The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-03
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81 RexBeiEtaghEf

ter law as, dem Teller at, Ottawa"
Morris Best was willing to 20 his
bail. Rock informed him. but Mil
Ter wouldn't allow IT, Ben is sore at
having the Rialto implicated there's
been so much short-wcighing going
on. Understand"
Polcon waggcd his head in Devil
derment. Il don savvy dis new kin
OF law YOU Teller is bring in decoun-
try. S'posc ! say, 'M'sicu' lodge, l
know dis boy long tam; he don steal
dat gold De lodge he say, 'Doret.
how much money you got? T'ou-
sand dollar?" l say, Sure! l got
bout t'ousand dollar Den he tell
me Wal, dat amt 'nough. Mcbbe
so YOU better gimme two t'ousan' dol
lar biffore b'lievc you Bien! l
so downtown an win 'noder t'ou-
san on dc high card, or mebbe 80 l
stick up some Teller, den come back
and msie,t !e lodge he say: OATS
fine! Now we let Phillips 80 home.
He don steal not'in'.' Wat l t'ink
of dem proceedin's? Eth? t'ink de
lodge is dam grafter!"
Rock laughed heartily. Don't let
Colonel Cavendish hear you," he
cautioned. Seriously now, he'd let
Pierce 80 if he could: he told me so.
He'll undoubtedly allow him the free
dom of the Barracks, so he'll really
be on parole until his trial"
Trial? You goin' try him agin?"
The woodsman could make little of
the affair. If you try him two tam,
dose crook is max t'ief OF Pierce
for sure. One trial is plenty, l
s'pose mcbbe / better kill dem TELLER
of an settle dis ting"
Don't talk like that" Rock told
him. I'm not saying they don't need
killing. but-nobody gets away with
that stuff NOWADAYS"
Mo- 'Polcon was interested and
a trihe defiant. For why? Non
never catch me, Msien. Nobody is
able for dom dat. I'm good tray
eler."
Rock eyed the stalwart speaker
mcd;tativclv. "I'd hate to take Your
trail. that's fact. but I'd have to
do it. However. that would be a
poor way TO help Pierce. If he's
really innocent, Courteau will have
a hard job to convict him. | suggest
that you let matters rest as they are
for a day or so. Well treat the kid
all right"
On the way to her room Roulette
met the Countess Courteau. and in
few words made known the facts OF
Pierce'S arrest. The elder woman
listened in astonishment
"Arrested? For theft? Absurd
Who made the charged"
| Count Courtcau."
"Cowtcan' Where did he get =
thousand dollars?' The speaker.
face was set in an expression Of ut.
ter incredibly.
! II don't know It's all too wretch
ed. too terrible" Roulctta's voice
broke; she hid her face in her hands.
For moment there was silence
then the elder woman exclaimed,
hars|lly. peremptorily:
Tell INC everything Quick
There's a reason why l must know
all about it"
Drawing Roulc.ta into her room,
she forced her into a chair then
stood over her while the latter re-
peatcd the story in greater detail, j.
So! That's it," the Countess
cried. at last. THE McCaskeys
backed him up OF course! And
he referred to Sheep Camp-to me
He's the sort to do a thing like that
God! What dog" After time
struck him: he'll never get over that
and it will make it harder-much
harder"
you think it can be Strengthened
out?" Rouletta's face was strained:
her eyes searched the former speak
er's face eagerly.
ITS got to be Strengthened out
It would be monstrous to allow"
The Countess shook her head, then,
with mirthlcss smile, exclaimed:
But what situation! Henri, of all
persons! It's pleasant for me, isn't
1T? Well. somebody planted that
poke-probably one of the Meas
keys. They'd like to railroad Inc
boy. Joe is as vindictive az an In
dian and lie blamcs Pierce and me
for his brothers DEATH
In desperation Rouletta cried: "I'M
pay the Count back his money-l1l
double it."
"His money!" snecrcd the woman.
He hasn't a cent, except What ] give
him. That was McCaskey's dust"
She stared at the apprehensive figure
crouched upon the edge of the chair, !
and slowly her expression softened
In a gentler tone she said, II sec, YOU
didn't take my advice; you didn't
heed my warning"
Who ever needs warning like !,
Does Pierce know that yo.,--feel
this way about l,im?"
Rouletta sighed YEARLY: II didn't !
myself although ! more than half ,
suspected. ! didn't permit myself
to think. it made me 50 unhappy"
1T ought to satisfy me somewhat
to learn that he doesn't care fol-
you, but-somehow it doesn't. H.
didn't care for me, either. But
cared for him. I love him now, just
as you love llim-bctter, probably
oh, why conceal it? I've spent |
good many black hours thinking
about it and trying to fight it. Mind
you, it wasn't has fault; it was Just
fate. There are some fellows syhc
80 smiling and singing along througll I
,lifc-clcan, decent fellows, too-at-
tending to their oxn affairs in per.
fectly proper manner, but leaving J:
trail Of havoc behind them. It isnl
so true Of women-thcy'rc usually
,firts-their smiles don't last and
the echo of their songs die out
Hes perfectly impossible for me.
wouldn't marry him if I were free
and if he asked me. But that has
nothing whatever to do with .le
case"