The evening world. Newspaper, July 2, 1915, Page 13

ahh io ln in - + CHAPTER X. (Continued.) A Tragedy in the Timber Grove. |OU'RE Marston, ain't you?" he said, slowly and pain- fully, gasping with every breath, “I've heard the Taggarte talk about you. Qld Tom's developed a yellow streak im his old age an’ he's leavin’ all his dirty work to Neal,. Neal's got a yellow streak, too, for that matter, but he's young an’ ain't got no sense, I reckon I'm gay what I like. Taggart ain't no fiend of mine—neither of them, They've played me dirt—more than once. My name's Al Sharp, You know that Tom Taggart was as deep $n that idol business as your dad was. He-told me. But he's got Telza sort- soaped into thinkin’ that Betty Clay- ton's folks snaked it from Telza’s people, Taggart’s got evidence that ‘our dad planted the idol around ere somewheres—seems to know that your:dad drawed a diagram of the piace an’ left it with Betty, Ho set Telza to huntin’ for it. Telza ot it to-night—it was hid somewhere. 1 was with him—waitin’ for him. If he got the diagram | was to knife him and take it away from him. Taggart @n’ his dad is somewhere around re—I was to meet them down the ra piece. Telza double-crossed me; tried to sneak over here an’ hunt the idol himself, 1 found him—he had the diagram. I tried to get it from him—he stuck his toad-sticker in me, . the little copper-skinned devil. He’—_ He hesitated and choked, ing himself as though to get a ion breath. But a dark flood again tained his Itps, he strangled and stretched out limply. Calymet turned him over on his pack and covered his face with a handkerchief, Then be stood up, Igoking around at the edgaof the EC Ten feet in front of him, rled around the edge of a bit of brush, was a dirty white objec walked over, kicked the sag brush violently, that a cpncealed rat~ er might not spring on him, and took up the object. It was a picce of paper about six inches square, and in the dim moonlight Calumet could seu ‘that it contained writing of some sort and a crude sketch. He looked closer @t it, saw 4 spot marked “Idol 1s here,” and then folded it quickly and placed it, crumpled into a ball, into a pocket of his trousers. He was now certain that Taggart had been merely deceiving Betty; there had been no other significance to his visit The visits were 1 part of a plan to get possession of the idol, While he had been talking to Betty in the office to-night Telza had stolen the diagram. There was more than triumph tn Calumet’s eyes as he turned his pony —there was joy and savage exults tion. The idol was his; he would fe money too. After that he would rive Betty and all of the— But would he? A curious indeci- ion mingled with his other emo- tions at this thought. His face grew gerious. Lately he was developing a vacillating will; whenever he medi- tated any action with regard to Betty be had an inclination to defer it. He vtponed a decision now; he would Pink {t over again. Before he ma¢ his mind on that question ne wanted to enjoy her discomfiture and confusion over the loss of the dia~ Fite had lost all thought of pursuing wgeort. Sharp had said that Ta art was somewhere in the vicinity, out it was just possible that Sharp had been so deeply engaged with Telza about the time Taggart had made his escape that he had not seen him. There was time for him to settle with Taggart. He took up the bridle rein, wheeled, placed one foot into the atirrup, intending to mount, when } became aware of a shafow looming near him. He pulled the foot out of the stirrup, dropped the reins with the same movement and turned in @ flash. Neal Taggart, sitting on a horse at the edge of the clearing, not over twenty feet from him, was looking at tim from behind the muzzle of a aix-shooter, At a trifling distance om Taggart was another man, also tride a horse. A rifle was at this man’s shoulder; his cheek was nuz- ating its stock, and Calumet saw that the weapon was aimed at his chest. "He rapidly noted the positions of thé two, estimated the distance, de- olded that the risk of resistance was teo great, and slowly raised his hariis above his head. | “Surprise party, eh?” he said. Well,” he added in a self-accusing votee, “I reckon I was dreamin’ " ‘Neal Taggart dismounted, moving jiiekly aside so that the man with the rife had an unobstructed view of Calumet, He went close to the So {t's you, eh?" he sald, “We saw rin’ up an’ down the river trail oh was back In the timber a . Racin’ your fool head off. fothin’ in sight. Saw you come in here. ten