Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-02-06

motel been a performance staged for
some particular purpose?
That might almost have appeared
credible, but for the conversation that
Lee had overheard beside the stove
In the light of that, Lee had to dis
miss the credibility of his surlnise
The only possible explanation at
which he could arrive was that the
girl had gone to the confederates with
his own story, had taxed them, and,
of course had been persuaded that his
tale was false. Probably they had
convinced her that they were friends,
and that he had designs upon her.
Mystified and humiliated, Lee went
to sleep at last with his ears attuned
for any unexpected sound or move
ment and the automatic within his
immediate grasp. l. practice with
prisoners whom he had brought
single-handed out of the wilds had
given him the faculty of sleeping in
as complete watchfulness as a wild
animal no enemy could surprise him
while he dozed.
But there was no need for these
precautions for nothing disturbed him,
and it was the sun, blinking on the
edge of the horizon, that awakened
him the next. morning.
The girl was already cooking her
breakfast outside her tent when he
emerged, and she returned his saluta-
tion with stiff little bow, keeping
her face averted
Lee attended to his horse and then
prepared his breakfast. He had fin
ished before Pierre and Shorty came
on the scene. They looked as if they
had been drinking heavily the night
before, but they made no movement
toward either him or the girl until the
horses were loaded and ready to start.
the girl briefly declining Lees assist
ance and handling her own gear like
an expert.
Then Shorty came up to Lee.
"See here, pardner, what's the great
idea?" he asked, in tone that was
meant to be conciliatory. my part
ner and me was wonderin' if we
couldn't fix up this little misunder-
standin. guess you're barkin' up
the wrong tree, amt your
"Meaning?"
Meaning as how my pardner and
me don't mean no harm to this young
lady. We're on a prOspectin' trip, and
nacherally we don't want no outsiders
buttin' in on our prOperty'
How about this ladyT'
Now, pardner, you got things sized
up wrong, l tell you. Eff she's goin'
our way. why, nacherally, we amt
going to purtend not to see each other.
Now / dunno where you're bound for.
and l don't care, but l give you the
best tip you ever had, eff you don't
like trouble, which l understand you
to say you don't. There amt no gold
in Stony range, and the best thing you
kin do is to beat it back to Little
Falls. That's all about it,"
"If there's no gold in Stony range,
why are you prospecting here?'
Say" shouted Shorty, Il guess my
pardner and me knows our business
without no outsider buttin' in. I've
put the cards face up on the table.
Now how about it,"
Nothing doing"
Shorty glared at him. "Say, what
kinda game are you playin, that's
what we want to knowT he demanded.
as this a showdown or amt it?'
mot for me-" answered Lee.
"All right !" Shorty clambered on
his horse with an oath and cantered
back to where Pierre was standing,
cursing as he tried to tighten his
girth. A colloquy ensued. The pair
rode up to the girl, who was already in
her saddle There followed an ami
mated pantomime, with gesticulations
toward Lee. The girl seemed to sit
obstinately mute, as II she remained
neutral
Suddenly Shorty wheeled his horse
about. "Come long, Pierre I guess
we've give the fool his chanst!" he
shouted. And, to Lees surprise, the