The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-08-04

'lhereS n new lot come up from
Iorkton lately. Maybe they shifted
these To the Pas when they sent some
of he Pas men on 10 Clayton" Wilton
reflected. He turned TO Molly. ANY
way, Wen start bright and early" he
said. Il suppose Well have to have
those fellows company as far rs Clay
ton. But | wonder" He paused. II
wonder whether Joe would forgive me
for leaving him in the hands OF
strangers for a While, if 1t were for
Kitty" he mused.
The two policemen came in, looking
Surly and uncommunicatiye as ever.
After a hurried meal, eaten almost in
silence, Molly said goodnight to Will
ton and went into the c~aretaker's
room. As the door closed behind her
Wilton saw the two men look after
her. The constable whispered some
thing To the sergeant, and both
chuckled.
Wilton's blood was boiling, but he
controlled himself. This was for Kitty,
and his debt TO joe.
The policemen prepared TO lie down.
Andersen was already snoring upon
the roor. The half-breeds. however,
had not come in. and Wilton. going to
the stables, found them curled UP
among the huskies.
you fellows had better come into
the shack" he said, unless you want
70 freeze"
Papillon refused. Them d-n dogs
will fight each other" he said, "if we
don't stay here"
Just as you like" said Wilton.
1t "a not unusual for rival teams
Of huskies to attack each other, but
such antipathy generally developed
from the first, and the dogs seemed
cOntented enough. He Went back to
the shack and lay down, turning over
in his mind what he was projecting,
hut he was utterly worn out, and fell
asleep before he was aware of It.
When he opened his eyes it was al
ready dawn. The policemen were
dressed and standing outside the
shack, conyersinS in low tones. An
dersen was peeling potatoes for break
fast. Wilton heard Molly moving with
in the room, and his doubts fell from
him. He had been upset by the surli-
ness Of the two men he had had vague
suspicious not justified in fact. He
determined to put his proposal to
them.
He walked over to the sergeant, who
was just re-entering the shack with
his companion.
II suppose you fellows are thinking
Of starting at once, after breakfast"
he suggested.
The sergeant looked him up and
down. That's about the size Of it,"
he growled. Got any objections"
Wilton resolutely ignored the af-
front.
"Tve got important business in Clay
ton, affecting Mr.. Bostock's interests"
he said. 1T is very important that his
death should not be known there until
midday tomorrow"
The constable, who was leaning
against the door-pOst, chewing the end
Of a twig, started slightly. Peters
fixed Wilton with his crooked stare.
Rather a nervy thing TO propose,
Mr.. Carruthers! !" he sneered.
maybe. but it's Il business matter
affecting Mr.. B0st0cl's wife" said Will
ton, loathing himself for making the
request, but nerving himself to do 50
BY the thought of Kitty. 'If the news
Of his death reaches Clayton before
the time I've mentioned, some people
who are ~antagOnlstic to Nr, BostOck's
interests will jump at the chance TO
turn it to account. 1t will mean a
heavy loss to Mrs. BOstock. You've
come along way, and you could quite
reasonably wait till afternoon on &C.
count of the dogs. That will bring you
in before Dor tomorrow. And-if you
can see your way to 1t. you two won't
be the losers"
The sergeant eyed him more inso-
lently than ever. $50 that's the pro-
gram, Is it?' he answered. well, keep
your mind easy. The news won't be
known In Clayton tonight, nor tOmor-
row neither. We amt going to Clay
ton"
You're not, eh? Then where the
devil are you going?' cried Wilton.
nettled almost beyond endurance at
the mans demeanor.
Were taking Joe Bostock's body
back to the Pas" retorted the SER
geant. "That's what we come here
for"
"The Pas? This isn't in the Pas
Jurisdiction
at amt, Ell? Perhaps it's in yours,
then?"
"See here" cried Wilton il exas-
peration, "Clayton has rs own police
detachment, as you know perfectly
well. Your route doesn't lie bn this
direction. Joe Bostock's homes there
He's going to be buried there. And his
body isn't going to be dragged here
and there about the country by a
couple Of fool policemen. I'll make
things pretty warm for you II Eou try
| n game like that"
"keep your hands up, both Of
III