minutes ago. What you ae sete a accisin',” aid Calumet; “takin’ my midnight constitutional.” He ‘at the man with the rife. vogmne lattor was hatless. Long gray heir, unkempt, touched his shoulders: a white beard, scraggly, dirty, hid all of his face except the beak-like, awry . -Beady, viciously glowing eyes med out of the grotesque mask. wh your friend?” questi nee Cagamet, with derisive grin. he Boss of Y a FEES | A “Two-Gun Man” Story of the Ranch Lands y CHARLES ALDEN SELTZER} Author of “THE COMING OF THE LAW,” Me, gin’ weomewhere now, an’ so I can p you.” RNR ‘Was @ sheep-man now I'd try an’ find time, next shearin’ "— d Marston, who hae y father,” growled Neal. mo. Ms bo Seaham 4 Bxcuse me,” said Calumet with a year abeence, short laugh, though his eyes shone Spitted Ger oraed Theit, Homemlon ® with a sudden hardness; “I thought it other's eyés, dislike, ‘Ry Was a——— ie will fe have “You're Calumet Marston, I reckor rand ind’ ail’ of Merion 2e,{t'*,'2 interrupted the bearded man. “You're in’ to % She plone oe to be th nrtge 8 an fnges teat pup, like your father . co 3 Saneal Sosa Tet ycet bis suns!” he commanded same oh on the ma oa ‘which | “ts . Neal hesitated and then took a ste; toward Calumet. The latter crouched, his eyes narrowing to glittering pin points. In his attitude was a threat, a menace, of volcanic, destroying ac- tion. Neal stopped a step off, un- certain. Calumet's lips sneered. guns, eh?” he said. under “Take my “Reach out an’ on Betty, you tried to make a monkey out of my dad, you damned old onssified scarecrow! If again I'll just naturally pulverize you! 1 reckon that’s all I've got to say to He walked over to Neal and the latter shrank from the bitter malig: nance of his gaze. “Can you tell me why I ain't lettin’ daylight through you?” he said as he shoved the muzzle of hii leaned forward and looked into the sneak an’ a murderer, bushin’ nobody. in my time, but I ain't never plugged no man who didn’t have the same chance I had, He drew out one of the we: 8 he had taken from the two hold ing it by the muzzle and thrusting it eal's nose. The terrible, sup- Pressed rage in his eyes caused a pote RPh over Neal; ‘urned a dull white, his e; fearfully. yes stared p the weapon. ain't fightin’,” he said with trem. The Evening World Daily Magazine, Friday, Ju A COMPLETE NOVEL EACH WEEK IN THE EVENING WORLD 1 know the reat. I know you open your trap ¢lump. Wx-shooter, stomach, holding it e steadiness as he “It's because I ain't a I ain't am- I've done some kill- T'm givin’ you a en, hold- mounted the him no more. his face He made no move to there window, she had seen him returning; saw him disappear into the timber Some time later she had observed the Taggarts emerge and run as @ though thetr lives depended on hase. She watched Calumet as he rode by her window to take the two horses stared at him with fascinated eyes, holding her breath with horrer as he walked from the ranchhouse to the timber clump with the pick and shovel on his shoulder; stood at the window with a great fear gripping her until he cam carrying the pick a him as he released the Taggart horses, drove them to the bend in the trail, and returned to the house. His move- ments had been stealthy, but she heard bY him when he came into the house and to the corral, staira Then she heard had drawed one. Telza got it last OF not, as you please. I was teful ‘Sa: night while you was talkin’ to Tag- t© your father. I gave him my But a great dread was upon her. gart. Frame-up. Sharp tried to take Promise. He wanted me to make a it away from Telza, an’ Telza knifed ™4n of you. hi What meant that journey to the timber clump with shovel, and what had been done there fonts | the hour that he had remained The idol, she knew, was , 5 ly 2, 1915 — when he told me about it.” She drew @ deep breath. “And @o one of them has come,” she said. “I thought I heard a noise upstairs last night,” she added, “It must ‘have been then.” “An'," he jeered, “you was so busy about that time that you couldn't go to investigate. That's how you guarded it—how you filled your trust.” She gazed fixediy at him and gaze dropped. “You are determined than I expected you to make. But you must make more.” ‘The mirth had died out of her eyes; § she was deeply in earnest. Calumet & could see that, and the knowl: him silent, hushed the half-foi sarcastic replies that were on his lips, made his suspicions seem brutal, pre- Posterous, ridiculous, There was much feeling in her voice; he was as- tonished and