The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-16
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1925
"Am I? What makes you think
NJ

Am /! What makes you think
so?"
BECAUSE it's-him or me- Laurie
said, calmly.
Mr.. Best was both surprised and
angered at this cool announcement.
you mean, / s'pose, that you'll
quit" he said, beligerently.
Il mean that very thing. The
man has money"
Best's anger disappeared as If BY
magic; his tone became apologize.
"Oh! Why didn't you say so? If
he'll pay enough, and il you want
him, why, OF course"
Laurie interrupted with an unex-
pected dash OF temper. HE isn't
going to pay you anything; you're
gong to pay! hm-top wages, too.
The unhappy recipient of this ulti-
matum raised his hands in a gesture
OF despair. "Himmel! There's no
understanding you girls! There's
no getting on with You, either.
What's ON your mind, ch? Are you
after him or his coin?"
"I-don't know" Laurie was Rax-
ing at Phillips with q peculiar ex-
preston. I'm not sure. Maybe
m after both. Will you be good
and hire him, or"
oh, you've got mer Best de-
olared. with frank resentment. IF
you want him. l s'pose Ill have to
set him for you, but"-he muttered
an oath under hiss breath-''you'll
ruin me. Oy! Oy! IN be glad
when you're all in Dawson and at
work"
After some further talk the man
ager approached Phillips and made
himself known. "l-aure tells me you
want to join our troupe" he began.
I'LL see that he pays you WELL"
the girl urged. "Come on"
Phillips thoughts were not quite
clear, but, even so, the situation
struck him rs grotesquely amusing.
I'm no song-and dance man." lie
said, with q smile. "What would
you expect me to do7 Play man
II don't know exactly" Best re-
piled. Maybe you could help me
ride herd on these Beznhardts." He
ran q hand through his thin black
ar, thinner now by half than when
he left the States. Iii you could Go
that. why-you could 500 ~ sea-
I SON. ..
| Tile wants you n be a Simon
Lcgree," Laure explained.
The manager seconded this state
nlent by nod of his head. "Surei
Crack the whip over 'em. -Kecp 'eYu
IN line. Don't let 'ein get married.
| thought l was wise to hire good-
lockers, butt WAS crazy. They
smile and they make eyes and the
men fight for 'em. They steal 'em
away. I've had a dozen battles and
every time I've been licked. Already
four of my girls are gone. If l lose
Jour more ! can't open; III be
ruined. Oy! Such a country!
Every day new love-sffair; every
day more trouble"
Laurie threw back her dark head
and laughed in nischievous delight.
ITS a.fact," she told Pierce. "The
best Best gets is the worst of it.
Hes not our manager, he's our
slave; we have lots OF fun with
him. Stepping closer to the young
man, she slipped her arm within his
and, looking up into his face. said,
in a low voice: IL knew l could fix
It. for l always have my way. VIII
you go" When he hesitated she
repeated: "Will you 60 with me or
shall 60 with your"
Philips started. His brain was
logged yand he had difficulty in TO-
cusing his gaze upon the eager. up
turned face of the: girl; nevertheless,
he appreciated the significance of
this ?audacious inquiry and there
came to him the memory OF his re-
cent conversation with the Countess
Courteau. why do you say that?"
ne qucried. after a moment, "Why
dc. you Nantyme to go:"
Laure,S eyes searched his: there
was an odd light in them, and a
peculiar intensity which he dimly
telt but scarcely understood. II
don't know" she confessed. She
was no longer smiling, and, al
though her gaze remained hypnotic
ally fixed upon his, she seemed to
be searching her own soul. ~ don't
know" she said again, but you
have a-call."
In spite Of the young >woman's
charms, and they were numerous
enough. Phillips was not strongly
drawn to- her; resentment, anger. his
ranking sense of injury, all these
left no room fog other emotions.
That she was interested in him he
still had sense enough to perceive;
ther amazing proposal, her unmis-
taxable air Of proprietorship, showed
that much, and in consequence
sort OF malicious triumph arose
within him. Here, right at hand,
was an agency of forgetfulness,
more potent BY far than the one to
which he had first turned. Danger
Gus? Yes. But his life was ruined.
What difference, then. whether
oblivion came from alcohol or from
the drug Of the poppy? Deliberately
he shut. hissears to inner warnings;
he raised his head dtfiantly. ~
1.I'll 60, said he.
"We leave at daylight" Best told
him.
CHAPTER XIV 81
With 'Poleon Doret to be busy
was to be. contented, and these were
busy times for him.. His daily rou-'
tine, with trap and gun, had made
of him an early riser and had bred
in him a habit of GREETING the sun
with a song. 1t. was no hardship
for him, therefore, to cook his
breakfast by candle-light, especially
now that the days were growing
short. On the morning after his
rescue of Sam Kirby and his daugh-
ter 'Poleon washed his dishes and
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