The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1925-06-18
1T WAS
A PRIVATE
QUARREL

% by Short Story Pub. Coz

trick which had worn the steel smooth.
$50 ye want work." he drawled,
presently.
The man to whom he spoke was clad
In overalls. His smooth-shaven face
was tanned darkly. His upper lip had
the peculiar puffy effect which be-
trayed the fact that a mustache had
been sacrificed.
Eyes, do"
"Whur're ye from3 whut kinda
work kin ye do?"
The stranger met the searching
gray eyes for the first time.
stranger" he said, frankly, ito be
square with you. l amt going to tell
you where I come from. I'll say this
much: I amt always worn these
kind Of clothes and a look at my
hands will show you that I amt a
laboring man, although I'm willing to
do anything that will pay my board
and keep for a month or two"
The case was not unusual. The
country is we'll suited to the needs
Of men who have come under the dis
pleasure of the law. On one side Of
Tug river Is West Virginia, on the
other lies the state of Kentucky.
Hills, valleys, valleys and more hills {;
the landscape presents monotonous
ruggedness which discourages pursuit.
Once across the river. the fugitive Is
safe until the slow process Of extra
dition Is gone through with.
Anse fumbled the hammer Of his
rifle, always keeping the muzzle d.
rected toward the other.
"rll take ye, furriner," he pro-
nounced, after giving him due consid-
Grafton. whenever ull ye be ready to
60 to work."
"Tm ready now"
He picked up a bundle Of clothes
and prepared to follow his employer
The old man wheeled like cat.
mo We don't!" he snarled, his eyes
red suspicion. aye go fust."
Without a word the younger obeyed.
At a clearing Garfield halted him.
"Troy! Hey-o-o, Troy!" he shouted,
his voice resounding in the typical
mountaineer's call.
A tall lad appeared noiselessly be-
hind them. On his shoulder was the
inevitable rifle.
want me, dadT'
"Fetch this man a crow-bar an
shovel. He's gointa grub tn Ipastur'."
When the implements came, he set
the stranger to work in the Cruel
ling afternoon sun, uprOoting stumps
in the clearing. During the operation
he sat on the rail fence, an embod'
ment of somber menace. With his
head sunk into his bowed shoulders
he was never at rest. His keen gray
eyes under shaggy brows darted now
this way, now that; his beaked nose
seemed to sniff the air suspiciously,
his curly brown beard, shot with
white, failed to hide the nervous
twitching Of cruel mouth. And al
ways he kept his rifle pointed in the
direction Of the worker.
At the mellow call Of horn, he slid
to the ground and called his employee.
Supper" he announced, laconically.
They filed to the house, the stranger
In front. An elderly woman met them
at the door.
my new hand" the Devil said, by
way of introduction. The woman
murmured something and led the way
into the kitchen.
Anse played the part of host with
a hospitality bred In the bone Of the
mountaineer. He pressed fried chick
en- and squirrel and all the viands
which constitute the highland menu
upon his guest. But the stranger no.
ticed the boy, Troy, sat In front Of
the stove with a rifle across his knees
and never took his eyes from his
face.
Tho meal finished, the host escorted
the Aborer into the living room. A
certain look Of constraint seemed to
leave him as he picked up his rife
and fumbled the hammer.
He caught his guests eye and
CuuCkleu. SOIucIlOW L uOu never
seem right unless I'm totin' ole Betsy"
II reckon there are some pretty
tough men in these hills" the other
responded, looking with concern at his
blistered palms.
'"They's FIVE thousan' dollars reward
fer me In Kalntuck an halter be
keerful. hain't one uh tn McBees.
My men kaows 'em all an they hain't
one uh 'em could cross Tug river
alive. Whut I'm nervus about Is
these here smart, Jack detectives.
They hain't nothin' to bender 'em
frum comm to me, like We done, fer
a Job, an waitin' fer a chanst to cap
ture me when hain't on my guard"
'That's why you carry the rifle with
you all the time" exclaimed the hired
man, in sudden enlightenment.
The Devil brooded in portentous
silence. The other busted himself
prickirg with his pocket-knife the wa
ter bllsters caused by his strenuous
afternoon.
Hits this away" Anse fumbled,