Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19

ProPplne up MS heao' heiped MIN 10 take
RARGER could not lift hand or utter a
word. Van recoiled his rawhide rope, Sc
cured it on the saddle, then sat down to await
the mans recovery 1t was slow. His speech
was the first returning function. 1t was faint
and weak and blasphemous. Its tough, he
said, when God Almighty turns ag in man.
Amt the Sheritfs enough-without a thing
like that" His thumb made gesture toward
the river, which he cursed abominably, cursing
it for trap, a seeming benefit here in the dcs-
ert, ready to eat a man alive.
Van made no reply. He rather felt the man
was right, at least IN some opinions. Toward
Barger he felt no anger, but rather pity.
After a time the convict moved sufficiently
look I'd az Van DULY. This was the man who
had sent him up-and saved him from the
sandl There was much that lay between them,
much that must always lie. He had no issues
to dodge. There was nothing cowardly in Bar
ger despite his ways.
Il nearly got you up yonder,' he said, and
he jersed his hand toward the mountains, to
indicate the pass where he and Van had met
an hour before.
Van nodded You did. Who told you to
look for me here?"
Barger closed his eyes, "Nothin' dom" He
could not have been forced to tell.
Van smiled, That's all right" There was
no resentment in the tone.
Barger looked at him curiously. :" What for
did you pull me out?'
Don't know" Van confessed. perhaps l
hated to have the quicksand cheat the pen"
Must have had some good reason" agreed
the PROSTATE man. He silent for
ment. and then he added, Il s'pose I'm Your
meat?"
AS before Van nodded Il reckon you are"
Barger spat. 1t was his first vigorous indi-
cation of returning strength. "Someways,' he
said, I'D rather you'd shoot me here right
couldn't stand fer that!" He made his char
acteristic gesture toward the river. As Van
made no comment the fellow concluded, Il
s'pose you need the reward"
Van was aware there was ten thousand dol
lars as a price on the convict's head, fact that
any time within his life. he felt out of sympathy
with 1aw,-with mans law made against man.
He began to pull off his boots. NO." he
said, Il don't want any States reward, much
wasn't for those rewards I'd take you into
camp" He inverted his boots and shook out
a few grains of sand.
Berger glanced at him suspiciously. What
are you goin' to do with me, then, now you We
got me to rights!'
NOTHING" said Van. Nothing, this after
~ noon" He stood up. You and break
even, Barger, understand? Don't take me
wrong I'm not turning you loose entirely.
You belong TO me. neneVer ! cali LOT the
Joker, Matt, l want you to come"
He would never call, and he knew it. He
merely left the matter thus to establish spc-
cies of ownership that Barger must acknow-
edge There is law of the State. and law of
God, and law of man to man. The latter it
was that concerned Van Buren, now, and upon
it he was acting.
Laboriously, weakly, Barger rose to his feet.
He looked at Van peculiarly, with strange
light duly firing in his eyes. Il agree to
that" he answered slowly Il agree to that"
He put out his hand to shake, to bind his
agreement 1t was almost like offering his oath.
Van took it and gave it his usual grip. $50
long, Barger" he said 81 reckon you need
these boots" He waved his hand loosely at
the boots that lay the ground went at once
to his horse and mounted to his seat 1.-The
regular ford of this rivers down below" he
added to the speeches. convict, standing there
gaunt and wondering on the margin. so
long"
Barger said nothing Van rode away on the
trail by the stream, and was presently gone
round the bend
CHAPTER XyXVI.
Van Runs Amuck
INSTEAD of turning northward in the noun