The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-17

Fine t'ing!" he anerily declared.
"W' at Tor YOU icllcrs leave dis sceck
gal sc,tin' up. CHI: Me. l come JUS
in tam Tor catch loaicr maxim of
wit her Again he swore savagcly.
"Dcrcs some Teller amt wort
kiln. Wal, | got good warm
camp: I talk her deere, den l fin dis
iadcr.'
Sam won't be no good to YOU.
What she needs is doctor, and she
needs him quick" tho bartender
avcrrcd.
"Eil bicn! I fin him. too! MANI
scllc Polcon turned to the girl
you're bad sccclc, dat's fac. You
care for stop i'll my tent The girl
stared up at him blankly. urcom-
prchcndingly: then. drawn doubtless
by the genuine concern in his trou-
blcd gaze. she raised her hand and
placed it in his. She lett it there.
the small fingers curling about his
big thumb Ike those OF child.
Poor iii birdv The woodsman' 5
brow puckcrcd. a moisture gathered
in his eyes. Dis is hell. for sure.
Come, den, ma petite. | fin mes
for you.' He raised her to her feet;
then, removing his heavy WOODEN
coat, he placed it about her frdil
shoulders. Vixen she was srugly
huttoned inside OF it lie led her out
into the dim graw dawn; she went
with him obcdiently.
As they breasted the swirling
snoWhakcs Doret told himself that,
pending Sam Kirby's return to san
.ity. this sick girl needed womans
care quite as much as doctor S;
naturally his thoughts turned to the
Countess Courtcau. Oh all the wo-
men in White Horse, tho Countess
alone was qualified to assume charge
Of an innocent child like this, and he
determined to call upon her as soon
as he had summoned medical assist
ancc. Il,
When, without protest, Rouletta
followed him into his snug living
quarters. Dorct thought again of tho
rufiian from whom he had rescued
her and again he brcathed a male
sliction. The more fully he became
aware of the girls utter hclplessncss
the angrier he grew, and the moro
criminal appeared her fathers con.
duct. White Horse made no pre-
tense at morality; it was but relay
station. a breathing-point where the
mad rush to the Klondike paused;
there was neither law nor order
here: the women who passed
through were. for the most part
shameless creatures: the majority OF
the men were unruly, unrcsponsive
to Anything except an appeal to
their animal appetitcs. sympathy,
consideration, chivalry had all but
vanished in the heat OF the great
stampede. That Sam Kirby should
have abandoned his daughter to
such as these was incredible. crimi-
nal. Mere intoxication did not cx.
cusc it. and 'Polcon vowed he would
give tho old man piece OF his mind
at the first opportunity.
His tent was still warm: few
sticks OF dry spruce caused the lit.
tie stove 10 grow red; he helped
Rouletta to lie down upon his bed
then he drew his blankets over her
You stay here lii while, eh:" He
rested a comforting hand upon her
shoulder. "Polcon coin' find your
papa now. Binlcby you goin feel
better"
The Gold Belt Saloon had en-.
ioycd a profitable all-night patron
age; less than all hour previously
Morris Best had rounded UP the last
OF his gay song-birds and put al
end 20 their carnival. The poker
game, however. was still in progress
at the big round table. Already nu-
mcrous early riscrs were hurrying in
to iort:iy themselves against the
raw day just breaking, and among
these las.-named, by some evil wliinl
OF fate. Glanced to be the man Tor
whom Sam Kirby had SO patiently
waited. The fellow had not come
seeking troublc-no one who knew
the one-armed gamblers reputation
sought trouble Will, him but. learn.
ing that Kirby was still awake and
in dangerous Mood. lie had en-
tered the Gold Belt determined to
protect himself in case OF cvcl1tuall-
tics.
Dorct was but few seconds be-
hind the man, but those few seconds
were fateful. As the pilot stepped in
to the saloon he behcld sight that
was enough to freeze him motion
less. The big Kerosene lamps, swung
from the raftcr braces above, shed
over the interior a peculiar sicllly
radiance, ycllowcd now by reason
OF tho pale morning light outside
Beneath one OF the lamps a tableau
was set. Sam Kirby and the man
he had struck the night before were
facing each other III the center Of
the room, and Doret heard the
gambler cry:
rNsTALMENT TWENTY.NINI