.TIIUK3DAY,' Al'llll, l9, 1620.
THE SPRINGFIELD "NEWS
I Crooked 1
Trails
anil
Straight I
William MacLeod Rainc
SYNOPSIS.
PM I.
MAI'TKU I - Ad.aniiif.c i't'1 rack
I, lailtai itiiiii i ruu.iial, Mi.fl ivili'. li
Ihl'hil, I inly Kl.mliii an.l Ins i In. in
Slat-, Imlh gii I . ntlv iimir li'iy. Iia.-imi..
lrtiola. it a ltn. mNih( ail . antm a
iioain( rif ii. m i ofii iim k In lha lnai,
of Hiim ha Aim, Ilia hand ..ariaa,
I'mly ami In pailhar atalug In inwn
1 'liar aia awkni ami Inhl a pna la
In town In 'iianll of main 'Ihay aluda
llialr iiuia.aia iiiariakau nati da. Mac
la kilia.1 l.v Ilia !,... ami I'uilv nirnl
'l!va, altar ha lml pna ami hUli-
If bam iiinlad 1 ha man mil la
I .uuh Cullliit.
OIA'-IITI' II fiillUnn'a fr'a.t all
rattlamrn riiMat n in In l. ti. h I'mly a !
an avamp'a 1.1 .unia ihinr Will, Ilia
Hip allium! I. !. I. , a la u ! hy Ida
lnlarvaiiih.il of tva'a 1'i.Ulaiii, t.uck'a
dUgllll I
"HAITI n III - III wnni.it dra.aa.l.
and f'U 1 1. cr loiam a iml appiaitaii.taii. !
'inly la aai.l for by ulllaiiii. Ila ii irt
lion Ilia li.iv i (ini-ai ullig a tiillm lima out- j
law M'.apr Snina. l.-nl lamlar of tha rn
tlaia wliii I a. I tiran I'mh'a tiiid.ilti-t I
Mamliaii laain I hat Knapy Klona la nl
lUnn bllipr ana'iiy an. rait t-a a bala-
fill Inftiiatt' f oirr Ida rv alii-iin" ami
Nam a I ii hi" , mrrV.I Willi liia latl.rr
(.'ulliami ( lull fin I 'in I)
flHI'TKH IV -l urU if lpv
Htnna fiom a In ir t r . i Im.i which I. a ha
liilnlil'il. an.! ilxitria i'.u ilia niitUw ;
la yo ma Hum 1 1 nl f.n 1 1 .a I. a nit t I '
la I an7l . ( ria gi.aa fmlv a n.iia to j
da'lvar t.i Krh rtmt l-'lainliaii ami Mon
at owl f'li Hi I ilt. i ram h j
rllAPTttl V -Thai fntU ina-ta lil
.niiifiuiii of tha i muling r x ii-.lii inn an.l 1
dalliai I aula a n.iia In Rain Vomit
nllla.in l.rliataa H'ona la Ma frlamt aJ
aata l-a will all. k bv lilm. I'laii.tiau aaa I
a.mia mala l liautx nannai1 iml lia.-nmaa
rnmtttrail ll la It.iln tuliliai v riam laava
tt.a Ian. Ii In Co eVngna. lit Curly
ronipanlra Ii i rit.
t llAI'TKIt VI - l.ava(ri.(illi at a
.! m pi' I'urlv liraia Himia an.l III '
llauiaiiaiit. Illa lllaikwalt. arrant to i
old up ilia train m a r mania known aa
Tin ui anil aMar tha rnhltarv bIkmiI :
Irniiiig I'ulliaitn anil laava hi IhiiI nn Ilia
ana. Hmna ilni alulilin lii i"i'C mi
tha aliarirr ltiiu(li I. la aon'a ilaili ami :
iliafr. a t'urlv I a. uaad li Mi'i'ia of
Iwlnf a apr of Lurk 'ullia.in'a Tl.ar ara 1
hi a tail, iml i.iri wiin tna uniim lau.i
ln H al than i.aU niaatln aIU inaan a
flhl lo tha ilaalh. Curly .nukn a . ftn
rl.lanl if I ! I M il'iiiav. ra i Ii'iiih n , ami
thav I ll for in I. il' U nlll.ili of a'ona il'K
acaint hi ami
Part II.
