Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-06-20

iother on the door, and they mingled
with the rest as II their records were
the most immaculate Of the lot. Two
Of SHADES foremen arrived with their
families.
Bart Epperson, trapper from far
back In the hills, had brought his
family to the frolic. Mrs. Epperson
was tiny, meek woman who had but
little to say. Her two daughters, in
their late teens. ha glossy black hair,
high cheek bones and faint olive tinge
Of skin which betrayed a trace Of In
dian ancestry.
LATE Brandon came at the head of
his tribe. Two of his sons were mar
ried and living at the home ranch.
They came to the dance with the rest
Of the family. Lou Brandon's wife,
Dolly, was former dance-hall girl Of
COldriver, and Al Brandon's better
half, Belle, was, the daughter Of
Utah c0wman.
An extra stageload rolled In from
Coldriver and four couples joined the
throng.
"Ex-school teachers" Harris In.
formed. "They marry them so fast
that it's hard to keep one on the job
instructing the rising generation In
the Coldriver school,"
Deane shrank from the thought of
the Three Bar girl In such mixture.
Some way she seemed many shades
finer than the rest.
ut couldn't be otherwise" Harris
said when Deane expressed this
thought. "She was raised at the knee
Of one of the finest women In the
world. remember her mother my.
self-a little; and I've heard my own
mother sing the praises of Elizabeth
= Warren q thousand times"
The albino interrupted them.
"Cal-how conner" he greeted. The
three men conversed in the most cas-
ual, friendly fashion, as if there had
never been hint Of friction between
Harris and Harper in the past.
A great voice rose above the buzz
Of conversation, filling the big room to
the very rafters.
Choose your PARTNERS for the
dance!" Waddles beloved from the
makeshift platform at one end Of the
room. go get your ga-a-als!"
Deane moved across to the Three
Bar girl. There was general rush
for the side opposite the tar where
the ladies had gathered. Couples
squared off for the Virginia reel, the
shortage of ladies rectified by hand
kerchief tied on the arm of many a
chap-clad you'll. to signify that he was,
for the moment, girl. Waddles picked
his guitar; two fiddles broke into
turkey In the Straw" and the dance
was on with Waddles calling the
turns.
All througa the room they shut
fled and bowed, whirled partners,
locked elbows and swung, the shrek
of fiddles and scrape of feet punctu-
ated the callers boom.
Slade Inc In alone as the st
dance was ended.
A croupier and lookout, imported
IrOm SOluFlVer IOr the event, opened
Brill's roulette layout In one corner,
the rattle of chips, the whir of
the ivory ball and the professional
chant of lookout and croupier sound
ed between dances.
The full enjoyment of a move. scene
was spoiled for Oeane by the sicken-
ing realization that the Three Bar
girl was part of it, rubbing elbows
with the nondescript throng He
looked again at Harper, the rustler
chief; at Slade, with his peculiar tur-
tlelike lace, Slade the cattle king-the
killer. Willie Warren stood between
the two Epperson girls whose faces
betrayed the faint of Indian blood, an
arm about the shoulders of each of
them. TT sheriff who had said that
men must humor womenfolks was
leaning against the bar. Deane turned
to Harris but found him looking across
the room. He turned his own eyes
that way and glimpsed a dark man
with an overlong, thin face and a set
bleak stare. Morrow had just come
In.
Continued Next Week.