awed at the change in met she had known—-brutal, vicious, domineering, sneering; though he was laboring un to continue your insults,” she said her; he had not seen her like this be- STs. jon you * ; there was nal sin- serve them,” he said sneeringly, cerity in her glowing led that he had been, under; some great physical exertion and was ~~ in her Fords, in her manner. He watched just recovering from it. It seemed to ‘Taggart's makin’ @ fool of you. I her, fascinated, as she continued: Ward him palaverin’ to you last night. Kk, stilt I followed him, but lost him. Then | ‘I think you can see now that If 1 that regeneration for which she had I got into the clearin’ in the timber, had wanted to be dishonest you could d shovel: watched { S0t \hto, th caine not have stopped yer hoped had come—had taken place be- Al Sharp, who'd been knifed by the Toltec. Him an’ the Toltec had been detailed Taggart to get the diagram. Sharp said Taggart knowed my dad me. My honesty proved, what must have been my mo- tive in staying here to take your in pults, to submit to your boorishness 1 will tell you; you may believe m tween the time he had left that morn- ing and now. pg not sate Cet it had been “Whon you first came here, and 1 the evident etrain which was upon saw what a burden 1 had assumed, I was afraid. But I saw that you did pet intend to take advantage of mo; him, Sharp's dead, I buried him last night. Telsa dropped the diagram. L got it. I reckon Telza has sloped. Then I met Taggart an’ his dad, the pick and ofits exterior hardnese—a slumber- frab them. But say your prayers be- 7 ata buried in @ clearing in the timber They reckoned they didn't like my fat You weren't like a good many ing, trumphant something that made monolith with the underbrush scat- — Calumet slump; sho Gid not Raow just Where, compaly overmAN AS they WOIOS Gocica: that GAiy Ser temtese one area enietiam [et thom Gaia Sit tered all over his mug. Come an’ taks stepped 4 back, laughing hareiti: wine for she had looked at the diagram home. Didn't even wait to take thelr wanton, ‘And instead of fearing you'r heart bent With an vmnsouunt ered ait Over pea eine. Cor ; . , withs only once, when Galumet’s father hor be a, Warpartis tase whiten. Meni Be COE eat nad yon dake had shown tt to her, She hada su- She drew a breath which sounded your you bad manly wegen on ee Ee CET ne malt; “what hed nape added as he saw the elder Taggart sald. “That's the reaneg entity, Ne perstitious dread of the idol and strangely like rellet. ¢° you hadn't had your chance, “f had pened’to yout" make a negative motion towant his be hard for me to kill you, Eyres Would not, under any circumstances, “Well,” she sald, “it was fortunate faith In you. To certain aetent you “Nothin,” answi with son, “you ain't got no, clear thoughts like a cur if T wan to perforate roy Have examined the diagram again. that you happened to be there to got have justified that falth: ‘youhaon grovcrouie. “That ie nothin‘ just at this minute, eh?” now—you or your ‘ecbrecenat® YOu But whe did not connect Calumet's shown flashes of goodness of heart; xcept that I've found out what © “We ain’t aimin’ to force trouble,” But I'm tellin’ you" this: Youre Visit to the timber clump with the he drawled, with a sus- You have exhibited generous, manly fool | 've been. But I've found it out growled the older man. it y Wye diagram, for the latter was concealed picious grin, “I reckon you feel a 4Ympathies—to everybody but me. too " curious, that’s what. chance ‘that we can settle this thing th peaceable. We want to palaver. If you'll give your word that there won't be no gun play until after the peace meetin’ is over, you can take your hands down." “No shootin’ agreed Calumet. @ meetin’ "—~ “We ought to come to terms,” said Taggart, placing his rifle in the sad- die holster as Calumet's hands came down. “There hadn't ought to be any bad blood between us. Me an’ your dad was a heap friendly until we had a fallin’ out over that she devil which he lived with—Ezela.” There was an insincere grin on his face. It was plain to Calumet that goes right “But after wrath, this don’ the elder Tau Besides, a man can't do any thinkin’ es, the f able side of hi . . y Ider Taggart had some ulterior mo- y in’ board. A tin box met her eyes, is, why don't it and convert im, contrasting it with in’ I'm tin’ out. There's no tive in suxgesting a peace conference, {°,,amount to anything when he's box in which she had placed’ the jt'into cash? is the little good which had