Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-05-24

self hazy when 1t came to Identifying
the precise scene Of his disaster.
With his guide he walked clear to the
camping-grounds without success, and
McAlpin, on the way back to the sta
bic, was growing very impatient when
Moses, of sudden, stopped his com.
panion and pointed to man just
going into a large and quite preten-
tious frame saloon.
"That's the fellow" he exclaimed
eagerly.
"What fellow?"
aust going in there-he dealt the
cards. And that's the placer! whis-
pered Moses with excitement.
McAlpin looked at the place point
ed ont and turned hard stare on
his companion. MAN alive" he
cried, what kind Of fool are you
to pick out the worst place tween St.
Joe and Sacramento to leave your
money In? Come along to the barn !"
saint you going to talk to i'm, as
YOU said you would?" asked Moses
timidly, but dreading to face his
mother again.
"Talk In therer echoed McAlpin
scornfully. do 1 want to get
knitted? Not yet. Come along. You're
lucky you didn't get knocked Oh the
head and thrown into the river.
That's Bunty Bartoe's place"
McAlpin returned to the barn out
Of humor. He wasted little time,
when he got back to the office, in ex-
planning things but, leaving Moses to
take the brunt Of the storm, became
very busy with some mules just being
brought into the barn by teamsters
putting them up for the night. It
was nearly supper time, too, and Nc
Alpin, to>avoid further discussion In
the Office, lodged out the back way
for something to eat. A hearty meal
restored pretty well his naturally
placid outlook on life, but when he
got back to the barn this was upset
again by the spectacle Of Mrs. NC
Cracker sitting alone in the twilight
Of the rough Office, silent and woe
begone. Another long talk resulted In
an opening of his heart again, and
ended In his telling her to 60 get her
supper and come back. He would see,
meantime, whether something more
might be done.
IF only my poor brother William
William Pardaloe-was here, Mr..
McAlpin-he'd make these thieves
hunt their holes" sobbed Mrs. Nc
Cracker. I'D not have to ask nobody
for help If I had William"
swell, If William, whoever he Is,
was here, Mrs. McCracken," retorted
McAlpin tartly, "he could have the
Job for all Of mel"
Mrs. McCracken could eat no sup
per, but she spent thirty minutes
back In camp weeping, and then rose
to a resolution of her own. With
Moses as a guide she resolved to seek
the men that had robbed MOses-and
did 90.
Naturally, she got scant recogni-
ton, and was hardly given time to
Introduce herself and tell her story,
before Moses was thrown bodily into
the street and Mrs. McCracken was
strongly urged, under threat Of ar
rest, out after him. Neither storms
nor tears availed; the two arguments
that had always subdued her dead
husband had no weight in the River
quarter.
Bafled and disheartened, she re-
turned with her son to poster McAlpin
and, having cornered him, told Of the
fresh indignities she had suffered In
her efforts to reclaim her own.
To her surprise, the barn boss was
angry at her. He told her fatty she
had disobeyed hi orders, ruined
everything; and on this the two
joined issue.
It was In the very midst Of their
animated discussion that a well-set,
leisurely man walked unobtrusively
into the Office. This was John Lefe-
yer, head wagon boss for Russell AMI
Wentworth, Just in with long string
Of wagons, west-bound. With feet Of
small size and Notwithstanding the
largeness Of his frame, Lefever
walked gingerly and with hardly any
noise. He carried in his hand long
whip; this he placed in the rack
quietly in order that he might
lose nothing of the talk going on be-
hind him; and, to emphasize his os-
tensible Indifference to the subject
matter, he whistled softly to himself
as he fingered the other whips In
tie rack and, having selected one to
try out, turned slowly around, the
prey to curiosity, to see what man.
ner Of person was matching Jim Nc
Alpin for once IN fast talking. Hav-
Ing satisfied himself on this point by
a brief glance, Lefever started for the
door leading into the stable.