The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-03-18

Inc traQer looked at the exhibit
suspiciously; the fact that he did
not fail to smile irritated Selwood,
butt he kept his temper.
"How do know they're my bootsw
asked Fyler. "These fellows may
have bought the same style of boots
l did"
"Yes." echoed Selwood, 'but these
fellows never bought a case of boots
in their lives, Fyler; they couldn't
show an invoice for enc pair. These
boots are of style we never see
out here-toO fine, Fyler. too fancy
for this trade; they are called opera
boots-thats what they're marked
on the original case we dug out of
the oat bin; nobody but a greenhorn
would ship such boots into this coun-
try. They're for Mexican trade. II
you can show me another pair of
boots like these in any store in
Sleepy Cat or Medicine Bend, I'll pay
your claim in full and throw these
nine or ten dozen boots In for good
measure"
No man Is to be convinced against
his will. Fyler raised objections as
stubbornly as Selwood insisted on his
evidence. When the acrimonious dis.
pute was at its height In walked Big
Haynes. lifting his eyebrows in
amazement at Fyler's story of the
boots. Selwood left the talking to
Fyler, with occasional astonished in
terjections on the auctioneers part.
When all had been said, Selwood ad-
dressed Haynes. "Of course, / can't
make this Misunderstanding Fyler-
think l have his boots If he doesn't
want to think so-that's his privilege.
But. Haynes, don't waste any breath
talking to me. These boots are stolen
property-every pair-don't you sell
one more pair Of them. This stuff
was stolen by Atkins. He stole it and
you can tell him for me that l know
he stole it; and We'll Jail the men
that steal our freight If we have to
so you Feep clear of it."
The trouble came to Christie's ears
of course. But the reports all left her
obliging friend. Selwood, whose name
she knew chiefly through hearing 1t
from the others, In most unfavor-
able light. When she spoke of Sell
woods kindness. Atkins told her Sell
wood had helped her in order to spy
around the store. When Christie
looked to her father for denial or con-
firmation. Fyler. not honest enough
to admit what he felt must be the
truth, only smiled and beat about
the bush. and Christie was left to
her own surmseS.
Fyler did. however, after a few
days, show some uneasiness over
the situation laid out so bluntly by
Selwood. and Atkins suggested to
Haynes that Starbuck be brought in
to reassure Fyler. He. came one day
at neon and encountered Christie. She
had never seen just such mans,as
Starbuck-big. well-dressed. with so
engaging manner and inspiring such
confidence. And Starbuck. his eyes
once on Christie. was at his best. He
talked to Haynes. to Fyler, talked at
Christie. that is. for her benefit. and
with an air looked everything over.
PAY no attention to what any ir-
responsible person tells you about
the men that are in here with you."
he said to Fyler. They're all right.
Selwood works for a big freighting
outfit here-Atkins runs a little
freighting outfit. The big fellows are
always trying to down theslttie ones
and they're getting lawless at 1t.
Selwood is liable for grand larceny,
sending his men to take goods from
Atkins barn. We can't run things
in this city as you would in Wild
West camp. Men can go too far in
Sleepy Cat. Just keep still and tend
to your business. I'll see you're not
bothered again. This your daughter,
Fyler?'
Such was Christie's first meeting
with Starbuck. He proved attentive.
Christie thought she had never seen
a finer-looking mamie carried him
self so straight, and spoke with such
decision. When she left the store. he
insisted on walking down to the tent
camp with her. Christie objected, but
her reluctance made no impression
on Starbuck. If she would go, he
would go; If she would stay, he
would stay. So at length he had his
way, though his persistence in the
face of her hesitancy went the least
bit against her.
On the way to the tent Starbuck
led the talk, in the vein of a kind
adviser and candid friend. This
sort Of life mustslook pretty rough
to you'll know that. How? Why a
fine-grained girl from nice home in
the East couldn't look at frontier
town like Sleepy Cat in any other
way. But you'll like 1t. Never? Oh,
yes. Things will settle down, AMI
you'll see great city rising right
here where your little feet are press
ing the earth this very minute"