come. into ioe in’ to fight the law in a case He noted that while Taggart talked foun * horse, an’ T reckon you two diagram, and she lifted the box out, Ho reddened and eyed her with a POine—kood which had been placed like this” his eyes kept roving around the clear- {yrs Will be doin’ a heap of think- her fingers shaking as she fumbled gooidediy cresttalien alr. “Tart eo Were, fostered and cultivated into "sue you didn't kill him!" she erled, ing as though in search of something. n your way back to the Arrow.” at the fastening and raised the hd. much stuck on monkeyin’ with them Promise. Then the light had been as stiffening defiantly, “You said you That. something, Calumet’ divined, d Lord!” said the elder Tag- ” The box was empty. Feligions thinga” ie edenitioa suddenly turned off, leaving him with Gidn't, and I know you wouldn't ile. was Sharp and Telza. He suspected you don't mean that?’ Why, For a long time she sat there look- 7 A gnawing, impotent longing to be i did that Calumet had seen Telza and Sharp, or one of them, enter the clear- ing, and had followed them. Neal had said that they had seen Calumet when he had been racing up and down the river trail; they had sus- pected that he had been after Sharp or Telza, and had followed him. No doubt they were afflicted with a great curlosity. They were playing for time in order to discover his errand. on we'll get along without suggested Calumet. “What re you talkin’ about?" climbed: down from his y and stood beside it f an’ half on the idol,” he said. “That's square, ain't it?” He looked jumet with the beginning of a mand, goin’! bland smile, which instantly faded turning’ my back. If 1 see you when Proceeded calmly about her duties. been mockery, mingled with satiafac- - and turned into a grimace of fear as | ene ty Tym workin’ that rifle neh, managed, though, ito be near tion. Certainty there was mockery CHAPTER XIl. audrwlat te tr eke Dee pea: 4 @ found him: jooking into the gap- Nad e che! lo in Calumet cami n her vol when rar w | 5 z ing muzzles of Calumet's pistols, “ere was a°ailence which might down, and without appearing to do “Indeed!” she seid. "T presume I His Father's Friend. at the dishes she had set out for him, Sits had ared with magic ease have lasted a second. Only this small 80 poe. rer y 5.4 eo Fwes Wd ante tee thet ae Sortie ear sok ETTY did not see Calumet ht @ quick pang to her. and quickness, Dace th ‘as required by the e 4 a if . “shucks,” eit tions. “Cm runnin’ a little surprise party eee to convince them that Calu. But without result, If he had gained ton up to Neal Taggart,” he con- again that day, and only PP 2 he, a he Ef um of my own,” declared Calumet. “Was met was in deadly earnest. Then, Possession of the idol his face did tinued, paying no attention to her at meal time on the day fol- thige months ago. I'd have. been you thinkin’ I was fool enough to go with Neal leading, they began to run not betray him. But once during the question. “I know men, Taggart's to gassin’ with you, trustin’ that you wouldn't take your chance to per- forate me? You've got another guess comin’. The disappointed gart's eyes showed that such had been his intention. “There wasn't to be no in’ until after we'd held our etin’,” he complained, * said Calum “But the di etin’ is now over, Get your hooks clawin’ at the clouds!” he warned coldly as Neal hesitated, When both had raised their hands above their heads he deftly plucked gleam in Tag- the loose immediately they no doubt would have overtaken their masters before the latter had gone very far. their weapons from their holsters, Then, alert and watchful, he drew ider Taggar}’s rifle from its sling bend in saddie and threw it a dozen to that bunch squite,”” ered; “there's in’ there that I want to show ou 2 In obedience to his command they went forward, Both came to a halt when around the edge of the mes- qlute clump they saw the dead body of Sharp, with the handkerchief over the man undkerchief Neither recogni ‘alumet drew the and then both started back. away “Know him, eh?” said Calumet, watching them narrowly, “Well, he done his duty—done what you want- ed hi do. But your man, Telza, double-crossed him—knifed him.” He took up the rapler-like blade that he had drawn from Sharp's side and held it before their eyes. Again they started, and Calumet laughed. “Know the knife too!” he Jeered. “An’ after what you've done you've got the nerve to ask me to divvy with faggart was the first to nposure, said. “Why, I reckon ; there ain't no