I HAITKII I Aflar an ll nll,t
Inn al Ha r.n,ilii'ii i'IiiI". Ill wl'l' ll I'ulll
a.m ha luai hraviiy. Inaia la an riUmvff
(if aliaip win. la liaiwaan li. k a'i'l a
liaanniMii t'aaa I'-anilrnk. Willi whnin
L 11 1 1 1 a tl Ii fatid
riMI'TKII I' -Haci'r'i ' alanrltlail
bv lla nawa -ll Ilia Imlilup 'if aip raa
rnraii(i a. tha tiamllia aa. 'irmf l.i'.''
nllla.it pa a til ixilar ilahl ami al nillr
flatwar.l Mai-kai.r.ia and Ala llamtiaii.
Ma rlnaatl fitand. laai n lin l ania. iad
of lha rtliirm riihhaty. In hal havliif
tiaan foiinil on tha a. an and ha talii(
nilain(
"Tin mil ii Unit tnkf 'liiiiii' llvf
liiiiffHt, Mitf." til Mi'iiiJ rrplitvl. li-
lilUalllK Ihi' ailijail fMI'aUHMly. "I'll!
Koliif lii lin k nvvay aliiiiit llnra hour:
of alaap. Sit Inn.' Ami Willi a nil
ba wh kh In IiIk room.
"All Ilia1 aiiina l.iii'k'a li tlfriiptl
rnli." 'Imiiliiui I'ltniiiinnlarl. "Ami If
liittln'l uiiclil l lit Hilling In llie die
Kiiiiip. llf'M (in nl up. Owti a e.iiiil
It lii-rc mill llifie. Ahvnv wim a
hiainlT. r'ii'al lliiiiK hf'll liaa In ni'll
Ilia CI rile I' In mpiMI'P llililCM. Ill' II
uiy im tliU wt't'k llkt h hiiIiI In1 wonlil.
'l int I "m ili-ilil Hire. Kill I bwi'KT I ilmi'l
know win-it lii' rnle Hih iri,.
Milllf la til lilll rlEIII now."
Tint I tififi' in l.urk fit (!! nl fViT.v
luilik III Sjiimrlii. All of I In' Intllki'l's
kurw linn iiml will- Irirmlly In lii'ii.
Iml in siili' uf lln'ir n't xuhiil i miiI
lln'V rniilil id mil 1 1 i 1 1 u lnr 1 1 ll t.
"ir lint si riiii'iM'y . Lin k." .lniil.iii
nl' I Ik I '.ilili'liiiii's Niifiitiiitl iliiliii'fl
l.i dim. "I il I a -1 .vim liiiM- ll if I ilni-fil.
Why. i''ii' iinmiii flii-ii In I In- wiii'l.
I'ulilir rniillili'iii'i' N :i inlk'lily llrkl'li
lliiliy. II I ilnlit'l InlM- I w filly Hum
i..:i'il I'liiirliiu fimii Ml I 'inn mi I In- I'I.vit
tmil;:lil I'll In" liti'ii-i I'm- lin' Intnl. ."
'Twi'inj i liinihiinil .mi lin I'lyi-r I
t'l'fknn jmi ship h.v fXpifMi. il'Hl'1
J nil Y'
"Vi-.s. Ihin'l niftitlfitl ll In Hiiyiini
'I hill iwi'iilv llniiixitiiil v mild fimif
Inimly In n .'nml ninny pi-nplf In tliU
rniiiilry Ihi'sc Mini's." .
"ll sMHihl iiiiu.i rlul.l liniiily to mo,''
l.nrk luiiuhfil nii'l'ully. "I t i t'Vfry
ri'iil nl' il. All it I hi' I I' iiiiimliip I'll
lif nn Knxy Hll'fPl. Iml H'n i;nliiif In In
hiinl sli'ililin' In kii-p nlu till ilnn."
