The evening world. Newspaper, May 10, 1915, Page 15

Howes , / i " kof . rf f . . “ . k it Ye Ihe o i) Qu ‘ from New York 4 M VicTOR DL PLERNE Ihe si tow “Helio, epoh f Whack,” added two athe Black Hal Was a tan of few frie Queen City Not ly not we 1 he was actively unweleon Black Ha to Queen Wofore, and it Lad bee norabie J Meo bad had some 4 grout only way ew, and freoly, He had lost heavily in a poker game to @ man named Victor Dufresne, a pros fersional gambler widely known as Prince Victor, wud had had trouble With the man who, Le ed, had robbed hin Before morning he had run amuck, whiried into a iad, brutal, muraore yus Lrenay toxieation ! He haa been gatuered in by Daw Nesbit, sherit, only when his guns Were emplied and he himself wae falling to the floor tn « etupor. He nad suveiou Up i Cue ven-foote Pyare jail, ana hud been allowed to ed to remenver tant bis presence in Queen City Wan (uer requested nor desired in the fusure, and now he was back again He was in Queen City to-day ¢ business for Uke ranchuan who em- ed hun, having been depul a cork a bane of Mastorners’ m the Overland Express to the Tra.eh, Mut the train was late-very lat and Hal was thirscy Nor did he long let his thirst go unslaked. As & result he pro wed to get exe tremely drunk, Tuen trouble set in, “Prince” Victor appeared in town, as though by aceient; and in a more or less friendly poker gam won nearly all his money; avly atued by a local gambler named “Papa” ark. It Was toward the close of this game th met big John Hrent, the pre Brent had a way of bling houses and de entage of ev oming to gam- anding a por- vt for his poor. The gamblers as a rule gave willing Vy But Black Hal we drunk and resentful. So, when the giant preacher asked for a share of the first big pot Hal had won that night, the cowboy whirled about on him in rage, fake that, you ea.ned. —~ preacher!" he Before a man could reach him to kfock the gun from his hand, he had fred Big John Brent, not four feet awa: threw his arms wide out, and with a look of dismay upon his face, fell Heavily te the floor And Blick Hal, before a oman could draw his. gun, crumpled up and fell unconsctous across the table, oe © © 6 6 Sibyl, s who manaved the Bear Track Ranch, was the sort of woman a man's eye! find swiftly, almost intuitively, the soft of woman who first holds hig yea and then hia interest, and if he be impressionable drags very heart and soul from his bo She was serene, Would be serene under lack Hal thought Her color was ivory ‘all clrcumstances. subconsciously and dull gold es of her loose-gathered deep, tawny yellow eves were H of the same color, cool and calm and her to hin horaes the men and ber. He grew feh was not dizzy with the fumes of ts debauch Tle was in ha ty be gone, The of last night was not a | thing to him He knew that he was alive to-day only because the men who hi t picks ed him un from the table where he had sprawled could not bring them= selver to the execution of an uncon. selous ma that before he had walned ditzy understanding - John rent, whom he had shot, had floun- Nered up fron Ne Moor with a bul let hole in his shouller from which the blood was still running; that the preacher had taken into his own lap who had shot the head of the men him, and with snarling Hps had de- fied a man of them to lay hand upon him, He hurt no one but me." the big man had bellowed. forgetful in his rage them of his own bleeding wound ond brandishing the gan whieh nal spped from Black Hal's fineers “He belonms to me. Te shall not be harmed qhis night, Would yew have him reel this way drunken ond blasnhemeous into the presence of his. Maker? ame! And call yourselves n't you see he is only a Yes, he knew how the preacher had Worked with bim until morning to sober him, and the hot, stinging shame still crent red into his cheeks He had lavehed and mocked and jeered; he had called the prevcher fool and a soft-hearted baby, he had xot dizzily to feet, the oat dropping from his lips. Rut all of his bluster, all of his threats. all of his ull of his swan - er to show them the real badness f him, had not sufficed to wipe away from his memory the sting of the preacher's words, knowledge