one of r his ¢ Telza?” he you've got mi that name’ But Calume eyes blazing. was close to him, his hut your dirty mouth or I'll tear you t!" he threatened. “You're a liar an’ you know it. Sharp tojd me about you settin’ the Toltec » an’ if I ketch you maverickin’ at Sh , Ul perforate you n at it! e mare H 4 make you dizzy, change my mind!" Shrinking from his awe-in: oy ‘S watching im fearfull: backed toward peg had almost reached them when Calu- met's voice brought them to a halt. His lips were wreathed in a cold grin, his eyes alight with a satanic Rut the rage had gone from his voice; it was mocking, derisive, to ride?” Them horses look dead tired. Leave them here; they need a rest. humor. “Goin it's fifteen miles to the Arrow “Shucks,” said Calumet; An’ it's after midnight, too, wouldn't want them poor, respect ble critters to be gallivantin’ around at this time of the night, when they ought to be in bed dreamin’ of the horse-heaven which they're goin’ to one of these days when the Taggarts don’t own them any more, You can send a man over after them when you get back, an’ if they want to go home, why, I'll let them.” again; It rang with a menacing com- “Walkin’ Is good!” he sald; You've got three minutes to get to that bend in the trail over by the crick. toward the bend in the trail. Shortly Calumet turned. garts had almost reached the bend, and while he watched they vanished behind it. Calumet picked up the rifle which he had taken from the elder Taggart, mounted his horse, Taggart animals into the corral. He cided that he would keep them there ur or 80, to give the Taggarts to get well on their way toward Arrow anh Remounting, the trail. gart’s rifle. plain that stretched away toward the Arrow he saw seemed to be walking rapidly. Calumet returned to the ranchhouse, got a pick and shovel, and went back to the timber clump. An hour later he was again at the corral. He led the Taggart horses out, took them to the bend in the trail, and turned them loose, for he anticipated that the Tax- bat garts would make a complaint to the sheriff about them, and if they were found in the Lazy Y corral trouble would be sure to result. He watched them until they wore well on their way toward the Arrow, and then he returned to the ranch- house and went to bed. No one had heard him, he grin as he stretched out on the bed beside Dade to sleep the hour that would elapse before daylight. CHAPTER XI. A Betty Talks Frankly. ETTY, however, had not been asleep, After seeking hor room rapid looking out of her window, she had seen Calumet when he had raced from the ranchhouse in search of Taggart. ‘ound the Lazy Y for the I'm layin’ for you after Get out of here before I retreated from him, they thelr horses, They think aan think that! must be he said. « “Oh, the closet “so it is! But you Calumet; io His voice changed “get It's about half a mile. I'm The Tag- and drove the said, Had he turned them that a Calumet rode to the He carried Tag- About a mile out on the hidden, the two men. They enough; didn't “Nothing, you?" told himself with a take it.” “Telza?” eyes. she had heard pt al beat of hoofs, the and, up the Stull watching at the in @ safe place, under a board in the closet that led off her room; she had looked at it only once since Calumet» had returned, and that only hastily, to make sure that it w: and she was certain that Calumet her hande tightly over her breast at She did not want to But he temper, and there were those men in Lazette, Denver and the other man, whom he had— the strange actions. heard no shot, and there was a chance that the diagram—— Tremblingly she made her way to and removed explanation for his lookin’ it up when I get hold of the words would not come to his lips. at him in a a og | But still she had money.” Truth had spoken to him—he, knew told me that an Indjan named Telza Her ohin raised triumphantly, it. At @ stroke she had subdued him, killed him!” “You will not get that so easily,” she humbled him. It was as though & “That's what Sharp told me. ‘The sald. “But,” she added, interestedly, light had suddenly been turned on Taggarte olatm I done it. They've ing at it, anger and resentment fight- ing within her for the mastery. Of course the idol really belonged to she would’ have given it to him in time, but that thought did not lessen her resentment against him, Somehow, thoug! of a feeling of gra’ js Visit to the timber clump had no significance beyond the recovery of the idol, and despite his offense against her privacy she began after