''Vimi'II nml. i' ii Mini Nimif Imvv. ll
will work n'll. Miiyltf wlifii ninin-y
Imii'I Mil llhl I'll ln illiln tn il l smui'
lhlllkr I'nl' ynil." a
I. ml; ri'Mil'iifil In I In- linlnl ninrnxi'ly
nml liifd In llu'iii'f ii wiiy mil of Mm
ililU'riillliM. llf wilt lint tfnlii In hf
lifliti'li. llf ni'fl' li.nl ui'i'i'plfil ili'lVul.
lin wnnhl not Insn mil ull'-l' nil llii'Mf
yinirs nl' liuhllii. ll li.nl I n hi il''!-
pi'l'llln lii'i'il nf limiii'.V Unit l l Mlil'lit
hlin sit in Iml liihi' p'll.' f at i nn- I'm
hi h.iil siii'i'i'i'ih'it ti l.v in -1 n , i lv : 1 1 4 ii
t m I siliiiiiinii u. .,; II.- l.ii'w lil.-i
debt l.y heart, lull he Jolted I Jo-lb
llll llil' Iihi'I. If (It! 'ft Vl .IM ntlll
nddi-d Ix iit mvhIh.
MortJHC mi tain ll ltu fill ti 1 11 ft
N'nla lii l-'lmi iilun:. ,1 ,iim
Snip In !!' ihiIiU I.T.Vi
I M I ' l.i M i. I -a-ila ..... I :im
Htttita lii I 'Im 'I'll n ii , lid'
ham in yvi jm
Tula! ID.Iiii
Twfiily llimianfiil kh llif Mini lia
lii'i ilfil. nml IiiIkIiI luiilly. Inn, Ahxi'lil
ml nlfilly In- liniifil lln i nM lnpf (iter
nml Jul nil down una or ln nthi'l'
Hi iii-n. I im iiIv tliiiiixnml iliithim! JiinI
i In' miin .liitilnn Iiml inmliii; In tin'
In. ilk nil irf 'I'Mcr. Silifiitiarliill'I.V,
I. in'li'n hii'i't'i miva ppi I'salnii (n hi
ili.'iiulila. '1'wfiily tliinisiiiiit itnllHla.
II. 'If M lliil'll llllll'M llil'V pl'ln lll'il l.
in. 'I Jul liflnw Ilif flnifn, "iV. A S.
I,. 'n." I lintlly lliny wrnl Binn
in.it li'Hlly Ihf niif wnril, "TihiIkIiI."
I. in k Innkfil nl m f nt f In Iiml wrllii'ii.
In ni'lifil 'I'liiily, H ml Itira Mit piivt'liipr
III lii. Ila Ihri'W Mia plfifa III llil'
H ,ilf i,l'rl lillakfl.
CHAPTEPJ II.
An Initialed Hat.
Mm kfiizli' m ri'iiil'tii: tin Hfiilliifl
It Hi' li n If n iHla hri'Mkrifl. Ila Inn)
ll pnipK'il Bfiitnat Hip uiilff lint I If. an
Iiml ll lifiil tint InltTfprp) wllli the
1 1 aiiopiii t Inn or aniiiif . rrlfd ni- ,
liitnfK. Iml in ken nml I'lirTee to ihfir
' . l II I It. ill llfsl IllUtllMI.
Trylns In ilo twn IhliiKt nl om-f lin
il (IIihImiiiIiiui' A a'nrtlltii: head
line fpucht hln eye JiimI a Ilia t'lHJi
ii ii Ml lii Hp". Mnl mlTi e. ircrlpl
'nti'ly hw it Unwell, Htahleil hi Innifiia
ml lhri.nl. He f ilnw n Ilia cup.
turf inllilly. Mini k'MVf his HMrlillnn
' the lieu I Iml Ii h il ptfltfil hnn:
"Whllf lin" fllli'li nf SiiiiiiHSi'llf
. nl- pi'iii rfully aleepiiiK Imi nlthl. h
lif lininlil lifld ll l.i tin ,liiff !iiur of
'le Wl-alflll & Sullllicrli I'lpleaa I nlll
.:iii nml rellevfil tlifiti "f Iwfiily
iinc-iiiiil iIiiMhi liiit rfififi fmiii
'ii n i. ti i In- KlyiT.
