The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-06
WITH FLYING COLORS.
The Incident That Ended His
Period Of Probation.
sy cLARucE ENaLE.

Aue SUI Dakeu LHdu LndL leu WeSLWaEO
to Taggart across the desert. 1t was
high noon and the day had been hot
and dry aud the mans throat was
parched with thirst This did not tend
to lessen his ferocious aspect nor to
soften tie anger that glowed in his
eyes. IL was all due to his visit that
morning TO the little ranch few miles
behind. for there he had met with the
first failure In his 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
a 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 >dmirers. 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 II.
All of which Warren took too liter
ally. and he thought that she had
spoken thus only to soften her refusal
He became angry at the thought Of IT,
She don't care nothin' fer me- he
muttere1 savagely, "an' 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 II over us. know the brand
She's plumb loco over the cuss. too.
an he amt no man. No" he finished
spiiefully. he amt no man."
He rode on across the desert In
sort OF dullcd consciousness. with his
hat pulled well down over his eyes.
At length. toward the middle Of the
afternoon. be came into the foothills
Before him lay the Tooth Of Time,
the largest mountain in that vicinity.
Beyond II. ten miles TO the westward.
was Taggart. This becessitated his
taking the trail that wound round the
slope of the mountain. This trail YVES
hardly more than n well trodden foot
path and was only wide enough to per
init a single rider upon ii. one side
Of II sloped up at an angle OF almost
eighty degrees. The other formed the
side Of precipice that dropped
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 tidget.
ing of his horse nor his frightened
whinnics. He had no iutlmation what
ever thai any one was approaching
along the trail from the opposite direc-
tiOn. And yet not hundred feet
ahead Of him horse aud rider were
rounding the curve OF the muuntaln
Neither noticed the other until they
were tifIy feet apart Then by some
Strange Intuition both raised their
heads Recognition was mutual aud
instantaneous. for the man ahead Of
Warren was Ralph Henderson.
The faces Of both men palpd with
fear Not IN years had two men met
on that narrow trail. aud u spemed
some strange Intervention Of destiny
thai II should be Warren and IIender
son. While the face OF the cnttleman
grew anxious. that OF Henderson be-
came quickly overshot with crafty
cunning.
Hello" he drawled PLEASANTLY.
"HpllO" muttered Warren nervOusly.
well. what are we going TO do
about iIT' the city man continued. "It
looks TX If you'd have TO go back"
mot 10y -- sight!' snapped War.
ren. There's 10 turning aloui for
either ot ms Wen have TO nIanage to
pass each hher. The place seems pret.
ty wide here
"Fiip coin for the inner side" sug-
gested the other suddenly reaching n
hand into his pocket.
"kight." agreed Warren. but let's
have n luuk AT II first"
Henderson's face turned scarlet and
be stayed his hand. Il declnre. I'm ali
oui of coin he ratified sheepishy
Here's mn eagle" replied Warren.
with narr,w eyes. "Heavp her M.
Heads | pass on the inside. tails / pass
on he outside "
He tossed The coin to Henderson as
he spoke whn pale faced aud hesItat.
Ing. lumhlrd with Il a moment and
let u ny ~ into the air with twlrl
OF veteran irlrkster. II fell dawn on
the trail nj their feet. ringing Out clear
and cnd
'IailS." cried the city man. overcome
with excitement His face resumed
solieihIDg ol It's natural color aud the
old rraftiupss stole into his eyes
Warren q 1epted his fate Donchal.
antly although he knew that II might
mean death for him. There was nne
thing about Il. however. that CALLED
hinI. tlr well knew that Henderson
WAS on Ills way to the Patterson ranch.
and II came io him as rather bitter
thought ilnl he might have 10 play
the martyr and sacrifice his own life
In order that The man could do ~ Rut
without Il word he pressed his pony's
ribs With his heels aud rode forward
Henderson had drawn his horse as
close vs. he could against the side OF
the riount"iii. but he seemed over.
taken ny fits Of nervousness. for the
reins shook In his hands and the color