Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15
CHAPTER XVII.
Unexpected Complications

- Goldite that temporarily dmrned the ex-
citement attendant upon stories OF the Laugh
ing Water property ana the coming stampede
to the Indian reservation.
Matt Barper and three Others OF the con-
victs, still uncaptured. had pillaged a freight
team of horses, provisions, and arms. murdered
a stage driver, robbed the express OF large
consignment of gold, and escaped before to
the mountains.
Two separate posses were in pursuit. Re-
wards aggregating ten thousand dollars were
offered for Barger, dead or alive. with smaller
sums for each Of his companions. Their latest
depredations had occurred alarmlngly close to
the mining camp, from which travel was becom-
ing most hazardous.
The gold theft was particularly disquicting
to the Goldite mining contingent Dangers
the very best To have this menace added, to-
gether with worry over every mans personal
safety in travelling about. was fairly lntolerable
The inefficient posses were roundlv berated,
but no man volunteered to issue forth and get
Matt Barger. either alive as a corpse.
The man who arrived with the news was one
of Vans cronies, Dave the little station man
whom Beth had met the morning OF her COM
ing. He was here IN response to a summons
from Van who thought he opportunity
to assist his friend To better things. Every
thing Dave owned he had fetched across the
desert, including the horses that Beth and
Elsa once had ridden. The station itself he had
sold He had launched forth absolutely on
VANS new promises burning all his bridges, as
it were behind him.
WAN came down to meet him He had other
concerns in Godite. some with Culver. the
Government representative and Others trltie
more personal and intended to combine them
all IN one excursion
No sooner had he appeared in the street,
after duly stabllng Suvy at the hayward than
a hundred acquaintance suddenly trans
formed into intimate friends by the change IN
his fortunes, bounced upon him in spirit OF
generosity hilarity, and camaraderie that
cloyed not only his senses. but even his move
ments in the camp.
He was dragged and carried into four saloons
like helpless. good natured bear cub.-strong
enough to resist by inflicting injuries but some
what amused by the game: Intelligence OF his
advent went the rounds. The local editor and
the girl he had addressed as Queenv, the day
of the fight in the street were rivals in another
JOYOUS attack as he escaped at last to proceed
about his affairs.
The editor stood chance whatsoever.
Van had nothing to say. and said More
over, Queeny was d very persistent, as well as a
very pretty. young person, distressinglv care
less of department. She chung to Van Ike
bur
Gee, VAN she cried with genuine tears in
her eyes Didn't | always say YOU was the
candy2 Didn't | always say I'd give YOU my
heads Didn't | tell EN- all YOU was the only
ore1 Your the only diamonds there IS for me;
and didn t never wait for YOU to strike ii first.
answered Van. with smile. "Everybodys
got to hike now. I'm busy irving to breathe.
She chung Unfortunately. down in an
Arizona town, Van had trounced ruffian
in Queeny's protection simply because OF her
gender and entirely without reference to her
character or her future attitude toward him
self In her way she personified sort of adora-
ton and gratitude, which could neither be
slain nor escaped by anything that he any
one else could do Her devotion, however, had
palled upon him early perhaps the more be-
cause of its habit of increasing. 1t had recently
become pest.
Busy?' she echoed. You said that be-
fore. When amt you going to be busy"
when I'm dead he answered, and
wrenching loose, he Owed inside hardware
store, to purchase hunting knife for Gettvs-
burg, then went at once to barber shop and
shut out the torment of friends.
HE escaped at the rear, when his face had
been groomed, and made his way unseen
to Mrs. Dicks
Beth was not at home. She and Bostwick
were together at the office of the telegraph COM