"IVrry lliiwlf.v. the Ini-ai iiiaiiiicr
"f tha I'Minpnnr. tiiyilh.-i villli l.n
Itn-fi ra. lha annfl Bliunl. Iiiid ' '"I ra
Itinieil fnnn llip tlepnl, whare th"
niniiey IihiI hepn tiiriifil i'fi in iliPin
ind rceelptf d for. Hitwlfy Imd nn
Ini'I.eit lha iliwir of lha nfl'ne ami Iiml
le,M-il In. fulliiv .. l.y linti'ly w hi ll
l liui-fil ilaii"iiiiln nppi'iirfil sililih'll
ly mil nt Ihf d.n i.tiiH, il imi rtin'it the
iil.inl nml iniiiini'i-i . tinik the iiuuip.V.
tut -'! ihrmiuh Ihf ihinr niirl lu. keil il
ii'tfr hlin. n in I Miitiohfij it Mh'iiily ns
lit' h.nl in tin. Ih'fnre lfiiliiU, hp
uiriifl lii victim I hill III.' piml
uniihl ha c.x.'ii'il fur Ifli niinn pa :iml
nl nn aiifiii(ii In mil fur help limy
ivuuhl he ..hiil Nnl wll lisiHiiilius 'h -.
lha linpi'Noiifit ttii'ii fiskcil thair Uvea
hy imKIh" (he ft In rut."
I'tirllift ilnw n iim pitKe M:n Uf nlf
illai nveiail Ih.tl I hf lifspi'i mill wil llll
It hllije. hill. II.Ml ShiTirl Hull fXpccl
ei xliui My In I.I V lunula oil him
II- fiihli'd Ihf pnpi'i' nml lei nrip'il m
ltt I. nun tu imtka pi'i-iiii'HMiili In re
r It I It !n Ilia litil'll The till. nf Ilia
ifK'phniie cttlleil hint In the receiver.
The viih-e nf I 'hII'.nuii reaclipil hlin.
'Iiml ynn. Mhi-2 III he tishl up.
Nn. ilnn'l cnme iluwn. I "t miliar nee
.nn nlutiP."
The owner nf lite I'licle t caiil
rlchl lo hiiiiiiea "he niMile a r ji I .
Mile, ami while Sta snl It I'm cnlni: In
a Mil oft wlnll'a t'onilliB If you."
He hud taken a hie mil nf hill f '''"
lit mu kel. Mini was cmmiinu uff wlnit
lie Iiml Insl tn hit frifini. The Inner
milli-fit Mint ll all aeemeil to he III
tw eiilles.
"Twelve liiiiiiliei-. Tlntl nipiii re ti.
Mm."
Th Siiilsiiinn wm Hi:iiely niifiisy
vvilliniil h tli'iiiiile reiisnn fnr his mix
lei. v. Only l.isl niuhl l'iillimi hml lulil
til n mil n single hunk in luvvii vvimhl
iiilvitnce him H ilnlhtr. Now he Iiml
niniiey in plcnly. Where hml hf K''
It?
Mm-kf nzif 's eve fell nn H fnpy of
ihc Sfiilihcl prnl rmliiii; I'ruin Mm nlh
r's pnikfl. "KfMil itlmill the hnhtiip
nf Ihe W. ,x S fvpifs'.' Thill fflhiw
IihiI his n. 'i vc w ilh him."
"Shn! Tins hnhlnp unnif's the
'fiisiist vcl. lie ir 1 1 Ihf ilmp nil thfiu.
mnl then" w its inuliln In ll."
"I low iliil'he kiiuw there wns nullify
ii 1 1 i 1 1 l: in In-I 1 1 i 1 1 1 V '
"Tliffi's itlii il li'ii U iihuui lhint'i
uf Mint sin I. Suiiieliiiily IiiIU. I knew
ir m sell', fur thill inn Her."
"Vim knew! Who Inlrl yml?"
"Tlntl ' a secrt'l. Mae. fume to
think nf II. I wish ynn wouldn't tell
mi.vhiiilv Mini I knew. I ilnn'l wiinl tn
Kel ihf initn wlin inhl ine In truiihle."