a while to view the matter with greater calm. And though she did not close her eyes during the remainder of the night, lying on her back in bed and wondering how he had discovered the hiding place of the diagram, she caine downstairs shortly after daylight and meal she looked up unexpectedly to see him looking at her with amused, speculative eyes. was gloating over her. With an appearance of grave con- ing at the corra ile. In the smile were those qui looked at bim that he think! “It's ” cern and not a little well-simulatea *™ inking “It's your fault, too,” he went on, excitement, she approached him dur- Wee "at he had notloed during wn deeply. She hoped this wero truo; it regarding her with a direct, level ing the morning where he was work- he had accused her of meeting Tag- Was & ood sign. On the morning of #aw®. “Not that you got me into thie fence. She was de- gart secretly—mirth, tempered with the third day he saddled the black m termined to discover the truth. to blame for a thing—but it's your “U've some bad news for you,” she doubt. Also just now there was en- horse and rode away, telling Bob, who fault that It don’t seem fu ny to me. Joyment, happened to be near him when he de- You've made me see things different. “Shucks,” he returned with a grin Imost disarmed he: ba she continued, father left his other papers with m+ he also left a diagram of a place in the timber clump where the idol 1s Some time yesterday the diagram was stolen.” " cloth, with dishes set for one—she me while I was ridin’ gver here that “You don’t say?” he sald. NeWhatesou meetin’ him for, then?” had waved Calumet's supper, and it | wasn't going’ to be éxactly tekied His voice had not been convincing he asked suspiciously. in the warming-closet Over leavin’. | It's been seemin’ lke there had been a note of {have not met’ Noal Taggart Betty” nat. She was ome to me for—well for a longer time mockery in it and she knew he was guilty of the theft. ai She looked at him fairly, “You took it,” she accused, turning her gaze, What are you goin’ to do take Jt," he denied, re- She looked straight at him, “I house yard—she knew the black's goit Me re's a difference, ain't there? Mme Tye gob Ie, canst Aeimee THA Pon tates aiready—sho trembled w little, put AuYways, there's s lot of things tha you think that was @ gentleman's ac- tlon—to enter my room to search it sa even for something that belonged to o gentleman took it,” he grin- ‘therefore it couldn't have been T told you I had dt: “Who did, then?” “Do you know Telza?” “Toltec,” he said; "% Yucatan, He got it yesterday—last night—while you was gassin’ to your friend, Neal Taggart.” She started, recollection filling her to “A Toltec “I have heard that they are fanatics where their religion is con- cerned; your father tald me that his— that woman—Rzela—told him. sald that the tribe would never give for the laughed at her; he laughed at me search whole lot like congratulatin’ me. "Ne “she said, reaching the quick But I do not care [there was a sus- “I do,” she said. “Of course you Picious moisture in eyes and @ conclusion tha’ were not to have the idol just yet, dueer tightening of t ips that gave late for him to complete hi but it is better for you to it the Ho to this declaration) how you tion; “it t# never too 1 before the time than that the Tag- treat me. I intend to keep my “fs think I know what you mean,” garts should get hold of it.” Promise to your father, no matter “But you've got it “Do you know where the {dol is what you do. But I want to make It'a aomethin’ else. I've got hid?” he asked. you understand that I "mot here— Sho told him no, that she had never kind of woman you take me to ben (0, Ket out of fe Gauche consulted the diagram, that I am not being mad “I reckon,” he said, looking into Neal Taggart—or by any sas” her steady eyes, “that you're tellin’ GQalumet did not reply; the effect of the truth, Jn that case it will be this passionate defense of herself on safe where it is for a while. I'll be him was deep and poignant, and still there, a he ans whereabouts. —— She pressed had a viglent Bhe took a step backward. “What for?” she asked breathtessly. “For killin’ Al Sharp.” She shuddered, That “Al Sharp! the loose “now that you know where the idoi im, showing him the mean, desplo- swore out @ warrant, I got wind of They can't prove that you fur" Again a doubt arose in his mind He laughed, "You concerning her relations with Neal Taggart, The fact that she had not divulged the hiding place of the idol to him