The evening world. Newspaper, March 4, 1922, Page 13

I, > SO E - _ 7 ~” — \& \ THREE SECTIONS, Seo * SECTION TWO. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1922. % a — : nn - = — — —————— By EUGENE MANLOVE RHODES Illustrated by WILL B. JOHNSTONE Love, Humor, Mystery and Adventure in the Wild West : CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. MISS GERTRUDE LUCRETIA WHEELER-—Courted by numerous youn; CHARLIE SIMPSON, “Spud’s” chum, who is handy when some kinds of jobs frontiersmen, but showing a preference for one. are to be done. MR. TUBS WHEELER, her father; a prosperous land owner and perfectly 20% HASKELL, “plumb full of ginger and a good looker,” sanding Sigh ie willing to add to his worldly possessions. z are oaitin. SHRIMP” DWY ! ; F “Ss ! Ud ) ,' *] ; t ot) » “SPUD” WALLIS, who is deeply interested in Gertie and has some of the prising but none conscientious rs characteristics most in favor with her father. BILL PANKY, whose alias is Old Jim Hendricks R. TUBS WHEBLER sat on under. A sound of clinking steel eame’ a matter of years till the river gnaws maybe—through my old ridge—and@ eee eae as through the heated aii the bank «away? No, sir-ee! The there's another right of way, Four i ' <7 PP ar Dona Ana Diteh'l) go through the hill count ‘em—four!” ; a pega ni BL Aye oc dio 66 SUPPOSE when that good back of my house, and the good road “Jo-ve, Mr. Wheeler, you subten! hea — pode . mie | peo gets through to the will go over my hill—that’s what. are a wondah!" Spud drawied “and valleys. J q dam, the caes'll be thicker'n And they'll yay littl ld) ut ‘ va jertie te i { bro river, the Rio Grande, made a jes,’ gaid the y ‘ <a ae pa) eas ubs you want Gertie to have a man that 'II1 { am ae nn Sea aaer athe ve 7 ce said the young man Wheeler a good big price for a right cipher out plays like that? What's . San nb aif ogc < aconaolately. ; “ ; of way. ‘Maybe the railroad ‘Il have the matter with that car?” he in- ,ward, a 3 ds 5 ae ne Wheeler chuckled Do you think to move, too, some time. And when quired as the automobile started, the swerved to the southeast, leaving ses they'll build that good road down Me. Big Old He-Ditch comes here, Mr. stopped again Biidd hind it a perpendicular bank thirty there, where there’s no room, andonly Ditch ‘l] make a big cut—or a tunnel “Kost something I guess—see ' ; 1 21, os omethis ig, em feet high and half a mile long. It was some eighty yards from Mr. Wheeler's feet to the precipice, and in tRose scanty yards a single track rail- yoad, the wagon-road and the big Dona Ana Mother-Ditch crowded, fol- lowing the river's curve. Far down the narrow highroad a shod heef rang on a stone. A string of horses swung jauntily into sight. A «, tall horseman lolled easily in his sad- fh) de. “Humph! That fool, Spud Wallis!” Wheeler sniffed. The fool, Spud Wallis, drew rein before the store. He was a tall, raw boned, broad-shouldered man with a berry-brown face and twinkling blue eves. “Know where the Tumble-T wagon is?” asked Spud. “Left this morning for Point o' Rocks,” said Mr. Wheeler shortly. Mr. Wallis rolled his eye at the sun, “T can_terrapin along up there this evenin’ After dinner,” he added pointedly. Mr. Tubs Wheeler spoke = accus- ingly: “Now, young man, you just natchelly mosey right along out of this!” “Why, Mis-ter Wheeler! An old timer like you, and grudge a body a meal's victuals.” “Meal's victuals be blowed!” said Wheeler wrathfully. “I ain't going to have you making up to my girl.” “Oh-h! 1 see-ce! Gertie?” said Spud. He looked up, frank-eyed “Say, that’s a good idea I'll go see her right away now!” Mr. Tubs Wheeler towered tiptoe “Took here, Spud—t ain't got anything against you, as a man, but a fellow that wants a wife has got a right to get some stuff together first.’ ® “Well,” drawled Spud reflectively, “what’s the matter witl my little bunch of cows?” “That's just it. You don’t know nawthin’ but cows--and cows 18 Mix, nada. That day’s over. Summerford, Joe Haskell, Herron—they got farms for themselves ready for the big ditch. Look at Joe Haskell, now. He's got as fine a piece of land as there is in the bend, And when there‘s no work for him on the farm, he goes teamin’ on the dam. ‘There's «a forehanded man.” . “Yes, Joe stacks up peetty fair--but Joe Haskell don’t figure in this case,” said Spud. “He likes some one else better than he does Gertie.” “who?” demanded Mr Tubs Wheeler, sharply. ‘Why, just himself So we'll leave him out of the question And Her- ron?” Spud said consideringly “H’'m-m! Well, realiy’— “Well, what about Herron’? Dont ‘Ayou ever take a drink?” Pe 2 Spud slid from the saddle. “I don't * care if I do,” he said. “You banshee!” cried Wheeler. His scowl ended in a broad grin. “Come along with you.” When they returned to the porch, Spud Wallis sank into a chair. A touring car stood in the deep road between track and ditch. Two men TRE -OOTLAW PRODDED BILL WWIK A GOU MUZZLE. “YOU'LL HAVE UG Iti THE DITCH! SIT UP, & were on their hands and knees peering YOU. OA I'LL BLOW YOU TO KINGOOE :cOomEr’ a