"Sup 1 won't." He pusseil to Hit
ulher phase nf the xuhlerl. "Thf Spii
tlnel snys I'.nli fxpfils to iiilch the
luhlifr. Think hf will?"
"Nnl if ihe fellow known his Inisl
lifss. Itnlt hits nnlhin In ati nil. Hf
lins Ihf whnlf SulllhvH'.xl in pick I'ruin.
I'm- till hf know, it wiim ynu."
"Yfs, Iml "
"tr more likely nn." Tl -'iiy eve
nf the Inrmer sht-rlfl' held h fiuiy
Slllilf .
In spile nf tlnil smile, or pel'hnpx
In 'Ciime nf It, Mitcken.',!' fell iiynin
lli.il lhn.li of il.iulil. "Wind's llif use
ul' il I. i n l; I'ii.iM '-I'lli'ss, I. in'!.'; t 'nurse
I
yn'i (Ihln't ilo It. f know yon inn x. Hi,
Mnl the innihli waa alatkart.lp dlrl
nut know hlin well ennuuh. Ciilllanit
waa hiinl up, clonal in Hip whII, How
fur wnnhl hp gn tti aava hlinef? In
til ahitt. Iroiihleil fnallluli, Mhc Wim
ih cfil If Ida old ithli partiier'n alrruk
nf In If iipn4. wnnhl liika him fur
ll h il hulilup, (If fiMirxp It wnnhl nnl.
Iip naiiii'd hluim'tf; but ha conhf not
cat the rhlh'iiloiia notion out of Ida
liend.
Mm-kfiir.h (Irlfleil to the roiirthouap.
Hp fniiiul Sheriff Holt In Ida olTlcp. TliP
ScutMiiimi wunteil to illncilia lh rob
lii'ty, hut wiin Nhy about attacking the
Niihject. Whlla h hoKicleil at It, f toll
was off on mjothcr tack.
Inside of a (jtiafiar of an hour the
sheriff hml found nnl all he Wftlitpil to
know ill I the pnki r Kiiuie, i;ullisnn'a
linn m In! illflli iilin-s. Mini the new that
Evtr 3 Thia Bafort T"
Lack hatl llqiiltlatotl liia poker dt-ht
simp brfakfaal. Morptivar. bt bail
talked ao ciitunlly that liia visitor bait
no suspicion of what lie wai driving
hi.
Miifkfiiyie lilt em Jit ell ll little sleilth
liii: nf his own. "Tht Imldiip fellow
kind nf slipped one owl on you laat
nlyht. I'-'lt ."
NLivl-i' sii. ii ml inu.vhi lint."
i:.il :t clue. hnv. ynuV"
till. es- yos,"" 'rhf stn-rlfl' hnikcil
strmiiht nl him. "I've h inniun his
ili'liiit in L '."
P.illle fell himself flu-him: "What
ni.il.es vuii mink Mint. Nick':"
I'.i.lt ;il. ed tn a itiphniiril mnl nu
hnkfil il. His hack wits luvviiid the
ciilllcin.'iii. Iiul the hitter could see him
(like suiiic. Iillty flulll J -hell. I lh li Ii.
tptifkly. i in sheriff mssed n lint Umui
ihf liildf.
' Mv'fi' see this UefiireV"
Mite pie'.eil It up. His linger were
nnl ipilte sipmly. fnr a sieiil ilreatl
rll'i nehcil his heHfl likp a ru di of icy
wnipr. rpuii ihat may fell lint with
the pinched frown wit slumped ihf in
iliv iduiilil.v -and Ihe Initials M Luck
Cullisun.
"lion'i know- a I le'cumil.e If." he
lied, lint very reinllly. "Not tn know
It. Why?"
"Thuiichl jierhnp! ynn nii-.hr knnwr
It. T'ne hnhlnp ihnppftl It w liilP ref
lini; nwiiy."
Miickf n.le's pye llinched. "Irnpped
It. Ilnw w as MimI ?"