was proof that if he had been trying to deceive her he had not euc- ceeded, This thought filled him with a sudden elation, ‘Lately,” he said, “it begins to look as though you was gettin’ some senae, what she wanted him to be. Invol- untarily, he took hia hat off to her that would believe me, Do you reckon and bowed respectfully. Then ho I could prove that I didn’t do it? reached a swift hand into an inner here's two ‘gainat one. The evi- pocket of vost and withdrew it. dence is against me. The Kay big holding out @ paper to her. She took found me in the clearing with rp. {t_and looked wonderingly at tt. It 1 had the knife. No one else wai was the diagram of the clearing in ground. I buried Sharp, The Tag: Be See eae showing where the garts will ewear against me. Where's 0) 5 You're gettin’ reasonable. I reckon Her face paled, for she knew that bes ages hat a you'll be a dang-up girl, give you his action in restoring the diagram ,,che Was, silent. an Yime.” to her was his tritute to her honesty, (faln. ©. I fancied | was Her Mps curled, but there was a an evidence of his trust in her, despite th? Mt think they flash of something in her eyes that his uttered suspicions, Also, it was he could not analyze. But he was his surrender, sure that it wasn't anger or disap- She looked up, intending to thank Neither was jt scorn. It him. He was walking away, and did it might have not took around at her call. hi secure. I didn’t think they'd try to ull off anything iike this. ‘ Shows ow much dependehce a man can put in anything, They don't look Nike they had sense enough to think @f such a thing.” lowing. He had nothing to plumb amused, an’ I'd have had a say to her at these times, heap of fun with somebody before it could be got over with. Somehow, though it was plain from the expres A sion on his face when she covertly {t,don't seem to be #0 damned funny 4 no good four-flusher, an’ no woman can be anything if she takes up with him.” She looked at him with a dazzling Then she knew he “I feel flattered to think that you a" ¢ are taking that much Interest in me,” T am ao sorry,” she said, standing much. worried, you that I have not ‘cottoned up’ to i ne I don't mind telling viicn was a spotlessly clean table. the color reaching his face “it atruck mending Bob's stockings and thinking ‘an I would have admitted three im lo~ yon mane Bie epolor Ca” hte dceing days ago when [ had that talk with she said slowly. the past few “s Hy 4 “wl re eetin’, months—and Calumet. And when she YOU: Or, rather,” he corrected, wit! Peed? YOU meetin’, then? ho fiiird the black come Into the ranch. & smile, “when you had that talk with demanded, wouldn't have admitted three da; ago. But I've got sense now—I've got a new viewpoint. An’ somehow, what I'm goin’ to tell you don't seem aside her mending and went to the window, The moon threw a white light tn His lips curled with disbelief, and her cheeks flushed a little. “Can't you trust anybody?” replied. she d, the yard, and she saw Calumet dis- i “Why,” she continued as he kept mount. ‘When he did not turn the f° come hard. peenane (0a he crete silent, “don’t you think that if I had black into the corral, hitching him, ’ but kept holdin’ it back, “Dade bad me sised up right. He eaid I was @ false alarm, that I'd 5 eg suinkio” of wet too much and at I'd forgot that there was other 4 Fapid step, and if in her certainty jas EN, We he hedge told me ine there had been the slightest doubt, it them was your views I'd have gali- disappeared | when he opened the (hot), yee “Bue T couldn't blame him He looked tired; he had evidently for repeatin’ that time i'd Sata to ridden ‘hard, for the alkali dust was G5'some thinkin’ mnt ame, 14 thick on his clothing; he was breath- «tn the first place IT found that f ing fast, his eyes were burning with wasn't @ whole lot Proud of myself sore Gap. SenoHee hia ps were for guzzlin’ your grandad, but I'd He closed the door and stood with Pive’yer a chenee ty waan't goin’ to his back against it, looking at her. f expect theres a lot at people do Something had wrought @ wonderful that, but thoy're on the wrong trall-- change in him, Ho was not the Calu- jt don't bring no peace to a m ns Instead, to one of the ratis, without even removing the @addie, she sus- pected that something unusual had happened. intended, as you said once before, to cheat you, to take anything that be- ¥ didn't i to you, that I could have done jong ago? I had the diagram; I could" have kept the Idol, the money, the ranch. ‘What