that the unarmed man, whom, in that blind moment, he had hated and tred to kill, was the man who had saved his 4 life for him and who had spoken softly of him, almost motherly, aay- ing to the wolf-eyel men about him, \ in Dushed tones of pity: Why, he is only a boy! It was five o'clock now d last 1 Overland had come. Two heavy spring igons, each , Were walt- with four restless horse: ng at tho stables Dick Sperry, also of the Bear ‘Track, was waiting there, too. Black Ha: qe act called to the nine people we together from the LE OUTLAW A Story of the Big West And a ‘Bad Man's" Love JACKSON GREGORY CHAPTER 1. A Storm Brews. The Evening W sk Meee enw * S Breceful, with t and f follow MALSITALL VN 8 Mc Tha, from the fds, and certainly not a favorite by the denigens, it would eeem tha iy had been a couple of months rain to follow him, A stalked off Ward the stables, carry two ‘cases he had snatched — fro. somebody's hands The “Rasterners trooped atte fin, their sleepy eyes brightening in dawheaw alr, @ lively our heir glances “and ojaculations cast one comprehending © group, #ingling out no a after he b stared fora Inoment at the glorious creature: mot promptly guessed to be Sibyl Eastabrook, the Old Man's eide sister, totaling hin Easterners ash Would have surveyed a head of range cattle “He ts splendid It was the magnificent Woman, Miss Sibyl pot ing to the sandy-haired, falr-eyed younk man at her ie She was speaking of Mal “My dear Sibyl," expostulated her mpanion ia mild, mock terror. You aren't joime to ini in love with the chap and throw mo over, are you She laughed gi out tani wer gure head “I don't know, Louis,” she told him merrily Would you be eatirely bronen hearted if 1 did?" “I'd just ale, you know," Louls ligatly You tragic lover," she laughed at him, cewning for a fleeting second to trangter her regard from the cowboy to the fair, placid face at her side, And then, still lightly, but with w substratum of seriousness under ber bantering tone: I don't believe that be would do @ thing like that, It would be more his part to remove his rival than to die himself?! “I shail never go unarmed, by mine individu du young DrUOK, BpeAk- ne Yat hin, but with. eyes trom the slim replied honor!" quoth Mr. Louis Dancer. The two four-horse teams were fighting their bits, furrowing the ground with thelr sharp, impatient hoofs, enveloped in the dust of their own making, in haste tu be gone. The party piled into the two Wagons from the ranch; Sibyl sitting besige Hal; and the trip began. During the first three hours of the morning Miss Sibyl remained en- Wrapped in @ musing silence. Sue bad not once addressed a word to her taciturn, black-browed seat- fell sue inube siience at inst to isk the name of @ flower they passed, Hal answered curtly: Spanish bayonot.” top a minute, I want that one, he same impersonal note, the same tone of command aud of ase surance Hlack Hal, almost automatically, slammed on bis brake and jerked bls horses to a sudden standstill, “Gy it for me,” she solid quietly, putting out her hands for the reins Black Hal turned upon her, some- thing of surprise in his eyes m drivin’,” he answered as quiet- as she had spoken ard with as much determination in his voice, “Lcan drive,” she told him steadily, the black Ines of her brows arched over her grave gol eyes. "The horses are quvet now Hor hand was still outstretehed for the reins, her eyes still steadily upon his. “} ain't lettin’ no woman drive these hosses, If you want to git that flower there you can. An! I ain't got long to wait Slowly her hand dropped to her lap, Sho drew her eyes from his, a it flush in her cheeks, her lower caught up between her teeth, irefly, her maid, shuddered and gasped, “Oh, mon dieu! sald quietly, “Will y rome? Or has a three vurs' sojourn in the « .tthe country mn away all of your gentlemanii- , too? Louls Dancer, hia eves twink- lis averted face showing much satisfaction, scrambled dowa and obeyed his lady's behest Mot knowing the plant and tts own peculiar methods of defense and self. preservation, he Was repelled from the first Joyous assault with prickling hands and ankles, It was only after a second and mora cautious @ ks and a great deal of inner hacking with a MinUlive pen-Knife that he came away victorjous, the long, bell-crowned stalk over his shoulder, He had hardly more the. thrust it into the wagon and put his foot upon the step to climb in himself, when Black Hal snapped back the brake and sent the horses forward, The thanks bestowed upon him were short, neither himself nor the Nower coming in for any flattering attention of the imperious young woman, For it was, perhaps, the firat time n her life nea wilful babyhood that Miss Sibyl Estabrook had called upon a man for a favor which had hot been granted with alaerity, When t stopped in a valley Juneh, Mr. Cushing, a member of the party who had ridden beside. ¢ loquacious Sperry in the other wag- on, gave her a ‘sketch of Hal's ca- r that ho had gleaned from the ative driver, The account ended With the news that Hal was known for as “The Outlaw," from his wild deeds, Sibyl listened wide-eyed, but almost without comment. ‘The hour sped by, the two Rear ‘Track men smoked thelr cigarettes, and Black Hal dozed in the shade. When Dick Sperry awoke him with a gentile poke in the ribs, the two men watered their horses and hitched up. The guests scrambled aboard and the trip resumed, At one moment the red ball of the aun, resting upon the western wou tain-tops, soft and molten, vroagea- {ag und tattening under its own weight, — slipp downward upon the rocky riuge. ‘tuen cane migat and tue stars. At last the wagous drew up at Swayne's trontier tavern, and the passeagers trooped inc Swayne, stanuing in the open door Way, bis big hands upon his hips, tas curl of his pendant mustache con- cealing the curl of his lips, surveyed his guests for the night with cool, critical serutiny, “Well, ladies an’ gent “youre vere, are Mane your ) he draw. you? Youre ws Lo bos Supper'il be ready’ in at ten wine ues. You Kia tin’ a piace to Wal up out here, An’ the vars rigat i yonuer, ‘The drinks is va ine.’ Biack Hal, bis appecie little, his thives & tong of Hre, strous mio tus evidenly ~ unainutul of Sivyis eyes taeda Upon tin throu, the oped Govrway. He tossea a coin into the little drawer under the bar and. stroiod away to tue stavles, u thing a cigar- ette as he went, Dinner over, the passengers sat togetuer, around | the are. “Why ‘did your fatter send us ‘way out here: dite, Belwuuun Was dais sobbing, her tearful eyes upon vo ne, her Younger dauguler, "And way id Usear sead two sucn Savages for us? On, don't tell me; 1 know a tew things, 1 hope.” auey wie cutthroats, 1 know, butehers~ wild men! And they nave brougut us to Us Unueara-ot, low place where they could roo us aud il us, and” Hangs up, gents! 1 alive! Jes’ set still, ladies, The fir one at Makes A Wve Bits Mis Grains Spat- tered all over eo voles Was toned, very insistent quiet, and 1 and stern. very Just outside of the front door, dim in the pale movuligat, barely toucned by the lakering faye trom the dirty lamp, @ man Willd Leavy sia-stos auly forwasd, bis actituae in each hand lea peering in) upon alert and ae. A wide, soft over his eyes, & knotted about t thea, raed black ded torenead hat wos Hanaact over the face and below the tured, nis eyes looking upon them througa two Sls in the mask Yvonne, stil dreaming, noted that he fitted intu the landscape pict esquely; that he Was a Garmotioud part of the new world into wich her wandering fancies lad made pugrim- age. Mrs, Estabre body back and forth and eyed and still save for the ers running spasmodically ceased rocking he at Wide- Little shiv- from head to. foot, Mr. Dancer got to his feet with such prompthess that in jumping up he came dangerously near swailow ing his cigar Mr, Cushing, in one and the same instant, op his eyes, closed) his mouth, stifled his incipient snort and shot bis short arms high above his head. And Sibyl murmured to herself “So our outlaw has turned high- wayman!" “L hate to seem rude,” went on the man outside quietly, ‘An’ 1 shore hate to make you folks rush, But [ ain't got much thne, You ladies set right still, An’ you genta can walk this way when T slip you the word Get your money ready, an’ {f you got much sense you won't try none to hol’ out on me,” "All right, Patty, You're the first one across, Step live Mr, Cushing, tis puffy hands stil high above his head, came forward 99 promptly, albeit so tremblingly, that he stumbled jn so doing “II beg pardon,” he gasped, “That's all right, Fatty. You can cut it short. You can also take your han’as down long enough to dig, An’ dig Nd Mr. Cushing's right hand shot Into his pocket, coming out with a hand- ful of greenbacks, which he proffered eagerly. His left hand dived into his breas\-pocket and thrust forth a fat, red-leather wallet, “Put ‘em on the floor,” command. 