White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-09-17

"Lets-let's go and get those hick-
DRY nuts"
Hartman had the sense not to press
her further at the moment, in spite of
his desire He made the most of the
hour that followed and then, some.
what against her desire, he carried
the sack of nuts home for her.
The dwelling of Jim Malloy and his
daughter was hardly more than a
shack. 1t stood considerable dis
lance back from the little-used road
way that led from Turner's Falls to
| Crowquill Mountain, and it had never
attained the dignity of clapboards,
shingles or paint 1t would have been
disreputable looking place had it not
been for the scrupulous neatness that
prevailed all about the building. Har-
riman understood something of the
reason for this incongruity when
Marie told him that her father had
lost good half of his interest in life
at the death of her mother.
Jim Malloy sat upon the plank that
served for doorstep when they ap-
preached. He was small, neat man,
who looked at them with swapping
black eyes. A short clay pipe was
held in firm mouth.
This is Mr.. Hartman, Pop" said
Marie, with hint of nervousness.
He's Pierre Beaudry's partner. You
remember Pierre spoke about him yes
terday?"
"Howdy do, Mr.. Hartman" NAL
10y did not offer to shake hands, nor
did he ask Bill to enter the house.
There was little atmosphere of chill,
if not of hostility. Moreover, they
called Beaudry by his first name, while
neither father nor daughter failed to
say "Mr. Hartman"
For matter of five minutes Bill
did his best to make himself agree
able. He asked about the fishing and
learned that Malloy was able to get
most of his living from Lake Cham
plain, couple of miles eastward. In
the winter he put out line of traps.
1t took the old man but short time to
reduce the conversation to nothing
and Hartman found himself forced to
leave. Nor did he have an oppor-
tunity to ask Marie when he could see
her again.
With feeling mixed to the point of
dizziness, Big Bill Hartman went
back to his chopping, only to find that
more trouble was due that day He
had barely lifted his axe for the first
time when the crackle of a footstep
made him turn. Murdoch Barnes had
come to see him.
A few seconds the men faced each
other, taking mental measurements
Bills first thought, that he had fight
on his hands, dimmed somewhat, for
Barnes drove his big hands into his
pockets and contented himself for the
moment with sheer.
you've just been over to Malloys,"
he said.
That" replied Bill, lis none of your
business"
Let 1t go that way, if we want to-"
snapped Barnes. II didn't come up
here today to fight young Teller. i
come up here to tell you something"
Cali right" Bill leaned upon the
helve of his axe. Go ahead and
tell it,"
If you don't keep away from Marie
Malloy," said the older man, "I'm
going to run you out of this country
out of the township, anyways. That
goes for you and your partner too,
and 1t amt fool talk, young Teller II
can do it."
Maybe So" Hartman grinned, but
he was as earnest as Murdoch Barnes
We've got a right here, as far as
that counts. If you start a fight, 1t
won't be the first one we've had. You
better go home and cool off,"
Barnes seemed about to burst. Then
ne controlled himself and turned
away.
Keep right on foolin' yourself and
you'll wish you'd never seen Crow
quill. You don't know half as much
as you think you do"
He left Big Bill Hartman with
plenty to think about, although with.
out any marked degree of apprehen-
sion.
(To Be Continued)