The Argosy, December 1905 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

JIM DEXTER—CATTLEMAN. “ Why,” came from the startled Roy, “how do you happen to know anything about Orah ? ” “She is the lady I met in Broken Arm Coulee,” replied Jim smiling. “That’s the strangest thing I ever heard of,” muttered Roy, after peering incredulously at his friend for a full minute. “What was she doing in Broken Arm Coulee?” “ She was coming to the ranch to find you, Roy.” “ And you took her back to Siwash? ” “That’s the way of it. I placed her in Mrs. Hutton’s care to wait until I could get word to you.” Roy Burnham was silent a few mo- ments. At length he went on: “ Did—did she tell you anything, Jim?” “No. you.” “T ought to have told you about Orah before, Jim,” said Roy, sitting up on the bed and letting his eyes wander to a window on the opposite side of the room, “ but I thought there would be time enough when she got here. Her mother and mine were bosom friends, and Orah and I have known each other ever since we were children. “When my father died and I came out here to live with you, Orah and I naturally drifted apart from each other. When I went back East to school, however, we met again, decided that we were in love, and an engage- ment was the result. “ A few months ago Orah’s mother died, leaving her friendless and practi- cally alone, and I wrote and asked her to come out here to me. I suppose | did not do right = “ Bless you, my boy,” interrupted Jim warmly, “you did exactly right. You love each other and you'll be married. Pll build a house for you in Siwash City, give you a half interest in Clearwater Ranch, and—and there you are! You’re rather young to settle down, but respon- sibility is what a young man needs to develop his character and steady him. It’s all right, Roy. You’ve won a prize in the matrimonial lottery, and I con- eratulate you.” Said she would leave that for 61 Their hands met, but there was a troubled look in the youth’s brown eyes at strange variance with the gratitude and happiness expressed in his face. Before he could say a word a tread of feet reached their ears from the other room, and Dexter got up quickly and passed to the door. Two men, booted, spurred and dusty from a long ride had entered the house unceremoniously. They hailed from Siwash, and Dexter recognized them as McKibben, the sheriff, and Dune Perry, an aide and deputy. “Howdy, Jim!” cried McKibben heartily. “ Hello, Mac!” Dexter returned. “What are you and Perry doing on this part of the range?” “ We’re here on business, Jim.” “ Business, eh?” Jim heard a smothered exclamation ‘behind him and looked around to see Roy, leaning against the wall, pallid and ‘breathless. - | He would have spoken to the youth, but the latter shook his head, laid a finger on his hps and motioned him into the other room with a convulsive gesture. Surprised and bewildered, Jim Dex- ter stepped into the parlor, closing the bedroom door behind him. This by- play in the chamber was evidently lost upon the sheriff and the deputy, who were engaged in a critical survey of the other room. “Yes, business, Jim,” drawled Mc- Kibben. “I hope you won't take it hard—l’ve got to stand by my duty, you know.” “Certainly you have,” said Jim, “and why should I take it hard?” “TY reckon you haven’t heard the news, have you?” “ What news? ” “Why, about Nate Kalispel. He was killed last night on the Bad-Ax trail.” “ Killed?” murmured Dexter, his thoughts flying to Judge Givins and the story he had told about Roy’s quarrel with Nate Kalispel over a game of cards. All the dread significance of the judge’s story, in the ight of the sheriff’s news, crowded with benumbing force upon the cattleman’s brain. Go NOOK AMUG (C@