4 the quiet voice + orld Daily Magazine. Monday! M BIG JOHN BRENT THREw Ve PALL. TO THe FLOOR Hin command was obeyed swiftly 6 Shoving one of the guns into toe » Holster at hie hip, he stood and wi the free hand «wept up tho looms bills , of the floor, beginning (o stuff (hoon 7” ‘nto his pocket. As ho lowered bis lewd the bars room door swung suddenly open. “Han's ou Black Hal's volce was as cool, as indifferent, as steady and quiet and determined as the others had been. Black Hal bimself standing in the loorway, his hat pushed far back upon his head, his 4 smiling, his eyes stern, bis left hand upon his Hip, bis right hand outstretched with the other revolver trained upon the man at the threshold Yvonne, near the door, started up a little cry that) sounded lke fear whipped from her lps, ‘Tho man Mr. Cushing dropped them as stooping so near ber lifted his head though tney were he hoa quick jerk and leaped back, ch"=——— he volunteered, dropping the two wallets and leaving LALOUS to pibane, tat the loose greenbacks strewn over the treibowng upon tae chain floor, across fat stomach. As he leaped he jerked up the gun Voo hola-up man lougned shortly: tn his) hand. You can keep it, ratty. Now, tut that out, pall’ Mock Hal's beck Up oan’ give the res’ @ show, voice again ringing ominously stera Come abe you with the cigar” "You know me, Ei drop you dead Ate. Cusuing Teil back as from the in your shoes if you try to use that ol royalty sh vancer, almost ing, but no: came forward siowly really aroun i siuine thet fear should manifested in the bsiabrook women, Tue revolver gripped in the high- band Way wan s Hose UAtL It pe. Heauaat feet ya'll rignt n or git a how of yourn, Wh is | Dancer's tear gre wreater than his soa and into His chair, his fingers still iftwed s white as Cush. su apparently presence of the » and he bur- ank weakly gun, Han's uy ‘The masked man paused quickly, dropped the gun and lifted his hands. And, although his face was still hid- under the red handkerchief, tut. tering now in the evening breeze, there was in his bearing, in the very droop of his shoulders and quick up- lifting of his hands that which be- spoke a gripping fear, “Now,” went on Black Hal, his lips frightened, hesitauingly, heart: tun have tobe dropped its twitching again into a smile, tia a at Mr, Vancer's eyes none the less steady upon the whom his gun 4, “Treckon ns feller, 3 fie thie Tittle sluw. Don't that hin’ foot you know as how these folks is Kasterners?" ‘There was a deal of at a bound contempt in the epithet “Don't you know as how they might vied forward Ket a shock a die when you go Now dug an’ play bad man like ths?” Youd Like Cusuing, he pulled a handful Gugit. to know. better'n that!"" of sinall bills com pocket. These ‘There was a certain strange em- he tossed ty the Moor and began to phasis upon the pronoun, And the Move back mon to Whom it was appli arted you don’t!" ‘There was an ptibly uk 4 tue steady voice whica “Weill, we'll let it pass, You e'n Nad not en there before. “You drop your lef han’ an’ dig that rag come across proper, an’ do it f money oun your pocket Don't Cone # witn the res ake no mistokes an’ go browsin’ “Puat’s all L have,” grumbled Mr. an’ your gun! Dig out the money Dans Mien an’ jus’ drop it on the floor." petcicle pL Away ae There was hesitation In the other's rane Words fairly slapped him in the aetitude for a brief second, Then the though a hand had struck hime» left hand, us commanded, dropped TF Ustad ore VaR ea swiftly to bis pocket, the few green- body gits alive outn this it he has Cacks were jerked out and dropped to enough