The Argosy, December 1905 — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

56 of his character, for a man is built from within, not from without, and nature is not to be hoodwinked. He stood as tall as Dexter, and the cunning devils that made sport with his soul looked brazenly out through his sloe-black eyes. A livid scar crossed his swarthy forehead. Some said it was a brand of Cain left there by his own murdered brother. Kalispel had started in the cattle business without a dollar, but that was at an early day, before the advent of the Cattle Dealers’ Association made rustling more dangerous and less profit- able than it is at present. The enmity of the two cattle owners had not begun with that theft of twenty steers. Widely apart in character, their differences had developed into antagon- ism without any overt act and farther back than either of them could remem- ber. - The first expression of intolerance came when they ran against each other for the Legislature and Kalispel was beaten by a majority that made him bitter to the point of frenzy. His wrath had settled into a latent hostility that showed its ugly head, serpent-like, from the brush and secret places. ‘This theft of cattle was more an evidence of hate than a desire to reap pecuniary ad- vantage. It might well be that Kalispel had asked his cowboy to turn informer and take the hide of one of the stolen steers to Dexter so that he could himself see how the J. D. brand had been “ doc- tored ” into O. D. K. This would have been like Kalispel, knowing that Dexter could have no re- course at law. “You got the letter I mailed to you in Siwash?” asked Kalispel with a leer. “Yes,” replied Dexter calmly. “e That is the reason [ am here.” “Men have been strung up without trial for accusin’ others of stealin’ cat- tle.” “Not when they accused men like lyou.” ' JXalispel’s eyes snapped savagely, and he half lowered a hand to the weapon on his right hip. Dexter copied the movement, and when Kalispel thought better of his in- THE ARGOSY. tentions and shifted his hands, so did he. “ Let’s go into the house,” said Kalis- pel, stepping to the open door and waving his guest to enter. “ You first,” said Dexter. With an admonitory look at the cow- boys, Kalispel passed in and Dexter fol- lowed. The room that claimed them was large and there was no one in it apart from themselves. Closing the door behind him, Dexter lowered a bar across it. Kalispel gave a raucous laugh as he dropped into a chair in front of a table. “You seem mighty anxious to trap yourself, Jim Dexter,” he said mock- ingly. “Tam only anxious to keep your men outside while we are transacting our business, JXalispel,’” Dexter answered. “Tf Iam not mistaken, you have already given your cowboys their instructions.” “You have made a good guess,” said Kalispel, with a cunning leer. “ They know what they’re to do, and, when the time comes, can be depended upon to 6a “Possibly. You are prepared to pay me that six hundred dollars? ” With a wily smile, Kalispel drew open a drawer of the table and brought out a buckskin bag, jingling and bulky, and tied at the top with a thong. Open- ing the bag, he emptied a heap of gold pieces out on the table. “These are double-eagles,” said he, manipulating them into stacks of five each. “As you see, there are six piles.” “Just the amount of my bill,” com- mented Dexter. “Just the amount of your bill,’ re- peated Kalispel, a twinkle of cunning in his wolfish eyes. “ You will observe that I put all the gold back into the bag and tie it as before. You are satisfied that the six hundred is here? ” “Yes. Hand me the bill and L, will receipt it.” Kalispel laughed sardonically as he shoved the bag to the center of the table and leaned back in his chair. * You will receipt no bill for me, Jim Dexter,” he replied. “ That would be proma facie evidence that I think I owe COMICOoOo® <=) (C@