Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
CHAPTER ".

THE following day kinnaird rode out to Stan
ford Ranch with Chris; at her request cayuse
George had brought the information that the
Hon Stanford sure locoed from bug juice
Poplar Bar furnished ample proof of the accuracy
of Cayuses diagnosis. Evidently. it had been a
picturesque debauch. Lord Stanford, the Honor
able's pater looked down a badly wrecked
dining room from a massive gilt frame out of one
sinister eye, bullet having carried away the other
painted optic A round hole in his forehead and
another in his cheek told of inaccurate marksrnan-
ship. The log house deserted but, invited by1
a maudlin voice singing verse from an old hymn,
kinnalrd discovered the d1sS1pated son OF lord sit
ting in a bucket down WELL clad simply in pistol
belt When pulled UP by the bucket rope, he was
indignant at this interference with his desire for
GOODNESS. and fired pointblank at his tormentor.
While kinnaird soothed the tlngling nerves of the
Honorable with the thrust of morphine needle,
Chris rode over to Hobbema Ranch and brought an
Englishman to look after him.
As they traled back to Stand Off, Chris in a
mood trying to her companion, painting word
picture laid in with strong chiaroscuro, kinnaird
knew that his temperance was the high light she
set against the moral gloom at Poplar Bar. With a
sense of relief he the continuance of Broadway
cut their path. He followed with his eye its
serpent creep into the west, wondering if it really
led to the of the forty thieves.
A CRACKLE of sx-shooters and the hilarious cries
= of two rising shrill above the pound of gal
Looping hoofs smote suddenly on his ear sweeping
westward Two cowboys were racing neck and neck,
a vire, moving picture of cyclonc intensity. Kin
naird laid his hand on the girls arm, and checked
Badger where the trails crossed The next instant
the animated storm swept by, gust OF its powder
perfumed breeze whipping their nostrils.
With snort of sudden aroused desire for action,
Badger plunged and whipped to the other trail.
His leap was like the uncol of watch spring; and
knnaird. unpoised wrenched fiercely at the bride
rein With the quickness of diving loon the horses
head went down, his spine arched like an Indians
bow his four hoofs gathered to the compass of hat
and his rider scared skyward, to discover his
turn Badger diligently prowlng up the trail in pur-
suit of the exuberant Jockeys who, eager in their
own affairs were unaware of the added starter
A smothered laugh from Chris awakened the
horsed man to sense of his uncanonical exclamation
of disgust and, rising with an apology, he watched
Badger gallop with prcked though he was
hypnotized by the Tapping pageant out in front.
Half mile the trail the horse dropped to a trot;
and as the distance between himself and the W.
boys increased his interest tagged. Slower and
slower the trOt showed, until it merged into walk
What am l to do?" Kinnaird asked presently
Il guess you re effective set afoot" the girl
answered E" and generally in that man walks
Il couldn't catch him in thousand wears afoot -
he objected, looking at Chinook suggestvely.
The quizzical expression OF the girls face changed
TO one of Paled apprehension. And you couldn't
rope Badger that trail short of the pass she de-
clared serious vehemence in her tone. 81 He'll
make straight for his old stable at kootenays
kinnaird touched Chinook, and walking at the
horses side turned toward the post. III get an
other horse and follow him. he said presently
Iain't needed; they'll bring him in.
"They-who?
Some onell pick him up the trail. the girl
stammered in sudden confusion.
He'll wreck my saddle
Promise me you won't go after Badger" Chris
pleaded.
Why, pease:' Kinnaird quered impatent1y
''Matteo is back
Kinnard shrugged his shoulders
Il know you don't fear him Chris said but
he's copperhead snake,-he'll strike in the dark.