to pay his fare. if youraine $h@ floor, the hand again upitted ies He nit ek dont pit sit..." Much ‘obliged, ol'-timer,” grinned duck, I _slwot) you up for’ bein’ Black Hal,” "You'd ougut to apolo- iaie tak: eat - ‘ 1 Kize for pickin’ the featners out'n my rhb aig EA a bath my MS, 8 hind Mut we'll let that slide, too countin’ three, One—two' .. Now you c'n back up an’ git our'n tae But Dancer's hand, like Cushing's house an’ keep on goin’. Don't take fore him, shot into his cout-pocnet all night gittin’ out'n the country and « woforth a Wallet, which was right aroun’ here So-long!"" cast hurriedly at thy threshold With “ane man stepped back swiftly Mh offen. 10k They could his great sigh of And then, again like Mr SUrprise and relief, He passed out of he stepped backward, hands the door and ran into the darkness: and too His place near tag Sibyl had sprung to her feet, hor Crofton and Hates were eves ‘Gashing They step th vf them, auletly “There wax a little smile upon up to the door, emptied ther pockets, Yvonne's delicate features, pped its uietly back, “Why did you let him got" er Id-up man nodded approve sibyl hotly, “He's a robber, a thief, @ murderer in his heart! Why do hich fs actin’ like two real sports you let him go?" should,” he muttered. f reckon "Black Hal suoved bis gun back Into you're the two real gents, an’ that hig holster with a short laugh and td Patty an’ the with the C4? turned to leave the room is your hired men, nuh? . Sibyl stamped her foot angrily. \ folks, that'll be wbout all toe “you know who he ts!" she called nigh Cain's troublin’ the ladies. ater him. “He's a friend of youre. An’ I guess they ain't Kot much cash you are trying to shield bien aroun’, anyway Black Hal turned slowly, Kine Mr. Dancer had flu 1 Lat the straight into her eyes inger's diagnosis, Mr Cushing had you purty near ca the turn, Krown a trifle p Gratton @Ad he eald@mhonive Wie wine aon Ge Bates had y looked deferential frien’ of mine. ind apologetic, Yvor had smiled rw moment he stood looking at faintly out into the dari SS her. Then with a second low lauga In the barro \ faint creaking of turned again and strode iutu the bar- board. nder cautious ¢ Was roow Jost In the noixe of the failing chair “you see," mouned Mra, Estabrook Which Crofton’s foot had toppled .-and there was @ something trium over , phant in the shudder with which she There was in the barroom age anied her words they'co now; perhaps the oil-limp had burned friends! He's a dangerous, treacher- down and tlichere unnoticed; Gus criminal! Perhapa & sunt of Thad swept out “Who carried himself," murmured the little tame ‘ Yvonne under hor breath, “lke 4 The door was just a wly, 89 noble, loyal gentleman slowly that the moving was impere Gat ee a <p ceptible, the door had opened a Ute yw ¢ sue. dy hen the others had gone to bed 1 pened shough fo allow a MBA 0 vvonne cropt back to where Hal sa pyes only for’ the. men and women Questing lie, her Volco 4s geatle as Whom he was swiftly robbing: wanted to thank you, What for?’ as bluntly as Black CHAPTER W. Knew how to say it, what you did @ ttle while Bear Track Ranch. a look flashing in her eyes ow. Pray sply, “g Which made him wonder if ele had 66 he sald crisply, " fale some twinge of physic pain got to bo goin’, You “yoy geo, [ understood." folks can turn your He made no answer, but waited for faces to the wall while her to speak agela oF 0 #0 * 4 “and,” wi & quick li amile gone ees ick this magUMA UP. which, too, had something of pain in An’ don't turn back tl T tell you jt, "I wanted to say good night" you cam” “Good wight,” a ay - Zz HIS HaANOS ane urhed and Wax gone through patter of her f “ she ran uy om, and turned 1 wonder ' Irew out his haces and papers “what ate SWayHeN Heavy voles called som thing to him, and Mock Mal, rather than answer, Went outside and walk ed down to the lake He found a Qat-topped stone and sat down upon it, smoking stowly, Trowniig at the reflected stars dane ing in the water No," 1 Id Himself as he Mippod A DUFHINE Cikarette out inte the Wa ter, “Eain't made a mistake. id knowed 1 time Hat what he's turned ti an for" He broke of into a + Wondering bath, and got to bis feet. And then he jerked aervously at hin necker chief, drove his hands deep into bis pockets and strove off tu his own ‘tho last man to Y, Black Hal y the first ty wake VAIL aboard!” he called next day as breaktast ended As they fled out to his summons, Sibyl Bstabrook at their head, radi ant in her chatter with Mr.’ Louts Dancer, Mrs. Estabrook complaining and being comforted by Mr. Cushing, fern Winston and Yvonne sieep-oyed and gleeful, Crofton and Bates and hirely un Strugeling heaps of baskets and sult-cases, the cowboy Hifted bis hat perfunetorily, spoke a curt, “Mornin’,”” and gave his atten- tion to his horses: And yet he did not need to be told when the last one of his party had been seated Ho loosened his reins a very lttle, threw off the brake, and swang hla horses oul Coward the soutneast, & few hours later they drew up at the Hear ‘Track ranch house, and € Estabrook ran out to the Hello, cowboy!” Sibyl to him as Black H horses to a sudden | And “Hello, big Yvonne. Ana cried gaily ' brought his it Pathe cried Fern, breathing de quickly, a nothing, me her greeting to. tho sun-browned fellow And, after way of brothers— und lovers Oscar Estabrook saw bone of them, heard pone of them, until his eyes had found out Fern 4 Nushed, happy fa nd bis eyes had ply a ly looking young, boylsn, flashed back Nix greeting and) bis answer ty her no there Was much shaking of hands, Black Hal over his cigarette-mak Ne Watched him with a curious He as hoe kissed his two. sinters carelessly, and kern Winston care- fully, and gripped Louis Dancer warmly by the band. He nodded briefly’ to Hal, and Hal returning his employer nod 4s carelessly, He had had this house builded neurly two years a he had frat come it te the to take bar f hia father's range. And a the second wagon had come and Orcar bad kissed his vother and ba ed at her wobegone face, and had assured. her that there teally Was a bath-reoom in the house, wnd, thoukh Bo hardwood floors and rugs, there was a spick-and-span Hnoleum, and that a white man did the cooking, and that he could have Firefly bring her meals to her room if desirable, wad that hiv tan was my skin-deep and would ¢ on when he went “back home,” and that even the hardened skin’ upon his hands would yield to gentle usage and manicuring—when he had hur riedly done all of these things and had called to the cook to put lunci noand bad sent his guests to. pro pare for it, he sought out Fern Win And she Meughing Lin and held again was ap and erying her arms at lips to bo kissed both put is wonderful, On. she whispered, holding’ him And everywhere T can see ou didn’t forget me once and ve you so hard! And now never Koln to Ko away from it ts going to he home!” lpughed ha for a then, when you ndrum dite Hut CH never Hal and Diok Sperry had iown f the corrals, where the arnesse@ And turned their ut to roll in the Tits pasture And th while @perry hastened to the bunk-house for the meal whica should now be hot en the long table, Hal turned into the stable The heavy door whieh open had not ceased its onderful, And ured of Fern begin to get t tired of she Iriven youn horses he ferked creaking Upon its rusty hinges bef whinnying of ah The + re the eager him. rae greeted ff his coun na wide, of a wunt" teal m ber set nly lost y-ol son kenially, a great and fraternally he cried re pleasantly than he had spoken to any one since he had parted with Ches in Queen City, “You sure got @ nose for a tri 10. 1918 NEXT WEER'S COMPLETE NOVEL 6 THE EVCNING Wome | No. 2 Schuyler Place’ | «By HOWARD FITZALAN SN RL Be RRR Nl Ralibind Pi. +) Mow they been tr he . ® her in sides doubled ° ‘ one @ ‘e knuckles * an And ¢ went wordlensty inte m4 1 through ' see bin jerk at c st ‘ ’ f * bunk, rum hea ' 1 onda whieh . “ rane nee when he ie miving up . ' : wearch it wpa got you at Y " . * proper.” « ‘ ti ft in waye der ngty Aw ua r a Kentien Au Katabrook’s ghta know it, € nel! Bo put ‘ ' What | want your paw shah Vi Je 1 they can him? erally pu at tall out an What . coewer,” laughed opant you “with It Mack W rtly he turned y The ¢ nel euerted bis diequet t eo and the Colonel, “te Joos lifted bis rieht Why you an’ me ain't heen fired’ yet k hands We're due to g Dick, an’ reat snapped again, Mt an * t + Ma or at . com wher Jordan gite lok of teeth, and quivering @feun’ to me he in’ to ketch @ . shing the t 1 line wrul bie surprise! att —_ ' " A bit CHAPTER 111. \ ach your ear 1 V fourm e syimpathis Black Hal Dances. aple in the er "Yow ar MBH days which followed were ‘ git out 6 _ Gomme luey days upon the Bear aes ag ty Crack, And they were gay "tie fed the Way ow the stable, daye for the men and women the ¢ {lifted bigh apo who were placed for the ' Fie slender frst time in their bored lives where ! 