The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1923-01-25

The thing looked so 81. 49, that
Dave squirmed all over with annoy
ance. IT hurt him to think thai the
hundred dollars that he carried was
to be passed over, without a wink Of
an eye, to this bearded trapper; and
the only return for it was to be a
promise that Hudson would not tes-
thy in Bruce's behalf. And "A hundred
dollars was real money, just a little
matter Of a single glance down his
rife barrel at the figure in the silhou-
cite of the fire glow-and a ~half-ounce
OF pressure on the hair trigger. Half
testing with himself, he dropped OF
one knee and raised the weapon. The
trapper did not guess his presence.
The blood leaped in Dawes veins.
Rut he caught himself Wit. a
wrench. He realized thar Simon Lad
spokcn true when he said that the old
DAYS were gone. that the arm Of the
law reached farther than formerly,
and il might even stretch 10 this far
Mace He remembered Simon's in.
>trIrtion>. The qUictcr we can do
these things. The better" tle clan
rhroroI 70 October thirrieti with n
nl.-~~ ,nr Is. for IL j. FOR uS =,
easy, Dave. Sound this Hudson out.
If he'll keep still for a hundred, let
him have it in peace"
Dave slipped his rifle into the hol-
low of his arm and continued on down
the trail. He didn't try to stalk. In
a moment Hudson heard his step and
looked up. They met in a circle Of
freight.
1t is not the mountain way to frater-
nize quickly. nor are the mountain
msn quick to show establishment.
Hudson had not seen another human
being since his last visit to the settle
mentS. Yet his voice Indicated no
surprise at this visitation.
"Ilowdy," he grunted.
"Howdy," Dave replied. How about
grub?'
"Help yourself. Supper just ready"
Dave helped himself to the food Of
the man that. IA moment before. he
would have slain; and in the light Of
the high fire that followed the meal,
ne got down to the real business Of
the visit.
Il suppose you've forgotten that
little deed you witnessed between old
Mat Folger and ltoss-twenty years
ago" Dave began easily, his pipe be-
tween his teeth.
Hudson turned with IA cunning gilt
ter in his eyes. Dave saw it and
grew holder. "WhO wants me to for
get it," Hudson demanded.
Il amt said that anybody wants
you to-" Dave responded. Il asked
you if you had" .
Hudson was still a moment, strok-
ing absently his beard. "If YOU want
to KNOW" he said, Il amt forgotten.
But there wasn't just Il deed. There
was an agreement, too"
II know all about that agreement"
Dave confessed.
You do, Ell? SO do |. | amt likely
to forget"
Dave studied him closely. What
good is it going to do you TO remem-
Oer?" he demanded.
Il amt saying that its going to do
me any good. At present | amt got
nothing against the Turner's. They've
always been all right to me. What's
between them and the Rosses is past
and done-although | know. just in
what way Folger held that land and
NJ transfer from him to you was le-
gal. But that's all part Of the past.
AS long as the Turner's continue TO be
my friends | don't see why anything
should be said about it,"
Dave speculated. 1t was wholly
plain that the old man had not yet
heard of Bruce's return. There was
no need to mention him. Were glad
you are our friend Dave went on,
But we don't expect no n to stay
friends with us unless they benefit to
some small extent by it. How many
furs do you hope 10 take this year?'
Not enough to pay to pack out
Maybe two hundred dollars in bount
les before New Y~ear-coyotes and
wolves"
Then maybe fifty or seventy-five
dollars. without bothering to set the
traps, wouldn't come in SO bad"
at wouldn't come in bad. but II
doesn't buy much these days. A hun
dred would be better"
"A hundred it is" Dave told hin
with t%inality.
The eyes above the dark beard
shone in the freight. The none!
changed hands. They sat a long time
deep in their own thoughts.
"All we ask" Dave said. lis thai
you don't take sides against us."
"Ill remember. OF course you wan
ile, in case I'm eve su%bpoenaed, to re
call signing the deed itself"
Eyes, we'd want you to testify t.
that"
"Of course"
They chuckled together IN the dark
ness. Then they turned to the blan
kets.
"Ill show you another trail out to
morrow" Hudson told him. 1T comes
into the glen that you passed to
night-the canyon that the Killer ha'