The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-12-25


immediate grasp. Long practice witt
prisoners whom he had brough.
single-handed out of the wilds hat
given him the faculty of sleeping ii
as complete wafchfulness as a wild
animal no enemy could surprise hin
while he dozed.
But there was no need for these
precautions for nothing disturbed him
and it was the sun, blinking on the
edge of the horizon, that awakened
him the mex morning.
The girl was already cooking her
breakfast outside her tent when he
emerged, and she returned his saluta-
ton with a stiff little bow, keeping
her face averted.
Lee attended to his horse and then
prepared his breakfast. He had fin
lshed before Pierre and Shorty came
on the scene. They looked as if they
had been drinking heavily the night
before, but they made no movement
toward either him or the girl until the
horses were loaded and ready to start,
the girl briefly declining Lees assist
ance and handling her own gear like
an expert.
Then Shorty came up to Lee.
"See here, pardner, what's the great
idea?' he asked, in a tone that was
meant to be c%onciliatory. my part.
ner and me was %wonderin' If we
couldn't fix up this little misunder-
standin'. l guess you're barkin' up
the wrong tree, amt your"
"Meaning?"
Meaning as how my pardner and
me don't mean no harm to this young
lady. We're on a prospectin' trip, and
nacherally we don't want no outsiders
buttin' in on u property
How about this lady?'
&Now, pardner, you got things sized
up wrong, l tell you. Eff she's goin'
our way, why, nacherally, we amt
going to purtend not to see each other.
Now 1 dunno where you're bound for,
and I don't care, but l give you the
best tip you ever had, eff you don't
like trouble, which I understand you
to say you don't. There amt no gold
in Stony range, and the best thing you
kin do is to beat 1t back TO Little
Falls. That's al about it,"
IF there's no gold in Stony range,
why are you prospecting hereY"
SAY" shouted Shorty, Il guess my
pardner and me knows our business
without no outsider buttin' in. I've
put the cards face up on the table.
Now how about it?'
Nothing doing"
Shorty glared at him. "Say, what
kinda game are you playin, that's
what we want to know?" he demanded.
rs this a showdown or amt it?"
Not for me-" answered Lee.
"All right" Shorty clambered on
his horse with an oath and cantered
back to where Pierre was standing,
cursing as he tried to tighten his
A colloquy ensued. The pair
'ode up to the girl, who vas already in
ler saddle. There followed an ami
pantomime, with gesticulations
toward Lee. The girl seemed to sit
)bstlnately mute, as If she remained
neutral.
Suddenly Shorty wheeled his horse
bout. "Come long, Pierre, I guess
we've give the fool his chanst" he
And, to Lees surprise, the
,air kicked their mounts in the ribs. J
md in a moment were off at full gal.
OPP, along the trail leading Into the
beyond the valley.
The girl and Lee looked after them
i'll they were out of sight. Then she
ode slowly up to where Lee was sit
ing on his mount.
II understand hat you insist on &C.
.ompanying me?" she asked. de
pite the fact that / have made it
lear | do not require your company?' /
I'm sorry you take my presence in
hat spirit. / assure you l have no de
ire to be troublesome. But under the
circumstances l must ask leave to &C
18th you as far as your destination"
She bit her lip.