Part 15 (1/2)
”That's probably how Gale got his squaw,” concluded Runnion, with a sneer
It seen that he had heard, then a strange cry broke froan to tres or the o was gone; in its place was a consu him the pallor of ashes, while his htly from side to side like a palsied oldthite streaks against a faded, htful oaths in a bastard tongue Runnion drew back, fearful, and the olderloosely in his hand But evidently Poleon meant no violence, for he allowed the passion to run froor, then said to Runnion:
”M'sieu, eider you are brave man or dam' fool”
”What do you mean, Frenchy?” said the oin' die for w'at you say jus' now Mebbe it's goin' be you, oin' be hioin' be you, biccause I t'ink w'at you say is a lie, an'
nobody can spik dose kin' of lie 'bout Necia Gale”
He went crashi+ng blindly through the underbrush, his head wagging, his shoulders slumped loosely forward like those of a drunkenwords they could not understand
When he had disappeared Runnion drew a deep breath
”I guess I've frao about it queer,” said Stark ”I'd rather tackle a gang-saw than a man like Poleon Doret Your frame-up may work double”
”Huh! No chance The soldier was out all night alone with that half-breed girl, and anybody can see she's crazy about hireed the other, ”most too pretty for a mixed blood, but you can't ”
”Why, he believes it now,” chuckled Runnion, ”or at least he's jealous, and that's just as good Those till have trouble before dark I wish they would--then I'd have a chance”
”Have you got your eye on her, too?”
”Sure! Do you blaood for you”
”Then she's too good for the”
”Better stay out,” the gambler advised; ”you'll have sore feet before you finish As a matter of fact, I don't like her father any better than you like her lovers--”
”Well, it's mutual I can see Gale hates you like poison”
”--and I don't intend to see hiround hereabouts”
”They've already done it You can't stop the, Stark listened for the trader, but evidently Gale had finished his task and returned to the shack, for there was neither sign nor sound of hiround that girl has staked, and I'et it It lies next to Lee's, and it's sure to be rich; ours is so far away it may not be worth the recorder's fees This creek , so I don't intend to take any chances”
”She ally,” said Runnion
”You leave that to me When will the other boys he here?”