Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-01-30

forward tran a. long as he should
have been to be seen In the starlight
Jim was not doing now and he knew
what he was about. Tho fellow STRUCK
the trail from across country and from
the direction Of Williston's home cat
he sheds.
The dewitt" he muttered. and this
time he was In deep and terrible earn
est.
| 'Hulio!" the fellow accosted him
genialiy.
TOO damned pleasant-the whole
bunch Of EN-" found quick lodgment
in Jim's active brain. Aloud, he re-
spondsd with answering good nature,
"Hullo!s
Where 70 golu'?" asked the other,
40 n in no particular haste to part
company. II he had met with sur.
prise. he carried It on we'll.
Home. Been to town." Jim was
on tender hooks to be OF.
Belong 70 the Three Bars. don't
your
yep"
Thought 90. Well. good luck to
you"
SAY" said Jim. suddenly. you
don't happen to hang out at the x Y z,
do you!"
Nav! What dye suppose I'd be
doing here this time Of night II I
did," There was scorn in his voice
and, suspicion, too. "Why?" he asked.
"oh, nothin'. Thought knew your
build. but guess ! was mistaken. So
long"
He had an itching desire to ask II
this night traveller. too. was in quest
Of the doctor. bat caution held him
silent. He had need to proceed wari-
~. He rode briskly along until he
Judged he had gone far enough to
auay suspicion. then he halted sud.
denly. Very wideawake was Jim
now. His hand rested unconsciously
on the Celt's ~. protruding from his
loosely hanging belt. His impulse was
to ride boldly back and up to Willis
toms door. and thus satisfy himself
a. to what was doing 30 mysteriously.
There was not Q cowardly drop in
Jim's circulation. But II foul play was
abroad for Williston that night. he.
Jim. Of course. was spotted and would
never Be permitted to reach the
house. It would mean useless sac
rifioe. Now, he needed to be alive.
There was Q crying need for his good
and active service. Afterwards-well.
Il was all In the days work. It
wouldn't 20 much matter then. 1t
touched spurs lightly. bent his head
against the friction Of the air and
urged his horse to the maddest. wild
est race he had ever run since that
day long ago. 70 be forgotten by
neither. when he had been broken to
his masters viii.
Paul LAngford dropped one shoe
nervslessly to the wolfskin In front of
his bed Though his bachelor room
was plain In most respects, plain for
the better convenience Of the bachelor
hands that had II to put in rights
every day-with the exception Of q
cook, Langford kept no servant-the
wolfskin here. an Indian, blanket
thrown over q stiff chair BY the table,
q japanese SCREEN concealing the ugly
little shect-iron stove that stood over
in its corner all the year round, gave
evidsnes that his. tastes were really
luxurious. An oil lamp was burning
dimly On the table. The SCOT Of many
burninEs adhered TO the chimney's
inner side.
The sound Of galloping hoof.beats
On the hard road below came MP to
him. A solitary horseman was COM
ing hat way and he was putting bis
horse 70 the limit. too. y
'Whe the-dsuce." began Langford.
IT'S Jim's COW pony ~ sure a. I'm
. sinnerI what brings him home ut
that paes. wonderf IL he drunkf"
He pssred out indiFerentiy. The
hoof-bsats rang nearer ana nearer.
eiattsred through the stable yards and.
bsforo they ceased. two or three 10
soiver shots rang ont IN rapid success
si0n. i'm bad hrsd Into the air 10
arouse the house.
: gprinelng nom his rssking bronco.
he ran quickly 10 the stable and thrsw
Hide ths door. Here the boss. the
hrst 70 sain the outnids because al
ready dressed. found him hastily sad
ding Q frs1h nount Langford asked
no question. That would come later.
He stepped ullonfly % Dadis's stan :
n - WanHll1 -. ..n.. l-.nlna