could you have done; what could you do now? Don't you think it is about time for you to realize that you are hurting no one but yourself by harboring such black, dismal thoughts. Nobody ia trying cheat you—except probably the Taggarts, Everybody here trying their best to be friendly to you, try- ing to atd in making those reforms which your father mentioned. Dade kes you; Bob loves you. And even my grandfather @aid the other day that you are not a bad fellow, Yo have been making progress, more Toltee from she said in an awed She idol, He OEE 3 Y Ze tyr ie hi i ( F ‘At'ast comes the day of Tom's flon from law school, There, pride i her eyes, ‘sits watching his mother, her dream of an “education for Tom” realized at last. With her ‘sits Bessie, HOW TOM “WON OUT” —No. 17— Graduation and Experience we \\ m he Now all that fies between Tom and his coveted a 8 gees oo praca work inva;law office, This must have before admission to the bar Mr. Jones Neadily agrees to let bim spend that year with him. - \\I A New EVENING WORLD “SUCCESS MOVI! ——— Mlustrated by WILL B, JOHNSTONE —— By Hazen Conklin Od a At home Tom's mother’s eyes often wander proud- ly tovthe ‘ramec: certificate, hanging in his room, an- nouncing to all the world that her son now can sign the letters LL 8, after his name. At the office Mr. Jones gives Tom plenty of portant work to do, helping hin| to get all possibit practical experience at in all sorts Rapidly the year drews towsrd Its end, One day Mr Jones calls Tomiaside and says: 1 want to have 4 sérious talk, with you,".Concluded (o-morrow. her that he had found himself; that w: ni there —a Cay re- ppecttul, conatderate, in hil , back table known oll along that this t he meant it was too thi reforma- tareeze out of the country. The Sher- bi the only one of t i it parted, that he was going to La- "she sald, you don't gho said. “"But when Tam in need of gett bag Re a omy he OL hat you are "not “When your SUM tor me L'shall lot you 'kiew, At _ It was fully two hours after supper ferent? he #aid. “No?” at her quick, Qhlvalrous in leaving me this ‘way: present I feel quite competent to take When he returned, Malcolm, Dade reproachful negative, ‘Well, then, par, hconeerned over care of myself. But if you are yery 204 Bob had gone to bed. ‘In the *0rry that this had to happen. Well, 4? 4 kitchen, sitting I'm sorry, too, You he added, ton you ten tua to you that all the time f was a you mean I feit like kickia’ ‘ reckon that’s all. any plain Pag Ree nted to 7 yecere I leave T teokon lay here you'd never know how 8 crimson, an gratitude and sat sensation of rearct. Her Judge him had been vindi would come, but, now that come, it was not as she had it—there waa discord where friend of dad's, an’ out of bi ™ Iness wouldn't won't be hold me. I reckon he added, leaving the ‘acer and com vi ing back @ little way into the room; expect I'm ited. ‘a it your property,” shot parts be ou've got to it,” he returned, . “Here"— with @ quick look at her. he drew a piece of pencil from an inside herewith renounce all claim my father’s property,” it read. “I re fuse the conditions of the will.” It was signed with his name, While he arene passer ype 3 her she tore paper to small tering them on the floor, ppt gone and that His gree siintes, e 1, was going to iet them I'm charged with one murder, |, after to-night there any Taggarts to bother ‘ou mean to"—— Her ened with horror, wo: ‘So long,” shortly, and: o She followed four steps, @ followed three or fet ola coe in the 4 slowly back to her. She EA pee breathless, and looked Ewvalt Ist a minute,” abe oatd “Wait just a minute,” have something to give aes Bi She darted into the sitting room; ‘he could hear her running up ‘airs, She was gone @ long time, so long @ time that he grew tient and the floor with q hasty strides, He was certain it was fully five minutes before reappeared, and then her manner wee more nervous than ever, “You aot,” he said jously, though you wanted to keep me “No, no! in her hands, and she selzed {i bottom and turned out its con! @ score or more of twenty- pieces, “Take them,” she said as tated. And, not waiting act, sho began to She was nervous though, many of he gained if she had not touched He returned them to the bag help and placed the bag in a of bis trousers, Then once said good-by to her, (To Be Continued.) GOING AWAY FOR THE SUMMER? Remember The Eve. ning World prints each week's complete up-to-date novel —@ | week's reading! Have The Bve- ning World sent to your sum» mer address,