. It's
weak, slow medicine for murder and
horse-stealing together. Wen take
drink now" 49,
The Englishman participated In the
public drink, but NOT the public con-
fidencc. - .f
Thinking Of hanging somebodyr'
he inquired, In the general upllft Of
glassware.
"Not thinking on II; we're drink
ing on IT," bar nelghbor responded.
The Englishman accepted this state
ment Of the situation without further
question or comment. II was not his
affair. anyhow. so he'd just stroll round
a bit and get awny.
On the heels OF. that conclusion he
turned the hotel corner and directly
confronted the strictly local ISSUE"
1t was projected through barred
window, from face as young and as
tanned as his own.
$50. you're the chap they're going
to hang2" he confded by way OF greet
Ing.
The face hardened into display Of
desperate interest, which forced ex-
preston In one word:
"whenY"
They evolve curious but comprehen-
slve forms of conveying information
In the Rockies.
at won't be long till dark" the Eng
llshman answered.
"You might go easier II you told me
about It," the EnglIshman suggested
1T makes you feel lot better. Hap.
/, pen you've owned upf"
"Owned Hadesl I'm going clear
and game. / never killed him. Some
body round here must know ! ain't
lying, but likely he'll be too busy with
the rope tonight to mention It,"
The Englishman asked particulars
Its hard.luck- layout you cant
ueat," the window narrative ran bit
terly II came out here to get gold
mine. There's little girl back In
Indiana not - else's going to dc
| Justice to. | promised to get her one
just little girl with blue eyes, fool.
Ing around among the roses, waiting
for me and that gold mine, but most
ly me.
"I.uck's against us every turn.
miss the gold mine all along. The
general idea is that I'm broke and
hopeless, which Is so near the truth
Il amt worth while to contradict II
"An old-timar round here had q
bunch OF ponies, and I made deal
for one, seeing I'd have to locate that
gold mine somewhere else. l dldn''
tell anybody about my plans, and the
last seen OF me was when I went over
to the old mans claim In the evening
to get my pony and pull out, quiet and
cool. In the moonlight.
Next day I'm camped and asleep
when I'm walked. with the muzzle Of q
rife and the information that I'm q
murderer and horsethief. Know
ing left the old man safe and salts
fed. I'm willing enough to go back
I'm sorry now l was. There's better
ways 10 die than being lynched In the
dark. a
''The old man had been found dent
shat morning. I was last seen neal
his claim, and had his pony. But
by Heaven. I didn't kill him ="
The hglishman weat back TO hi
horse.
Presently he shook out his discard
ed uniform, carefully. removing th'
stain OF stones he had cast upos II
He found ard hlled cut blank form
from his memory OF shs face af thu
window. Then he Mt his pipe again