Craft's Body-Guard [pp. 466-468]

Craft's Body-Guard 467
to let me alone. But there`5 one thing "N\That`5 wrong?" I heard him quesbothers me," he went on, with evident tion.
effort and embarrassment, "and that`5 "Everything. To think you all sent
Katie." inc away just when Ed needed me. I`in
Katie was a little Irish girl who worked going up there now, and I`m going to see
at the boarding-house of the camp, and that those Farleys don't get at him. I
Craft loved her. know all about it. I heard it in town."
"N\'ell, what about Katie? She does n't "But it`5 all right now. The men
have to know about it, does she?" have gone back, and no doubt Craft is as
Everybody`11 know it." sound asleep as we were when you came
Then, why not send her away?" pounding on our door."
lie ~~5 delighted at the suggestion, "And who is keeping guard over him?"
and I wrote a note that night to a friend " Guard? N\Thy, nobody. You see
of mine in town asking her to keep Katie "Oh," she wailed, "what a lot of
as nurse for her little ones until I sent friends you are, to leave him alone!
for her. Craft was to take the girl downI)o you really think he needs a bodynext day, telling her she was conferring guard, Katie?" Barkuloo asked, and I
a favor on me by going to the aid of my knew from his voice that something was
sorely needy friend, in order to get her bubbling up in his mind, but Katie anaway without arousing her suspicions. swered in all seriousness.
They went past the cabin early the next "N\TelJ," said he, "maybe you are right.
niorning and waved to me as they galloped I will ride up to the house with you, and
out of sight. Craft came back six hours as we pass Craft's door we can just stop
later with his men, and they clattered into and suggest it to him."
my place after a drink. I think they had And almost before I could get out to
already l~ad something fluid beside water, them they were ready to ride away,
and it occurred most forcibly to me that, Katie's eyes, and her freckles likewise,
if I were the Farley brothers, I should be shining in the moonlight. But it is not
persuaded to come peacefully to any sort kind to speak of the freckles, although
of terms they might dictate. they are a very conspicuous part of Katie,
N\'hen they canie shouting and singing for there are so many good and admirable
down the mountain the next evening things that I could tell you about her
about sunset and called to inc that the and leave the sun-blotches out. But they
fight did n't come off, and it was all right rode away, at any rate, and I as usual
with Craft, I felt very much relieved, and missed the interesting part of the affair,
Barki~too and I went early to bed. But according to Barkuloo.
we bad hardly fallen asleep when there Ed. Craft was very sleepy and very
came a mighty pounding at our door, and much astonished when he came out and
muttering soinethincr about those das- saw them, although I don't doubt it
tardly Farley fellows having done Craft, pleased him to know that the girl cared so
Barknloo scrambled to open it. But he in uch for him that she would ride all
came back instantly and pushed me for- alone from town to my cabin, just through
ward, saying it was a lady and I must see anxiety for his safety and a desire to be
her. where she could join the ranks ready to
It`s the first time in your life you help defend him. lie poohed at the idea
ever resigned a meeting of that sort to of needing anybody to keep an eye out
me," I said. for the Farleys. lie told them that each
"NYho is it?" I asked through the key- of the ten men had separately warned the
hole. brothers that they had registered a vow
"Katie Norris. And I should think to be avenged if anything happened to
you would be ashamed to see me, sending him. They would not wait for any corme away like you did!" she half sobbed. oner's verdict if he were found dead some
But Barkuloo was dressed before I morning, nor for any judge or jury to
could possibly accomplish niy own toilet, punish the man who was responsible for
and opened the door to her. his death. And the Farleys would not