The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-09-01
WITH FLYING G0L0RS.
The Incident That Ended His
Period Of Probation.
RN cLARIcE ENeLE.
Copyright 1903. by Associated Lttera,
Preaal

BY cLARIcE ENeLE.
Copyright, 1903. by Associated Literary
Press.l
a man picked his way slowly along
the sun baked tran that led westward
TO Taggart across the desert It was
bIgh noon and the day had been hot
and dry and the mans throat was
parched with thirst. This did not tend
to lessen his ferocious aspect nor TO
soften the anger that glowed In his
eyes. II was all due to his visit that
morning to the little ranch a few miles
behind. for there he had met with the
first failure In bis Life. he had pro-
posed and been rejected.
II was not Bill warren's nature to
be baked by anything. he usually
carried matters his own way and with
high hand. as a result OF which he
was looked upon as sort Of local
bad man" But this cognomen was
applied to him only by people who did
not know Bill. IN reality no better nor
kinder natured man than he ever rode
into Taggart.
But Sue Patterson was one Of those
who were not intimately acquainted
with Warren, and this assertiveness
she looked upon as something evil.
Therefore. although otherwise she
liked Warren better than any other Of
her admirers. she felt that she was
acting quite right when she rejected
his offer Of marriage.
all the consolation that she had
given him in answer to his earnest
pleading was that she would put him
on an indefinite probation and II he
came through 1t with flying colors why
she would think about l.
All OF which Warren took too liter
ally. and he thought that she bad
spoken thus only to soften her refusal.
BE became angry at the thought Of II
She don't care nothin' fer me-" he
muttered savagely. AN l know why.
It's all along Of that sneakin' coyote.
Ralph Henderson. Been to Frisco an
seen a few things an comes out here
to lord 1t over US. l know the brand.
She's plumb loco over the cuss, too.
an he amt no man. No" he finished
spltefully. che aln't no man."
| He rode on across the desert in a
sort OF dulled consciousness. with his
hat pulled well down over his eyes.
At length. toward the middle OF the
afternoon. he came into the foothills.
Before him lay the Tooth Of Time.
the largest mountain in that vicinity.
Beyond It. ten miles to the westward.
was Taggart This necessitated his
taking the trail that wound round the
slope Of the mountain. This trail was
hardly more than. a well trodden foot
path and was only wide enough to per
NIT single rider upon 1t. One side
Of It sloped up at an angle OF almost
eighty degrees. The other formed the
side Of precIpice that dropped a
sheer 200 feet to the sandy ravIne be-
low.
AS he rode over the trail. lost In
thought. Warren was dead to external
sounds. he did not notice the fdget-
ing Of his horse nor his frightened
whinnies. He had no intimation what
ever that any one was approaching
along the trail from the opposite dlrec-
ton. And yet not hundred feet
ahead Of him horse and rider were
rounding the curve Of the mountain.
Neither noticed the other until they
were fifty feet apart. Then by some
strange intuition both raised their
heads. Recognition was mutual and
instantaneous. for the man ahead OF
Warren was Ralph Henderson.
The faces OF both men paled with
fear. Not in years had two men met
on that narrow trail. and 1t seemed
some strange Intervention Of destiny
that It should be Warren and Hender.
son. While the face Of the cattleman
grew anxious. that Of Henderson be-
came quickly overShot with a crafty
cunning.
Hello" he drawled pleasantly.
"HelIo" muttered Warren nerTously.
well. what are we going to dc
about IT," the city man continued. cit
looks US II you'd have to so back"
Not by = sight, snapped War.
rem. There's no turning about for
either OF Us. Wen have to manage to
pass each other. The place seems pref.
y wide here"
Flip a coin for the inner SIDE" sug.
Cested the other. suddenly reaching d
hand Into his pocket
Right" agreed Warren. "but let's
have look at It first"
Henderson's face turned scarlet and
he stayed his hand. Il declare. I'm al
out Of COIN" he ratified sheepIShly.
Here's an eagle" replied Warren
with narrow eyes. "Heave her up,
Heads pass on the inside. tails pass
on the outside"
he tossed the coin to Henderson az
he spoke who. pale faced and hesitat
ing. fumbled with 1t moment and
let 1t fly up into the air with twir
~ a rataroy, %rfolyCtar Ik Call do,v,y, ~