The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-08

fire. 1t won't take a jiffy to parlay
the ha,!l and coftee-onc calls three,
as they say. No need to ask if you're
well; you're pre.tier than ever, and
some folks would call that i,npos-
siblc."
| Jerp' nodded in vigorous agree
ment. You're as sweet as bunch
OF jessamine, Lefty. Why, you're
like breath OF spring! What
brought YOU out to see us, anyhow"
] OATS long story" 'Poleon an
swered. ".Satre! We got plenty
talkin' to do. Lefty she's goin' hep
YOU max de supper now, an, / fix
dem dog We goin' camp wit YOU
all night. Golb'! We have bcag
TAM"
The newcomers had indeed intro
Guced breath of new, clean air.
Ut a sudden the cabin had bright
ened' 1t was vitalizcd, it was filled
with magic purpose and good
humor., Roulctta flung aside her
furs and hustled into the supper
preparations. Soon the meal was
ready. The first pause in her chat
ter came when she set the table for
four and when Jerry protested tina,
he had already dined.
The girl paused, plate in hand.
Then We acre late and you didn't
tell u.s. she pouted, reproacllfully.
No. | got through carly, but
Ionl--hc WAS help up in the traffic.
OH sec, don't cat much, anyhow.
just nibblc around and take a cold
Srac'; where can get t."
And YOU let him!" Rouletta
turned to Glide the other partner,
Hell come down sick, Tom, and
You'll have to nurse him again. II
YOU boys won't learn to keep regu-
lar meal hours I'll have to come out
land run Your house for you. Shall
IL! Speak up. What am I offered:"
Now this was tho most insidious
3lattcry. Boys" indeed! Jerry
chuckled. Tom looked 10 from the
Stove and his s,nokc-blue eyes were
t"inkling.
| Il can't offer you more II a halt
Interest i'll the lay That's all /
own. .,.....' g
rs dis claim so reech lax people
say Po)con inquired. "Dey'rc
tellin' me YOU goin' max hondrcd
t'ousan' Gollal.'
Were just ,brcastin' out-cross-
cuttin' the streak, but-looky." Jerry
removed bakiug-powder can from,
The window shelf and out of it he
poured considerable amount OF
coarse god which the visitors cx-
| ajnined Will, intense interest "The,n'c
our pannin's"
How spleudid!' Rouletta cried.
| Il been clamorin' to hire some men
and take life easy. l say put OIL
oaro an" h'is" it o,,t h"f''' 1errv
shot a glance at his partncr-:''pco-
pie tell me I'm vi'lcnt an head
strong. They say, Prove it up"
Linton interrupted by loudly ex-
claiming, Come and get it, stran-
gers, or-I'll throw it out and wash
the skillet"
Supper was, welcome. but. despite
the diners prcoccupation with it, de-
spite Toms and Jcrt.'s effort to
copceal the. fact Of their cstrange-
rncnt,\it became evident that some
thing was amiss. Rouletta finally
sat back and with. an accusing glance.
demanded to know what was the
matter.
The old men met her eyes witt,
IAN assumption of blank astonis!,-
ment.
"'Fess up," ishc persisted. "Havc
YOU boys been quarrcling agaip?" :,
Who? Us? Why, not exactly"
I'VE, sort of had words, mebbc."
what about?"
There was an awkward. an omin-
Gus silence. That" Mr.. Linton said,
in harsh and firm voice, rs some
thing can't discuss. It's persona!
matter"
1T amt personal will, me-" Jerry
announced, carelessly. I'VE was
talkp' about TOMS married life and
happened to say
"Dont"' Linton's cry of warn
ing held a threat. Don't spill your
indecencies in the presence of this
child or-I'll hang the fryin-pan
around your neck. The truth il"
he told Lefty, there's no use trying
to live with a horn toad. I've done
my best, I've let him defame me
to my face and degrade me before
strangers, but he remains hostile to
every impulse in my being: he picks
and posters and poisons me a thou
sand times day. And snorc! My
God! You ought to hear him at
night"
Strangely enough, Mr.. Quirk did
not react to this passionate outburst.
On the contrary, he bore il with in
dications Of a deep and genuine sat-
isfaction.
Hes workin' up steam to propose
another divorce" said the object of
Toms. TRADE.
THAT I am. Divorce is the word"
Linton growled.
"Hkoob.ee!" Jerry uttered high
pitched shout. 81 been waitin' for
that. / wanted him to say it. Now
I'm: free as air. and. twice as light.
You heard him propose it, didn't
you?"
"\v'at YOU goin' do bout dis lay?"
'Polcon. inquired.
"Split her." yelled Jerry,
dis cabin. too!"
through her." j,
I'VE won't slam no partition any
where" Tom declared. "Ihink I'm
going to lay awake every night list
ening to distant bugles? No. Wen
pull her apart, limb for LIMB, and
divvy the logs. Its a ,pest-house,
ANYHOW. I'll burn Spy. share"
Toms positive refusal even to per-
unit mention Of the cause of the
quarrel rendered efforts at recon-
citation difficult Po1coi's and Rou-
letta's attempts at badinage, there
fore, were weak failures. and their
conversation met with only the bar
est politeness. Now that the truth