River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-05-10

tilS way. III : u WOIlHH HatleF OF
wouldn't NEEDLE. | amt much time
an ain't goin' to waste it TO mlnce
matters. Here's gel, almost wom-
an, livln' with you three bachelor
men,"
"Tve been married. ventured Nor
mon.
$50 I understand. Where's yore
wifeY'
Zone of ems dead, one of ems
divorced an / don't rightly sabe
where the third IS, nor ] amt losin'
weight concernin' that neither"
"More shame to you. You're one
of these .women-haters, / s'pose?"
mo MN, / amt. That's been my
trouble. admire the sex, but I've
been bad picker. I'm Jest woman
dodger"
Miranda's sniff turned into snort.
II amt heard nothin' much agin
you men, I'll say that" she conceded.
Il reckon you-all think I've jest come
hornin' in on what amt my affair.
Mebbe that's so. If you've figgered
an I'll admit I'm jest an extry an
beg yore pardons."
Miss Bailey" said Sandy, his man
ner changed to courtesy, II believe
you've come here to 10 us SERVICE
an Molly likewise. So fur's | Sabe
there's been some remarks passed con-
cernin' her stayin' here thout n
chaperon. SO to speak. Anyone that
nd staht that sort of talk is blood
relation to q centi'-e'" an mebbp
can give a guess as to who 1t is. ]
reckon | can persuade him to quit
"Mebbe, but you can't stop what's
started any more'n a horn-toad can
stop landslide, Sandy Bourke. You
can't kill scandal with gunplay. The
girls too young, in one way. an not
young enough in another, to be stayin'
on at the Three Star. You oughter
have sense enough to know that. Eff
one of you was married, or had a
wife that 'ud stay with you, 1t 'ud be
different. Or If there was woman
housekeeper to the outfit"
The fiivver horn squawked outside.
Miranda pointed her finger at Sandy.
There's chores waitin' fO me. /
didn't come off at daylight jest to be
spyin', whatever you men may think.
You either got TO get grown woman
here or send the gel away, fo' her
own good, fore the talk gifts so It'll
shadder her life Now, I've said my
say, you-all talk ii over"
Sandy went to the door with her,
helped her into the machine. He
came back with his face serious.
"She's right he said. 1--WE got to
send her away. Me, Pm goin' into
Hereford tonight l aim to interview
Jim Plimsoll an then bust his bank.
One of you come erlong. Match fo' it."
BUST the bank with what?" asked
Sam.
Sandy produced the ten-dollar luck
piece and held 1t up.
..This. Mormon, choose yore side"
Heads"
Sandy Tipped the coin. 1t fell with
golden ring on the floor. Tails
said Sandy inspecting it. You come,
Sam Staht afteh noon. Oil up yore
gun
81 knowed I'd lose" said Mormon
dolefully. Dang my luck, anyway"
1t was little after seven o'clock
when Sandy and Sam walked out of
the Cactus restaurant, leaving their
ponies hitched to the rail in front.
They. strolled down the main street of
Hereford and stopped outside the
place labeled Good Luck Pool Par
Tors. ]. Plimsoll, Prop" The line
BEST Liquor and Cigars was half
smeared out. Sandy patted gently the
butts of the two Colts In the hol-
sters whose ends were tied down to
the fringe ornaments Of his chaps.
Sam stroked his ropey mustache and
eased the gun at his hip. Sandy
pushed open the door and went in. A
man was playing Garfield at table
in the deserted bar Az the pair en-
tered he looked up with "Howdy.
gents?" showing back a rickety table
and chair noisiIy on the uneven floor.
The inner door swung silently as at
dropped in to hev lii talk with
you an then take a buck at the tiger.
said talk bein' private" Sandy an
nounced.
Plimsoll threw glance at the man
who had been posted for lookout and
he left with curious gaze that took
in Sandys guns.
"Sorry I was away from the ranch,
time you called" said Sandy, sitting
with one leg thrown over the corner
of the table. "Hope to be there mex
time hear you-all claim to have an
interest in Pat Casey's mimi lOca-
lions, his interest now bein' his daugh-
ter's?"
"That any of your business|
Il aim to make it my business"
replied Sandy.
For moment the two men fought
a pitched battle with their eyes. II
was warfare that Sandy BOurke
was an exDert in. The steel of his