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

More like as if he was just humpin' him
self 10 Keep from getting SMASHED" said
Steptoe- The bank hasn't got over the
effect Of their smart deal in the whea.
tumbled yesterday in Sacramento Men
| ike me and you amt goin' to trust their
money to be 'jockeyed' with in that STYLE
Nobody but man with swelled mead like
stacy would have even dared to try 1t en-
And now, by Cd, he's got to nav for If"
The harsh, exuitant tone of the speaker
showed that he had quite forgotten Van
Loo and Hamlin in his superior hatred of
the millionaire. and both men noticed it.
van Loo edged still nearer to the door a g
Steptoe continued, Ever since he made that
dig strike on Heavy Tree five years ago the
county hasn't been big enough to hold
him But mark my words. gentlemen the
time amt far off when he'll find a two-foot
ditch again and pick and grub wages
room, room enough to spare for him and his
You're not drinking" said lack Hamun
cheerfully
steptoe turned toward the bar and then
started. Where's Van Loo?" he demand.
ed of Jack sharply.
Jack jerked his thumb over his shoulder
Gone to hurry UP his girl, 1 reckon 1
calculate he amt got much time to fool
away here"
Steptoe glanced suspiciously at Jack.
But at the same moment they were ali
Startied-eyen Jack himself-at the ap-
partition of Mrs. Barker passing hurriedly
along the veranda before the windows in
| the direction of the still waiting buggy.
| "'D-n itr' said Steptoe in a fierce whisper
to the man next him. Tell her net there
at the back doorI" But before the mes
senger reached the door there was a sud-
den rattle of wheels. and with one accord
all except Hamlin rushed to the vera1da
only to see Mrs. Barker driving RAPIDLY
away alone. Steptoe turned back into his
room. but Jack also had disappeared.
For in the confusion created at the. sight
OF Mrs. Barker. he had slipped to the back
door and found, as he suspected, only one
horse, and that with a side saddle on.
His intuitions were right. Van Loo, when
he disappeared from tie saloon, had in
stantly fed, taking the other horse and
abandoning the woman. to her fate Jack
as instantly leaped upon the remaining sad
die and dashed after him. Presently Re
caught glimpse Of the fugitive in the
distance. heard the half-angry, half-iron.
ical shouts of the crowd at the back door,
and as he reached the hilltop saw, with
Ringing of satisfaction and perplexity,
Mrs. Barker on the other road still driving
frantically in the direction OF the railway
station AT which Mr. Hamlin halted,
threw away his incumbering saddle and,
good rider that he was, remountad the
horse, barebacked but for his blanket pad,
and thrUsting his knees in the loose girth
again dashed forward, with such good re-
suits that as Van Loo galloped up to the
stage coach office at the next station and
was about to enter the waiting coach for
Marysville, the soft hand of Mr.. Hamlin
was laid on his shoulder
Il told you.'' said Jack blandly, that l
had plenty OF time. / would have been
here before, and even overtaken you, only
you had the better horse and the only sad
die"
Van LOO recoIled. But he was now des-
perate and reckless. Reckoning Jack out
of earshot of the other passengers he said
with frightened lips: why do you follow
me! -, What Is your purpose in coming
here?'
II thought" said Hamlin, dryly. that
was to have the pleasure OF getting salts
faction from You for the insult you gave
me-"
well, and II I apologize for It. what
them" he said quickly.
Hamlin looked at him quietly We'll 1
| think l also said something about the LADY,
being the wife Of a friend Of mine"
And have left her behind. Her husband
can take her back without disgrace for no
one knows Of her flight but you and l. Do
you think your shooting me will save her?
| II will spread the scandal far and wide.
| For warn you that as have apologized
| for what you choose to call my personal In
suit, unless you murder me in cold blood
| without Witness l shall let them know the
/ reason of your quarrel And can tell you
| more; II you only succeed. in stopping me
here and make me lose my chance of get
/ be greater still"
| Mr.. Hamlin looked at Van Loo curiously.
| fnere was certain amount of conviction
l In what he said. He had never met this
| kind of creature before. He had Surpassed
| even Hamlin's first intuition Of his charac-
ter He amused and interested him. But
MI; Hamin was also man Of the world
and knew that Van Loo's reasoning might
| De good. He put his hands in his pockets
ana said. gravely. What Is your little
Van Loo had been seized with another In
| SEPARATION OF desperation. Steptoe had been
partly responsible for this situation. He
knew that Jack and he were not friends
he had certain secrets Of Steptos's that