Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-12-13


into the kitchen and was out of the
back door and half way around to
the front Of the hotel in the dark by
the time PardalOe had carefully
drawn every shade In the hotel Office
and beckoned to SelwOod to come In
from the hall. He, himself, then
slipped across the hall into Carpy's
private office, and, throwing up the
sash of the window that commanded
the porch, trained his shotgun on the
outer gloom
SelwOOd, his revolver in his left
hand, threw open the hall door with
out, exposing himself. Seated on the
porch, his face to the street, sat q
large, loosely built man with his head
hidden In dark pull-dOwn cap.
who are you and what do you
want?' asked Selwood, inspecting his
caller from behind the hall door AMI
through the crack of the opening.
"You know me, john" answered
the man, hoarse and short in utter
ance. But l amt very popular In
SAA>oS Peai 10 just INV.
whats your manner"
I'D like to give that to you private,
John. I'm keeping some under cover"
Something in the cadence of the
words told SelwOOd that he knew the
man. A question that followed was
only precautiOn, for he felt sure
from the cracked and husky tones
that the man was Big Haynes.
whoever you are, you're well COW
cred where you Sit" remarked Sell
wood, with apparent indifference.
~ know it."
"Put up your hands. Stand up and
turn around here" came the next
order from the hall
The man did as he was told. A dis
appointment awaited Selwood's conf
dence in his usually keen ear. The
pfnched, haggard, and unshaven fea-
lures now turned toward him could
not be those Of the bluff, portly auc-
tioneer; a hasty glance told him this
could not be Big Haynes. The cheeks
were bruised and swollen, the eyes
mans clothing was in tatters.
Before Selwood could speak, a
voice came from the darkness, and a
man came forward. Bob Scott is at
the corner of the house, said the
voice. "It's Big Haynes, john" con-
tinued the Indian, low voiced; "he's
alone"
Selwood stepped from behind the
door out on the porch. He could hard
ly credit his senses. 1t was two days
since he had seen Haynes; but those
two days had aged the man ten years.
What in Gods name has happened
did our men catch you? Have you
had a ight?" Selwood asked.
"NOt the kind you mean, John. Give
me drink, for Gods sake, and le'
me sit down and tell the story. I
amt had a bite to eat since last
night"
They led him into the Office, helped
him into the Mushroom, and Scott
went to the kitchen for strong cof-
fee. Big Haynes drank four cupfuls
before he could quit; then, sitting in
front of Selwood, who stood with his
back against the writing table, and
with Pardaloe and the Indian listen
ing, he spoke.
1--WE got away from here yesterday
morning o K-after you turned back,
Bob-Starbuck, Meg, and me, and we
made time on the Medicine Bend trail
till daylight. The going was pretty
bad, especially on Meg. Her horse
picked up stone and went lame
early in the morning, and that held
US back. Then we figured out nobody
would modest her, alone on the trail,
nor the transfers wouldn't bother
her none about the horse, for they
all knowed Meg-sO we rode her over
to the trail, and Starbuck and me
made up to meet her at Crawling
Stone creek that night-so we part
ed" Haynes shook his head. "There
was q game woman, John, If ever
there was one"
John,'" echoed Selwood, suspicious
and angry. what DO you mean? He
started. "Is Meg dead?" he Numbered
at Haynes. did Starbuck kill herr"
he asked in rage.
Haynes put up his hand. In all
the wreck of his sorry plight, what
ever it might be, there was some
thing, for the first time, that COM
manded respect. "Let me alone, John
you'll hear it all soon enough.
"She was there ahead of us at
dark, waiting-down by the quick
sand crossing. We planned to take
the trail when the moon come up and
ride all night, but we was plum tuck
cred, all three of US. So Starbuck
said we would 60 up the canyon a
ways and camp for the night and rest
up Meg's horse all the next day
that was today-and ride all the next
night-that was tonight.
"When we thought we was up far
enough for to be pretty well hid, we
staked the horses up above, where
there was a little grass, and built a
fire down on ledge and had supper.
l never knowed, no more than a baby,
tbot Ctarhuck opd Meg was former