Evening star., 1925-08-30
2pIED BESIDE HIM HE PLUNGED OUT INTO THE COLD

-
which Staley's will provided for him.
! Then, one Winter morning, came a
| letter from Mrs. Staley'S brother-in-
! law in Iowa. 1t was addressed to the
! judge of the Probate Court, and
| served notice that he, William Rogers,
| lifted his voice in protest against the
guardianship of James Braden over
Caroline Staley's children, and that
| he would, as soon as possible, appear
| in Burning Bush to secure that guar
| dianship for his wife, Alma Rogers.
sister to the deceased Caroline.
| What does it mean?" Jimmie asked
! Miller after the lawyer had read him
| the letter.
1T means a fight"
Come, seven! I've been getting
| rusty"
This won't be a knock down.
| rough-and-tumble, Jimmie. It'u be a
hard, nasty court battle. The plain
tiff is the sister of the children S
mother. You are no kin to them. A
| jury may decide against you, If IL
goes to a jury. A judge may decide
against you, if it doesn't go TO jury.
You may have to appeal. TIN cost a
| lot of money, and, if you lose, you'll
have to pay the money yourself"
| "And If 1 lose, the kids'n go away?'
IF these people want to take
| them"
ben didn't want his children taken
away. l reckon that's why he chose
me for their guardian. He talked to
me about it once. He said he wanted
| them to grow up out here in the
country"
Wen fight on that line" Miller
said, but don't forget that it's going
to be a long fight and a hard fight.
AZ wasn't hoping for any such
! luck" said Jimmie.
THE news of the impending battle
went through the town even
before Rogers arrival. Lefty came
| to the Bradens breathlessly-
What are you going to do?" she
demanded of Jimmie.
| Fight, and fight, and fight some
more" he said.
Before Ben and Jessie she kissed
him. II thought you would" she
said. He made a rush at her as she
! eyaded him, but she swung out into
the kitchen, and saved herself by
making the old lady barrier.
"I'll get you yet," he threatened.
| He began to have doubts OF
ultimate victory, however, as the case
progressed. The Rogers descended
|
terry of their own. Mrs. Rogers came
to Mrs. Braden's cottage to see her
sisters children, but seemed somehow
unable to make friends with them
Ben and Jessie, who had learned the
| object of their aunt's presence In
the town, stood off from her. declaring
afterward their fear lest she take
| them away.
| I'VE don't CO." Jessie declared. and
/ H4r n
stay with Jimmie" he insisted.
For always" said Jessie. Even
when he marries you," she told
Lefty.
''That1l be quite awhile yet" said
Lefty, eff it's ever"
"If he'll wait long enough" Jessie
said. I'm marry him. too"
The case dragged. with Burning
Bush dividing into two camps on the
| justice of the claim for the Staley
| children, but it came at last to hear
ing. The Rogerses put forward thei'
demand for the guardianship. basins
their plea on Caroline Staley's ex-
pressed wish that her children should
| find a home in her old home. Jimmie,
put on the stand by Miller. combated
their claim by Ben Staley's sister S
desire that his children remain in
the State of their birth. 1t was
desire which every man there under
stood. and, expressed in Jimmie's un.
consciously dramatic manner, 1t won
the day. His guardianship of the
children was insured. and the
Rogerses made ready to leave the
+! town. They're not even going to
appeal" Miller told him.
I'm afraid to cheer, though, till
I'm out of the woods" he said. IL
certainly bought a lot of trouble for
myself with that promise to Ben,
didn't II"
I'm wondering" Miller said. III
| 1t hasn't been a good thing for you.
You don't realize what it's done for
you, Jim. It's steadied you"
"Who wants to be steadied?" he
mourned. Just give me half a chance
and you'll see what l can do on my
old high speed"
The chance-more than ha1f-came
to him the next night. He had rid
den out to the ranch to look over
some stock he had been forced to
| neglect during the trial, and he re-
turned after dark to find his mother
and Lefty alone in the cottage.
Whats the trouble?" he de-
manded.
They're gone." HIS mother walled
"Who?'
"The children" said Lefty. "Mr
Rogers came and said that his wife
was too i'll to come here, but that
| she wanted to see them before they
Went home. Your mother thought II
was all right. and-she let them &C
with him. About an hour later Mil
ler found out that they had just
gone"
| "Where?"
"They rented a car from McCoy's
and went out on the Lankern road.
Making for Thunder Butte June
ton. The limited goes through about
midnight" He glanced at the clock
Its now. That's a little more than
g. four-hour ride. but I'll make it,
''What'u you dot" the old lady
moansd.