"A iiuin hiippenetl In fnine nlnti-: Sun
Miguel su-ei'i Just as Mie rnlilter swiiipj:
lo Ills horse. He lu-anl thf cries of
Ihe nifii liisidf. tiifssed what was tlo
inu. mnl CM' liHiijjftl shnls wilh thf mis
trciini. Ilf shut this hnt nft the fel
low's hcil.l."
"Wbo was the initn Mini shut the
I'ol.lil'l-".'"
"I 'iss I 'ellill ick.'a
' I'.iit In- ilulu't clnini tn recu-ni.f the
hnhlllp?"
"N'ui fur cfiliiin. He -;ilcsseili ninli
wh-ise inilinls tire ihe sunn- nx lliuse in
Mint hut."
"If vim inciin I. uck I'tillison. Ifs a
t il lie," cxphiileil the ciiiilfmnn.
lie Mils llll'lolls Willi lliluself, fur lie
I p 1
WW
fell imw Mini he h;nl licen uiistispcf I
Itmly hflpini: in fcrili'y tin- suspicinii
nl' Mie slu'ii IT. Like nn idml, he hml
let nut milch tliiit told hi'iivll.i at-ninsi
his friend.
"I hope so. What it In nit this hat.
with tht- twn huh shut through ihe
liinV
"Sim! We all wear hut .lust like
that. I.iink nl t..'ii'f." Itillie hi-hl It
nut eimi-i ly.
"t las. your tin L. i sianipeil In the
sweat hniiilY" Hull aski-il with a smile.
"I know' ynu ain't his frii-nil. Nick.
Hut ynn want to he fair In him even if
lit- (I lii nppnse ynui' elect Inn." Macki-n-r.le
lahl an appealinu' hmul nn the knee
uf Ihe Iiuin seiiled opposite hi III.
"I'm sht-rilT nf I'npiiKu county. It
ilnt-sn'i make any ililVe relief who
U'nrkcil fur or aniiisi me, I'.illie. I
wus elft'ieil, and I'm cnim- to enl'oict-tin-
law, I'.y tin- way. I'm- v." '" I'i'V
fur snme supplies Mi:s innniiin:. t'i.n
ymi cash a check lor a humli'i-ilV"
"1 reckon hi," M.icl.cni,. i hf . frnm
hla -s ket tl4 roii rulliaoii Iiaif fVpn
lilm two hour befora. He pe-led flvf
twpfttle from It. The sheriff obserred
ftiflt Ihe prevnlHiil ilenomlnal Ion wa
the smite.
"Uet these from Lin k '!" he asked
earelesly .
The iMMleiiuin a I ii red at 1 1 1 Til. and
the suspicion grew nn him thai be had
hei'ii trapped pkhIii.
"W hy do you ak?"
"I'l'iniisf ll hiippen (he hllln stolen
from the W. A: S. were h II twenties."
From Ihe nllice of the sheriff. Miif
krii'.U' wandered to the cliih In search
of Lin k. He wn llioriiiilily dispirilfd.
Islllt ilremlpd In ineel Luck. Mild yet
Wl aiixinus lo Ju so.
I'lillisun had left the club, hut Alee
Handrail n "till Ibere,' I'.illie drew
hlin Into a corner, and learned HiHt
Lin k had Just 'settled W illi lllltl.
"Anyone see hlin clve It to you,
Alei-?"
"No. He took me upaiaira to the
library and paid me."
In bills?"
"Yes In IwenMes."
"r.'nr Hud's sake, don't t-ll anybody
that." Ill a dozen jerky senleiifes Ihe
owner of the r'iddlehack Inhl Handrail
Of the suspicion- uf ihe sheriff.
Tosreiher they went in search ff
Luck. I'lil though they looked for
b I in all day, he was nnl to be fuuml.
The Inst Ihat bad been seen of hlin
I. ink wa walkinic alone Mie plaza
toward the hotel, not a hundred and
Ally yards .from ihe latter. A dozen
tnen had s-oken to him in the distance
of block. Jtul.'lie hail not been seen
In ri'M'-h his Imiel. He bad nut culled
fur hi runin key. Smnehnw he had
JlltKlled. mnl mine could tell how nr
w here.
