Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-22

packers-some of them Mexican, with here
and "AeI2 a karakG. or Australian Two men
moro osientatiousiy clad, though appar-
entity on equal terms with the others. were
Standing in the corner with their backs to-
ward him. From the general silence as he
entered he imagined that he had been the
SUBJECT CT conversation, and that his alter
cation with Hanlin had been overheard.
SuGdenIy one Of the two men turned and
approached him To his CONSERVATION he
recognized Steptoe-Steptoe. whom he had
rot seen for five years until last night
when he had avoided him in the COURTYARD
OF the Bdomville Hotel His first instinct
was to retreat. but it was too late And
tne spirits had warmed him into temporary
recklessress.
You amt goin' to be backed down BY
saort-eard gambler. are yer?" said Step
toe with coarse familiarity
4 nave a iady with me. and am pressed
Ter time, said Van Loo. quickly. He
Knows IL. otherwise he would not have
da red
Well. lock here" SAID Stcptoe, roughly.
\ aInt particularly sweet on you, as you
know but | and these gentlemen" he add
ed. glaEcins around the room .'aiu't mar
anc We kalkiia.e to stand by you if YOU
say So Now. L reckon you want to get
away with the woman. and the quicker the
better. as you're afraid there'n be some
body after you afore long That's the
way II pans out. don't il? Well when
You re ready to go, AMI You just tip us
fhe Wink. VII get in a circle round Jack
and cover him. and if he starts after YOU
well send hirI on a little longer jorrneyi
Ell. boysg''
TIE men mattered their approval. and one
or two drew their revolyers from their
belts. Van Loo's heart. " hich had leaned
al first 1t his proposal of help, sank at
TINS fails Il his little plan of abandon
ing Nrs- Parker lie hesitated and then
sta-1I-lt red: Thank you, Haste is every
thing with Us now. but / shouldn't mind
leaving the lady among ch:yalro1s GEN
tei.tA Ike yourselves for a few hours only
untl l could communicate with my friends
All return TO properly chast!se this scoun
drei"
SteptOc drew in his breath with a slight
whistle and gazed at Van Loo. He instant
ly understood bin. But the plea did no;
suit st"ptce, who. for purposes of his own
wished TO put Mrs. Barker beyond her
husbands possible reach. He smiled grmly
i tank you'd better take the woman with
You he said. II don't think he added
Ike your leaving ner. They're very high
toned. they are ne concluded ironically.
Then. said Van Loo. with another des-
peraie idea. could you not let US have
saddle norse> instead of the buggy? We
eouli travel faster, and in the event of
pursuit. and anything happening to me.
he ADDED loftily. she at least could escape
her pursuer's vengeance"
This suited Steptoe equally we'll as long
as the guilty couple fled together. and in
the presence Of witnesses. But he was
not deceived by an Loo's heroic sugges-
uon OF self-saCrifce. Quite right" he
said sarcasticaiy ut shall be done and
I've no doubt one of You will escape I'll
send the horses round to the back door,
and keep the buggy in front. That wifi
keep Jack there. too-with the boys handy"
Blu; Mr. Hamlin had quite as accurate an
idea of MIR. Van I1oo's methods and of his
own standing with Steptoe's gang of roushs
as Mr. Steptoe himself. More than that he
also had hold ON smaller but more de-
voted and loyal following than Steptoe's
The employees and hostlers of the hotel
worshiped him. A single word of inquiry
revealed to him the fact that the buggy
was not going on, but that Mr.. Van Loo
and Mrs. Barker weTe-on two horses, a
temporary side saddle having been con-
sructed out of mules pack tree. At
which Mr.. Hamlin. with his usual audacity
walked into the bar ROOM and, going to
the bar, leaned careiessly against ii. Then
turning 10 the lowering faces around him.
he said. with flash of his white teeth,
W ell. boys. I'm calculating to leave the
Divide in a few minutes to follow some
friends In the buggy. and 1t seems to me
only the square thing to stand the liquor
for the crowd, without prejudice to any
feeling or roughness there may be aein me
Everybody who knows me knows that I'm
generally there when the band PLAYS and
I'm pretty sure to turn up for that sort of
thing. So you'll just consider that I've
had good game on the Divide and I'm
ackoning it's only fair to leave a little of
ehind me here. to 'sweeten the pot I'M
III Sdii aSdiil only ask you, gentlemen,
10 drink success to my friends In the buggy
rs early and as often as you can" He
lung two gold pieces on the counter and
paused smilingiy.
He was right In his conjecture Even
The men who would have willingly held
him up a moment after, at the bidding of
Steptoe. saw no reason for declining a free
drink without prejudice" And 1t was a
part of the irony of the situation that Step
toe and Van Loo were also obliged to par
ttcipate TO keep in with their partisans 1t