The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-14
He insulted my kid-my girl
Lefty" Kirby muttered, hoarsely.

been drinking and made for the
door. As he passed Rouletta he
paused TO say:
I'm going to drift around bit,
kid. and sec il can't stir up little
same"
"Nhcrc arc VIC going to put up
for the night his daughter in
CURED.
Il don't know yet; it's early. Want
to turn in:'
koulctta shook her head.
I'll find place somewhere. Now
Won stick here where its nice and
WIN. I'll be back by and by"
With sinking heart the girl
watched him 50. After a moment
she rose and followed him out into
the night. She was surprised to dis
cover that the mud under foot had
frozen and that thc'nort!l wind bore
u burden OF fine, hard snow par
trclcs. Keeping we'll out of sight,
she stumbled to another saloon door,
and then, after shivcring wretchedly
outside for a while, she stole in and
crcpt tip behind the stove.
She was very miserable indeed by
this time, and as the evening wore
slowly on her misery increased. Al
ter a Will her father began sliak-
ing dice with some strangers, AND
.hc size of their wacers drew an
audience Of interested bystandcrs.
Rouletta realized that she should
not have exposed herself anew to the
cold. for now her sensations had be-
come vaguely alarming She could
not even begin to get warm, except
now and then when burning fever
replaced her chill; she felt weak and
i'll inside: the fingers she pressed to
her aching temples were like ieicles.
Eycntually-she had lost all track of
timc-hcr condition became intolcr-
able and she decided to risk her
fathers displcasurc by interrupting
him and demanding that he secure
for both Of them a lodging-place at
once.
There were several bank notes Of
large denomination on the plank bar
top and Sam Kirby was watching a
cast Of dice when his daughter ap-
preached: therefore lie did not sec
her. Nor did he turn his head when
She laid a hand upon him arm.
Now women, especially pretty
women. were common enough sights
in Alaskan drinking places. So
it was not strange that Roulettas
presence had occasioncd neither
comment nor curiosity. More than
once during the last hour or two men
had spoken to her with easy famili
aritv, bit they had taken no offcnsc
when she had turned her back. 1t
was quite natural, therefore, that the
fellow with whom Kirby was GAM
bling should interpret her effort to
claim attention as an attempt to in
terrupt the game. and that he should
misrcad the meaning of her implor-
ing look. There being considerable
money at stake. he frowned down
at her. then with an impatient gcs-
turc lie brushed her aside.
"Nonc Of that. sister" he warned
her. "You get out of here
Sam Kirby was in the midst of
discussion with the proprietor, across
the bar, and because there vas 4
deal Of noise i'll the place he did not
hear his daughters low-spoken
protest.
"Oh, l mean it," The former
speaker scowlcd at Rouletta. "You
dolls make me sick, grabbing at
every nickel YOU see. Beat it, now!
There's plenty Of young suckers for
YOU to trim. If you can't respect
an old man with gray hair, why"
The rest of his remark caused the
girls eyes to widen and the chat
tcring voices to fall silent.
Sam Kirby turned, the dice-box
poised in his right hand.
"Eh? What's that" he quericd,
vaguely.
I'm talking to this pink-faccd
gold-diggcr-"
"Father!", Roulctta exclaimed.
"I',,, Just telling her" s,
The fellow repeated his remark,
whereupon understanding came to
Kirby and his expression slowly al
tered. Surprise, incredibly; gave
place to rage; his eyes began to
blaze.
(, TESTAMENT TWENTY SIEVE
CO ttUNIkdnc..(