'Iv I'.i.JI his disiipftenrnuce -'wa as
nuil ..3 yt coiifessiull of guilt. He
searched ? Luck's room at the lintel.
A 1 1 1 1 1 tr other thin-:, he found an nhl
envelope ' vv il h liilercst inj data M-n-cictl
nn II.
r.cfnre ulhtfnll the word was whis
pered all over Saguache that Lnck
('tillisoii. piuic'er rHttleiuan and for
mer sheriff, was auspected nf Hi W.
& S. express rubbery and had fled ti
ave himself from arrest. Al tirt men
marveled that one so well known and
o popular, one who bad Iveen so prom
inent In affair, could be suspected of
such a crime, but as they listened to
the evidence and saw it fall like
blocks of a huihlini: into place, the
conviction grew that be was the
masked bandit wauled by the sheriff,
.a
Keil hfiidfil Hub I'ullison finished
miik'nic the diamond hitch ami proudly
fulled his cousin Kale to inspect the
pin -k horse .
"Ynu never saw Mie hitch thrown
heller, sis." he h ranged, boylike.
"I'ncle Link says I tin it well as he
can."
"It's tine. Huh." his cousin agi'ee-'l.
with the proper enthusiasm in her
dark eyes. "You'll have to teach rua
Imw lo iu ii nne nf ihcse days."
She was in a khaki ridmj skirt, ami
she pulled herself in the -saddle of her
own horse. I'mm this position she
Kve him tlnal Instruction hefore leafing-.
ll had been tn Wednesday morning
Mint Link I'ullison disappeared frivio
the face of rhe earth. Before Iwenly
foiir houri the gossip was beinz whia
perert lb the most d.-tnnt -cnnon of
I'apago coutiiy. This riders of the
Circle C knew It. but none of them
had yet told either Hon or Kaie.
Now It was Friday morn in: "-
Kate was beginning to wonder why
her father did not onll her up. Cmild
It be that Soapy Stone was pulling off
his train robbery at Tin Cup and her
father so busy ihat he could uot take
time to ride to a telephone station?
She did noi like to leave ihe ranch Just
now, even for a few hours, but oilier
business called her away. Sweeney
was holding down the fort at the lel
Oro against Fcudrlck's shecpherders.
and bis weekly -supply nf provisions
bud to be taken to hlin. Since she
wanted to sec with her own eyes how
things were getting along at the canon,
she was inking the supplies in person.
She rude from sunlight into shadow
and from shadow to sunlight again,
winding iilmig the hill trail that took
her town nl the lel Oro. After hums
Of travel she came to ine saunie nunt
which one looked down to the gup in
the canon wall ihat had been the com
mon watering place of all men s cat
tle, hut now was huiiiestended by her
father. She could See the hill, the
fence, line runiimg parallel to the
stream on the olhcr side, sonic gTHZlng
cuttle. Sweeney's hoist- in the corral.
The piteyus bleating of n lamb limit
ed to her. Kate disinuuutcd and made
her way inward the sound. A piiChi-lic
little huddle of frightened life tried to
snuggle free nt her approach. The
slim leg of the lamb had become
wedged al the Intersection of several
rocks in such a way that It could nut
be withdrawn,
Kute pulled the boulder away, anil
released the prisoner. She look the
suit, woolly creuuire in her arms, and
examined the wounded limb, nil torn
nml raw from Its clVuris tu escape. A
wound, she recalled, ought to -be
wushfd with cold water nml bound,
liclurning in her horse, she put tin- lit
tle iniimal in t'l'oiil nl the i-aiMIc niul
cootloued on tha trail that I'd down to
the rler. .
Sweeney came out from the- rnhla
and bailed her. He was a piat. wfitH-
er-bcHteo man, wim bad rldilenfr her j
father ever since she could remember.
-What In Mexico you gut there?" b
asked In surprise. i
Khe explained the f lrciwiitance un
der which she had found the lamb.
"And what you aiming to do with
It?"
"I'm going to tie up Its teg. and ta
It across the river. Some of the ii. F.
herders are sure to find it before
night."
"Shot What are yon fooling with
Cos. reudrick's sheep for?" he
grumbled.