1 haga hg they could wateh the workings of « ne day, ¢ \ pardner,” Dig eattie range went on Vin jes’ nachora Oscar Batabrook, in thelr honor em@ goin’ to KIL Clubs Jordan to the fF thelr amusement, had arranged Ile took the ¢ nel back » ” tiie. then lounged into the bunk. at the big round-up came the ret houne werk after the arrival of his guests, The Hoar ‘Track bunk-house was Always the gentlest of the eaddle- What all bunk-howwes are Upon the horses were bept in the little pasture, bic Western cuttin ranges a Foug) where they mikht be had whea Sibyt rene eee ha aloo” ° and Yvonne and Fern, Loule Dancer, Fane an eae anore ere now, Dick and the slow-moving Mr, Cushing Sperry with th ing served at wanted them. the long, ollcloth-covers table bY There w rides at dawn an@ by the big, upstanding Chinese cook ape Club Jordan, the foreman of the Moonlight across the gently swelling Hoar Track under Oscar Estabrook, meadow lands or back Into the moun- had just come in a moment before tains, along steep, winding trails Hack Hal, and was hanging Di hat through the pine How a nail in the wall WOPAratory “And always Louis Dancer followed to joining his men & Sibyl Estabrook [ke a shadow, and Ho was a big man, leag tn the Oscar rode with Fern, and Yvonne flanks, heavy and round in the shou ders, With a little droop at the loft corner of Nis wide mouth, and with something of the same sort of a watched them with eyes that were deop and very thoughtful, and som times very amused, Of lack Hal they saw little those the corner of his left eyo first few days, They knew that the face was broad and smooth, ur Track embraced some seventy- nd usually blankly expressionless. tive thousand acres, and that Bear His left foot was de wdoand gave -P, kK cattle grazed over twice that him hiv name of “Club,” a name by area of government acreage, hich he known over many ‘They knew that from edge to @Age hundred miles of cattle country, 4 of the great, scattered band of cattle which perk he did even know and horses entrusted to the care of had upon him, Oscar Estabrook by his father, Pom= Jordan casually at Black poy Estabrook, there stretched many Hal and, without nodding, went on to miles of mountain and meadow, the table, his eyes resting upon a — And they knew that Black Hal ha man at the further ond, at Dick ridden away upon the Colonel upon Sperry's side. b- . in of his arrival at the “L want to tatk to you, Jerry,” he day's wor! sald in a blunt, unpleasant voice— , Then came the round-up, and with “right after dinne it fifty new faces to the Bear Track, “An L want to talk to you, Jor= . Ationg the gewcomers was Prince’ dan,” Black Hal said quietly, as he had Egger ay Cae wat re een eee e same iid Oscar Estabrook, In fact, des Vern’s pleadings, he played night at- ter night against Dufresne and al- away from the platter stacked high mot Hal'n With dripping steaks and e Seen Tak Bethe “You e'a talk now, can't WANN 8 ine panch, tor the round- bri 4 the dances and other fea- “LE guess so, T wanted to know UP and t about the ‘colonel, Has anybody give tl itles, sath ces een gr? ok a Y While id wan “24, undisturbed by Black Hal's eul- him water an’ srul len’ demeanor toward Bim, pro- anny ceeded to renew acquaintance with Chib Jordan laughed. “So that's worryin’ you, te it, young feller?” What did) you xo away an! ve him ted up in the barn for, that tactturn youth, One evening at a ranch dance Steyt sent for Hal, “We have seen almost nothing ef you since you brought us out Queen City," she sald grack 3 Hoe had taken her proffered hand @ moment firmly In his own, and now was again turning his hat im bie @m You know T been lookin’ for him, off an’ on, for more'n two weeks back In the mountains, You might rec'lact as how L Jos’ got my rope on him the before I'm to go to day you says gers. “And I had wanted to see you Queen City.” again.’ ‘ Black Hal was explaining very “What for?” he demanded, frown-, calmly, very. carefully, tng a little, feeling @ little uncom: “An’ if ld ‘a turned him loose he'd fortable, knowing that the judge and Mr. Cushing and many others were watching them. back In the bill somew heres, there'd been another two weeks nu’ for him, ‘That's why L let’ | For a moment she was at @ loss in (he barn, [ tol’ Mr, Esta- for an answer to his straightforward an’ ho said he'd have you question. look after him And then, remembering who as@ hon,” persisted Black Hal as re eg eid and what he quietly as before, but with a little * ty e dusky Mush creeping up in bis dark You don't seam a bit glad to tallc cheans, the Colonel ain't: had no with me, she Teplled, ‘You see, water at all since I lef? For about {ho other night, at Swayne's road~ four days?” house, | was frightened and nervous, i suppose. And I accused you of Jordan shrugged his shoulders, something which I knew was not “Tho of man tol ue Kou LIM,” tre, And L have wanted te apolo- ho admitted aver @ moment. “And” Ll gize tol one of the boys to Water bin the “opnats all light,” he told her col- day you let. A forgot about th® orlessly. “It was true. [ knew who hery mustang" =~ the man was, an’ he was @ frien’ of ho int bo mustang,” Black Hal imine ut in sharply, the color rising a lit. ‘On! Ho higher in his cheeks. "Lue Cols Instead of looking angry, he had onel'n a thoroughbred, an’ I'm bettin’ supposed she would do, she merely all 1 got with any man as says b® Jooked. delighted ain't. An’ he can do a milo or @ — "Won't you tall me about ttt hundred ini in quicker time t a He shook his head, any hoss on the range, Which I'm “1 can't. miss. There ain't any- bettin’ also.” thing to tell." Again Jordan laughed, making no — ‘Tho violinist had tuned and scraped furtuer answer. a now with a nod to his fellow mu- Wait a minute, Dick," Hal said siclans flung himself into a new softly to Sperry as the mon left the waits room after eadng, “Have you got a — Sibyl Estabrook, looking eurlous- bet what Jordan wants with Jerry?” ly upon the Rear Track man for « Sperry opened his biue eyes frankly little, hesitating, suddenly leaned a and shook his head trifle’ neare him and sald gently Then listen to my bi Jerry has be uu haven't asked me for a@ been on the Bear Track for about dance! If you have really forgiven eleven years, ain't he? He was here me" & jong time becore Club Jordan ever His quick refusal, curt and un- pulled bis freigot out of Wyoming. gracious, was upon the tip of bis Now you Wait a minute an’ see if ue tongue. don't’ get fred right now!" Then he saw beyond her the odd Fireu?" snapped Sperry, “What n John Bre re- are you talkin’ about’ We need all 1 his, 1 believe my the good men We got, an’ more, aa afraid of 4 woman!” saw you Know tt, An! Jerry's as good a the amusement in Louis Dancer's Cowman as ove noved his boot in eyes, and said shortly: a stirrup! What would Jordan want ('d be glad!" to fire him for” It way just an {mpulse, the tm- I'm makin’ my guess, You see tf pulse of a coquette, that had made To aln't called the turn right." Sibyl Estabrook seek out Black Hal. From the bunk-t to them (To Meth Be Continued.) thy low Jumble of words-Club Jore . sSeib ies dans v sharp and angry, Jerry a blank with surprise: eae And then the tg foreman came | GOING AWAY FOR THE awiftly out of the door, glared from IMMER? - Under bunching brows at the twa okt | St MMER Remember The Eve tering forvos, and strode off toward | ning World prints each week a the corral! 1 Jerry, too, came to the door, where | Complete up-to-date novel —a for a little he stood hesitant.’ Thon, | week's reading! Have The Eve- Jerking ancrily at the belt of bis sas- king overalls, he passed Black Hal and Dick Sperry and hurried away toward the range-house, “He's mad," frowned Sperry, "An’ ning World sent to your sum- mer address, onan or mann sonnamnnee seetd Memnaste