The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-04-01

the black mouth of which opened
in front of him.
In the shadow of a cottonwood
he saw the figures of a man and a
woman locked in embrace. The
murmur of the mans low voice
reached him as he passed. At the
end of the road, where it termi-
mated in a narrow trail running up
the canyon, Frank turned and re-
traced his steps.
The girl beneath the cottonwood
ran into the adjoining house and
the man came out to the road. He
was just behind Chiswick, whistling
gaily, "Good-by, my lover, good
BY" His brisk stride presently
brought him abreast of Frank.
"'Lo, fellow. How are cases?"
he asked cheerfully.
His good spirits subsidized abrupt
ly. Lou Howard did not feel like a
conquering hero when he recognized
in the man beside him Frank CHS
wick.
$50 you're at it again." Frank
said grimly.
There was a false note of hearth
ness in the glib reply of Howard.
II been wanting to have a talk
with you, Frank" he said. II reck-
on you have done heard Ruth's side
of the story. You know her better
than I do-how bossy she is when
she gets a notion in her head, and
has to have her own way. I tried
to talk her out Of this clipping bust
ness, and finally I did all right.
Told her to 60 home and behave
like a good girl, which of course
she is, come down to brass tacks."
"You liar" Frank said. He had
heard gossip since he came to town.
Howard bristled. "Looky here.
You can't talk thataway to me. I
won't stand it for a minute"
81 am talking that way. I'm tell
ing you that you're a liar and a yell
low cur. Right now I'm going to
whale the life out of you"
Frank weighed twenty pounds less
than the other man. He was only
nineteen years old and Howard was
twenty-four. In actual physical
strength he was no match for the
Tail Holt ~loafer, but he had one
great asset. He yearned to get at
this scamp who had, according to
his view, insulted Ruth and dragged
her name into common talk, where
as Howard had gone panicky at the
thought of a fight.
"Don't you monkey with me, fell
low" clustered Lou. "My friends
will make you mighty sorry if you
try to do me a meanness."
PUT up yore dukes" Frank or
dered.
The larger man backed away,
protesting that he did not want to
fight.
But you're going to all the
same" insisted Chiswick, and he
drew his hand in%sultingly across
the cheek of the other.
Howard reached for a gun. The
fingers of Franks left hand closed
on his wrist and twisted the arm.
With a yelp of pain Howard
dropped the revolver to the ground.
He broke free and tried to run.
Within a dozen strides Frank landed
on his back and brought him down.
AS he scrambled to his feet, CHS
wick crowded him against an adobe
wall and dashed out at his fright
ened face. Feebly Howard put up
his arms to defend himself. He
took for five minutes a hard drub-
bling, then collapsed to the ground.
"For Gods sake, don't!" he
whined. Give had enough. You're
killing me-"
1--WE heard about yore talk"
Frank painted, still hot with anger.
Listen. If you yer mention my
sisters name again III beat you
till you can't stand"
He turned on his heel and walked
down the road.
Frank had no feeling of citation
at what he had done, but he could
not blame himself. To thrash a
man who was too cowardly to fight
was no pleasure. Yet he had at
least stopped Howard from talking