"It Isn't a sheep, but a lamb. Ani
I'm not going to see It sufter, no mat
ter who owns It- Ml Just ride aTos
and leave It outside the fence," she
said.
"Lciiiiiic go. I know the river bet
ter." ' Sweeney did not wait for her assent,
but swung to the saddle. She banded
him the lamb, and be forded th
stream.
Sweeney saw gome one disappear
Into a wash as he rear-bed the fence.
The rider held up the lamb, Jabliered
a sentence of broncho Spanish at the
spot where the man., had been, pat
down bis bleating burden, and cao
tered bock to his own stile of the river.
Ao hour later. Kste. on the return
trip, topped the rise where she had
found the lamb, fulling- up her pony,
to rest the horse from Its climb, abe
gar ad back across. Uie river to the roll
log ridges among which lay the C F.
ranch. Oddky euougtf, she had never
seen Cass Fendick. He had come to
I'apago county a few'ears before, a ad
had bought Iheplac1$ from, an earlier
settler. In the-dgT-vfmen that had
fallen between .tlie fowen. she was
w holly on the side of tier father; Some
times she bad wondered 'what manner
of roan thia Cass Fcndrick might be;
disagreeable, of conrse..but after pre
cisely wbat fashion?
"Your property, I believe, Miss Cul-
lison." " '
She turned at sound of the suave,
amused drawl, and looked upon dark,
slim young man of picturesque ap
pearance. He was bowing to her with
an obvious Intention of overdoing IL
Her Instinct told the girt wbo be
was. She did not need to, ask herself
any longer what Cass Fendrick looked
like.
lie was holding nut to her the blood
stained kerchief that bad been tied to
the lamb's leg.
"1 didn't care to have it returned,"
she told him with cold civility.
"Now, If you'd only left a note to
say so, it would have saved me quite a
considerable climb," be suggested.
In spite of herself a Bicker of
amusement lit her eyes. She had a
sense of humor. "I did not think of
that, and since you bave troubled to
return It to me, 1 can only say tbaok
jou."
She held out her baDd for the ker
chief, but be did not move. "I don't
know bat what 1 11 keep it, after all,
for a souvenir."
She Ignored his sardonic mockery.
"I don't let live creatures suffer when
I can help It. Are you going to give
me my handkerchief?"
"Haven't made up my mind yet.
Perhaps I'll have It washed and brine
It home tp you." .
She decided he was trying to dirt
with her. and turned the head of her
horse tu start.
"Now your father has pulled hla
freight. I expect It will be safe to call."
be added.
The bridle rein tightened. "What
nonsense are you saying about my fa
ther?" "No news. Miss Cullison ; Jiust what
everybody is sayiug. that he has gono
to cover in account of the holdup"
A chill fear drenched her lu'-art, "Do
you mean the holdup of the Ll'iifted at
Tin Cup?"
"No I don't." He looked at her
sharply. "Mean to say. you haven't
heard of the holdup of Ihe W. & S.
ENpress company at Saguache?"
"No. When was il?"
'Tuesday night. The man got
away with iweiity thousand dollar)."
"And what has my father to do with
that'?" she dcniauded haughtily.
' A satisfied spleen purred In his
voice. "My tlear young lady, that is
what everyone is as,kiug."
"Wbn I do ynu mean? Say it." There
was fenr ns well as anger in. her voice.
Had her father smnehnw got lato
trouble trying tn save Sam?
"I'll. I'm saying limbing. But what
Sheriff. Hull iiieiiiis is that when he
gets his handcuffs on Luck Cullison
he'll have the man that can tell hint
where that twenty thousand is."
"It's a lie."
He waxed his hand airily, as out
who declined responsibility in the mut
ter, hut his dark, satiiruUio face
sparkled with malice.
(To bo continued.)
Many people of SprinefieM and vi
cinity do all their banking bunions
n Kugene when right in their hntui
town tluy bave a nutioual, stare,
enmity, an ! city depository.-th First
Niitiomi.1 It-ink of Stri!t afield. Is thac
the way to build uy i in.r h.n-.u- Uwa?