Evening star., 1896-09-19

foot-he wasn't an ex-soldier-he wasn't
the county sheriff. Robertson had met all
sorts of men. and he knew that his caller
didn't hang out" within a radius of fifty
miles For minute they sized each other
up. and during those sixty seconds had
either man moved his right hand by so
much as an inch there would have been a
killing.
Il came to have talk with you." said
the stranger.
Go ahead"
Anybody about@"
only Kit. but reckon We'll go outdoors
Come out to the shed"
The girl was on the outside of the shed
the men entered it and sat down close to-
gether on an old box. Girl and men were
separated by an earthen wall a foot thick
but 1t had crumbled and was full of holes.
Ever hear of Jim Finch?" queried the
stranger. as he lighted his pipe.
Yes-horse thief, rustler and road
agent"
And they tell me you game man."
IF there's money In it.
Plenty of money. / want to hold up the
army paymaster his next trip, and
here's the spot to do It. There's six of the
boys. and we twoll make eight There
won't be over eight or nine In the escort.
even If II comes to fighting"
How'll you work it?"
Easy enough"
And with the girl Kit listening to every
word from the other side of the wall the
stranger proceeded to give the details of a
plot which had been hatched weeks before
and many miles away. Fort Yuba was the
first of .he five forts on the paymaster's s
route HIS safe would contain eight or ten
thousand dollars. His usual escort was a
sergeant and six men, With his clerk and
the driver OF the ambulance there would be
nine men. all well armed and all ready to
fight in defense of the money Eight rough
and ready men might ambuscade and get
away with a dozen soldiers. but there was
to be no killing II 1t could be avoided. In
case of a fight some of the outlaws would
go down as well. They wanted the money
instead OF the bullets. and Jim Finch
thought II could be got without man be-
ing grazai. When he had given the details
Robertson extended his hand and said:
I'm your man-shaker'
Good | knew you had sandr'
Ten minutes later when the stranger was
galloping away and old Robertson had en-
tered the bar room. the girl queried in a
careless way:
What did he want. dad?"
Wanted me to help run some cattle"
But you won't?"
Reckon not. Things are gettin' skeery
about here. and I'm thinkin' We may pull
up and leave IN a few days. The sheriff s
nosin about. and the soldiers don't stop
here any Tncre. Drat EN-, they wouldn't let
a man make an honest livin in this coun-
try
The Eir' walked over to him. and resting
hand either shoulder looked him in
the eyes and said:
''oh. dad. I ho2e you'll get out Of this!
It's a horrible place, and you don't know
around from one place to another like thisi
We haven't had real home since can re-
member"
Don't get started on that tackv ht
gruffiy replied. and yet there was q thread
Of kindness in his gruffness.
But 1 can't help II. Mother won't away
two years ago. Why don't she come back
The soldiers drove you away from Sar
Jose: the sheriff drove you away from
Quetin: they scared you away from Bel
Rose. You are lodging about all the time
you have bad men como here. I've stuck tC
you. dad. when could have cut and run, a.
mother did, but I'm getting tired"
Kit. heven't bin q good dad to your
he asked after a long look nt her.
Most times, yes," she replied, "but Tn
and sometimes wonder-wonder-"
'What dye mean. Kit7s he asked. as she
pasfed and turned he. face.