Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-12-13
OLIVES
 OUTLAW. By TAYLOR WHITE.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
 Literary Press.

The outlaw had been making things pretty lively for the guests of the Spouting Springs hotel ever since the spring season had got fully under way. As business getter the outlaw was huge success. No shore resort with an authentic sea serpent ever enjoyed such popularity, and the stages that met the trains from the east numbered back over the twenty mile trail loaded to capacity with women who openly avowed their timldlty and men who tried more or less successfully to con- ceal theirs.
 Almost every afternoon the porch was crowded to witness the departure of the sheriff and his posse and all most as regularly some of the guests came hurrying back to the hotel to tell how they had been held up and stripped of their valuables with an expedition that excelled the, speed of the man back of the marble counter in the rotunda. The latter kept the books and each day set down op- poslte each account sum that would have obtained board and lodgings for a week at hotel not cursed-or blessed by bandit.
 Appreciating the fact that much of his booty was keepsakes and heir looms, the bandit was always ready to trade back his plunder for the more convenient specie. and as the landlord insisted upon making good all losses there were no complaints. Indeed. the guests rather enjoyed being held up. It gave them something to talk about when their visit was over. Many of the visitors by oft repeated telling so embroidered the accounts of their in dividual holdups that the tales would have offered good material for mag azines. But 1t was not until Olive Marchand came that the real sensa- ton was sprung.
 Until then the outlaws taciturnity had been his most pronounced char acteristic. but when the slip of a girl came rushing down the path from the springs to tell how Black Pete had not only held her up, but had de- tained her in conversation for more than an hour, every woman in the hotel turned enyious. The following afternoon the banks of the stream fed by the springs were dotted with wo- men waiting to be captured and talked to that they might share Miss Mar chand's prestige.
 Possibly 1t was for this reason that Miss Marchand, walking down the val. ley instead of toward the springs, was confronted by 1.-the figure above whose square cut chin appeared a mask of black velvet that lent a deeper brilliance to a glittering gray eye.
 I'm glad to see you this afternoon" was the greeting. T rather thought I should find you here The woods are too crowded above and so l came down this way. trust that you suffered no III effects from the shock of our meet ing yesterday"
 T rather enjoyed it," admitted Olive frankly. Il really think that the other women are envious."
 Pete smiled at recollection of the goodly company he had passed on his way down the trail. There was no question about it. He motioned her to a seat on the fallen trunk of a tree and sat down beside her.
 The girl was an eager questioner, and presently he was reellng off stories of adventure with a dash that brought the glow of excitement to Miss Marchand's eyes. To make it stIll more thrilling, there was a crashing sound among the trees, and without a word the outlaw swung himself up into tall pine just as the sheriff and his posse came tearing along.
 They paused long enough to warn the girl that Black Pete was supposed to be somewhere in her vicinity and that it would be well for her to return to the hotel by the trail instead of through the woods; then they hurried on, and Pete swung himself down from his perch.
 This is the easiest experience ever had" he declared laughingly. "The sheriff trusts to numbers and hard rid ing, with the result that I have plenty of time to disappear when hear him coming"
 Tt must be terrible to feel that you are hunted thing" unused Olive. with a little shudder.
 That's the joyous part" declared the outlaw. "I am not hunted when the pursuit Is in the hands of the sheriff. But let's forget the sheriff." he added. I've told you all about my self. Now. turn about is fair play"
 Tt would seem so tame after what you have told me-" she demurred, but she was soon deep in her subject, and it was not until the afternoon shadows that at last she recalled herself and hurried up the trail toward the hotel. where half a hundred disap- pointed women were already gathered upon the porch.
 There was not exactly an arrange ment to meet the following afternoon.