The Argosy, December 1905 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

62 “My God, Mac! ter asked hoarsely. “Tm giving it to you straight, Jim,” said McKibben. “ I’ve gota warrant here for young Burnham. If he’s in there, Ill have to serve it.” For an instant Dexter’s senses reeled, and he was obliged to catch at the back of a chair to support himself, then as he saw McKibben making for the bed- room door he gathered his faculties Is that so?” Dex- firmly in hand and stepped in front of him, barring the way. “ Yow ll not lay a hand on the boy,” said he fiercely. “* This is some infernal plot of Ol Kalispel’s to get even with me for what I did at his ranch yesterday. Pll stand between you and Roy, MckKib- ben, as long as I have any breath in my body.” They looked into each other’s eyes for a space. McKibben made no at- tempt to force an entrance into the chamber, but presently backed away toa chair and seated himself. CHAPTER VI. A BOLT’ FROM A CLEAR SKY. “You know I don’t want to \be ugly, Jim,” observed McKibben quietly. “I reckoned my business here wouldn’t set well with you, but I had to come, all the same. “J like you mighty well and I'd goa long way to do you a good turn, but speakin’ free between man and man, Jim Dexter, if young Burnham’s in this house he goes back to town with me, and no ifs nor ands*about it. ‘That’s flat.” “Do you want to disgrace the boy?’ demanded Dexter hotly. “Do you want to give him an evil name in the eyes ofall his friends? I guess you un- derstand how devilish Ol Kalispel can be when he lets himself out. I tell you, he’s striking at me over the boy’s shoul- ders. This is an underhand game he’s playing—I’m as positive of that as I am that I am standing here this minute.” ‘“Yowre wrong, Jim,” McKibben an- swered in a kindly tone. “Sit down and we'll talk the thing over. Have THE ARGOSY. you any objection to Perry’s nosing around a little while we’re palavering ? ° “ Perry can do as he pleases so long as he keeps out of this other room.” By way of emphasizing his determina- tion to protect Roy, Dexter drew a chair in front of the door and sat down. The deputy began a slow and ex- haustive search about the parlor, feeling back of the rows of books in the primi- tive book-case, wriggling under a couch draped with a Navajo blanket, diving into a heterogeneous assortment of wearing apparel behind a chintz curtain in one corner—looking into, under and behind everything where the object he sought, whatever it was, might be se- creted. While the industrious Perry was. at - work, the sheriff and the cattleman pro- ceeded with their conversation. “You say this is a plot of Ol INalis- pel’s,” remarked McKibben. ‘I hard- ly think he’d sacrifice the life of his own son just to get even with you, Jim. Ol KXal is a hard man, as everybody knows, but I reckon he wouldn’t do that.” “ Are you sure Nate Kalispel has been killed? ” demanded Dexter. “His body is at the undertaker’s in Siwash. It was brought in by old Ol and two of his punchers a little after sun-up.”’ “Where was the body found?” ‘About two miles north of the Bad- Ax. Perry and I rode past the place on our way here. Young Kalispel had a desperate fight, and the ground was all trodden up and covered with red paint.” “Covered with red paint?” repeated Dexter. McKibben nodded. “Old Kal had sent the boy to town after the pay-roll money and a can of paint. . The can was smashed and its contents scattered everywhere. Young Nate was covered with it.” “ How did Kalispel happen to find his son?” ‘“Nate’s horse galloped to the ranch with an empty saddle. Jalispel mis- trusted that something was wrong and went out along the trail with two of his men to investigate. Nate had breathed his last when they found him.” “You think robbery the motive?” Go .TOO MMC SS (C@