The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-01

reason why can't"
Christie changed the subject in
stantly. Wherever we go we couldn't
find kinder friend-father said this
morning. It's when trouble comes that
real friends count. And your influ-
ence would be good on father" Sell
wood started a little. "T'm so afraid
now OF his running with these awful
gamblers, down in River street."
Selwood looked away. Christie spoke
on very seriously: "Of all men in the
world think gamblers are meanest
don't you?"
SeIwood coughed. ITO tell the
TRUTH" he said simply, 81 never
thought much about 1t. But" he
added, pausing. II guess maybe you're
right. I'll be going. You'll remember
to do just as I've told you? And
please don't say anything whatever
to your father about the matter till
it's all over"
They walked together to the tent,
then he turned his steps, reflectively,
up-street in the direction of FLYERS
store building; this he sauntered cir
cumspectly about, inspecting each
side with deliberate care and walk
ing away from it thoughtfully. 1t
looked like q hard nut to crack. He
walked thence to the hotel, went up
stairs, followed the narrow, low cor
ridor to his room, unlocked the door,
and went in. He lighted lamp, adj
justed the wick and the shade, and
sat down on the side of his shabby
bed. On the wall opposite him hung
a framed woodcut of a missionary
padre. In the silence Selwood looked
long and thoughtfully at the old
print. A cloud had long hung over
the story of his own life, cloud
that Selwood had always felt might
possibly be lifted by this old man
If he were yet alive. The uncertainty
of this was one reason that helped
to paralyze SelwOod's resolve to find
him.
Tonight the gambler acted with his
natural determination. He rose, took
the picture from the wall, turned
down the wick of the lamp, blew it
out, and with the woodcut under his
arm, returned to the hall.
Carrying the picture to his Office,
he wrote and painted on sheet of
paper a sign and, returning to the
hall, hung the picture on the wall
beside his desk-about the most con-
spicuous place in the room. Under
meath the picture he tackled the writ
ten sign:
For reliable information as to the
whereabouts Of this old padre ! will
pay one hundred ounces of gold dust.
JOHN SELWoOD. =,
Bill Pardaloe watched him put the
portrait up. He read the sign halt
ingly at least twice before he turned
to ask question. "Where is hep"
IF he's alive answered Selwood,
''he's wandering somewhere around
the mountain country among the In
dians."
Pardaloe studied again the features
of the long-haired old man in the
print. won't any other padre do?"
he snorted, picturing to his magma
ton the good times latent in one
hundred ounces of gold dust.
mo other PADRE" said Selwood I'M
feelingly, will do"
"What do you want with him?" de-
manded Pardaloe.
The answer was prompt and deci-
sive. "That's my business. Get hold
of Bob Scott, Bill, and bring him
in here"
For ten years John Selwood had
wanted to meet-yet lived in a GER
tain dread of meeting-this padre
he had finally resolved to face him
and, if it must come, to know the
worst.
Other frohtiersmen, drawn by Par
daloe's talk, crowded up to look at
the picture. Selwood rid himself of
the first rush of questioners and re-
tired to his room, with Pardaloe, who
had reappeared, bringing Scott.
There's been mean deal put over
this trader, Fyler,". Selwood began,
addressing both men. He told them
the facts in the case, about which
they had already heard the town talk.
"And after robbing him of his stock
of goods" continued Selwood, ''they
called him out Of his tent, knocked
him on the head. and took all his
money, to make things easy for
themselves. Fyler's girl is an innocent
sufferer. Now this is what / called
you both In for. I'm going to clean
those fellows out Of FLYERS store to-
night. I'll need some help. Do you
two want to join me? There'll be
fight. Take it or leave it, just as
you like-no harm done either way"
Bob Scott never responded, to Sell
wood at least, with anything more
than an affirmative grin; he wasted
no words
Pardaloe, however, had to have his
talk. Look here, john" he growled,
II know who's in that store"
$50 do l." assented Selwood, I'M
sympathetically.
Its Atkins and Bartoe and Big
| HAYNES"