Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-01-15

primal forces in them
But Farley took the implied disap-
provai good naturally as he had taken
everything in life SO far, and only
smiled gently as he slid from the
cracker box, and nodding to the circle
OF men drifted slowly up the main
street.
Out Of eye range his expression
ward glow.
Maybe I've got my chance at last"
he thought, grimly. Hart won't get
him. He's too cock-sure and Big Pete's
too smart for him. It's my chance,
reckon He slapped his leg and
rubbed the place thoughtfully. Under
this new impetus the loggers OF Put
nav Creek would hardly have known
their deputy. "My first and last chance
in life, I reckon" he repeated Gelib-
erately. "and-I'm going to take it,
Half way up the tree-shadowed
street an idea jumped into his brain.
The possibilities that it held were fas-
cinating to contemplate, and he re-
manned half the night engaged in that
task, but when the next morning
dawned, with the sun pale glimmer
of fire on the eastern horizon, Farley
had mysteriously disappeared.
The forested spurs of the mountains
furnished excellent sport for the hunt
ers of thet region, and many tourist
EngliShmen from various parts of the
surrounding country remained a day
or two in the vicinity in the hope of
bagging some locally famous game. So
when Big Pete, sitting warily at his
cabin door, week after his night visit
to town. heard the familiar crack of
the shotgun, his grim browS relaxed,
and he continued his wOrk-the bind
ing together with leather thongs the
little wooden bed that he was careful
ly mending.
1t was such a tiny bed that the En-
glishman who appeared just then,
rounding the other side of the big
pine. stared in amazement. Tiny and
daintily fashioned, its carefully planed
surfaces glistening in the sun and it's
gilded knobs rejecting the glittering
rays, it seemed an unreal object, and
one likely to melt into thin air if ap-
preached too close. However the En-
glishman continued to stand some 20
brows, uttered a swift, malevolent
oath.
Hell! An Englishmani"
"Mornin'," returned the Eng1ishman,
Grossly. do you know where 1 am,
my good man? I rather fancy" he
added in veXed undertone, "that I've
lost my way"
Big Pete shot a covert glance at the
speaker. He was a little man with a
general air of hopelessness and INSULT
cheney about him that at any other
time would have moved Pete to grim
and silent mirth. AS it was, he merely
noted the empty game bag hanging
from the strangers shoulder, and drew
his own deductions. Big Pete rose
leisurely to his feet.
"Huntin'?" he briefly asked.
The stranger nodded, dejectedIy I'M
singing his empty bag.
Devils luck, and I've been camping
in the mountains these ten days, too"
Big E'ete's look of relief was instan-
taneous. He resumed his seat on the
rough Sench and the stranger ap-
proachi sg, slid carelessly along the
other end. He handled his gun awk-
wardly, and Big Pete, observing it,
smiled grimly, as he drew some more
deductions.
'Thar's game in these hills, eff you
know whar to look fur it," he vouch-
safed, gruffiy, as If fearful of an open
ing wedge.
The Englishman's eyes expressed
polite Misunderstanding more. They
OLE
steady. He kept them fastened ON a
near rock, and his shotgun lay care
lessly across his knees. AS he asked
his next question, his right hand
dropped lightly on the barrel.
THE nearest town on a straight trail
Is PUTNAM Creek, eh?''
Big Pete's eyes 1eaped to the de-
fensive again, but he answered the
question with apparent irreverence.
There's only one man in the hull
damned outfit; that's Farley. He can
ride faster, shoot straighter and man
age a boat better than any one in the
county-what in HE'LL"
For the muzzle of the Englishman's
gun lying carelessly across his knees
was pointing straight at his breast,
and the Englishman's eyes, dark and
| cold, held q CLINT of steel.
I'm Farley" said the stranger,
softly
Big Pete, swore a little more. The
| end seemed unpleasantly near.
Stand up!" ordered Farley, shortly
eve boat this side the river. The
way lies down that trail
Strive as he would, the deputy could
not keep the elation from his voice
He had succeeded where the Others
had failed. Luck had turned his way
at last. The chance that he had waited
and striven for-the chance that had
been long in coming-the chance thai
| was to show the people of his tow