Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

mile drive through the great canyon N
the Sierra Madre. with the moon light
Ing up one OF its wooded sides and
this remarkable fronuiersman con-
Quoting them on their journey. AS for
him, when the girl and her father
were safely ensconced in comfortable
rooms in old Buck Roberts ranch, be
stood outside in the bright moonlight.
and his eyes turned more than once
towards the building. and at last. as
he walked away. he cast one glance
behind him and said:
Il told her / would fetch him. an I
will"
The principal saloon In Wolf City
was located In a long, low ramshackle
building. in the front OF which the bar
doomed running across one end OF a
wide room. Leaning against the bar.
or sitting on benches ranged against
the wall, were many loungers OF the
worst type known 70 the west, some
dull and heavy, others QuarreIsome.
and waited upon by & surly rufian who
with an expression half languor and
half contempt for his customers.
served them slowly and carelessly.
The door opened and a young fellow
entered; OF good face and figure. but
staggering slightly as he walked. A
year or two before there had been no
likelier or more promising young
ranchman in the mountains than he:
no better rider, no one more active in
the roundup" When be wrote home
about the grand, free. health giving
ranch life. however, he did not give
the other side OF the picture-the long
hours OF loneliness, the low company
and squalid Accommodations, all COM
bining TO drive him TO that ever-ready
but treacherous resource, whiskey.
Harry Eames was in a bad way. and
likely TO sink yet lower. unless some
thing interviewed TO save him. He
strobe unsteadily to the bar and was
about to call for a dram, when one Of
the loungers jOstled him and uttered
an insulting epithet. comprehenslbIe
even to his dulled faculties and ino-
polling him to active resentment. He
sprang forward and cIutched the
speaker by the arm. but was hurled
roughly back and saw a CLINT of steel
in his opponents hand.
I've got the drop on you, young
feller." said hoarse voice mockingiy,
AN you kin take notice I'm soin' to
have a chap bout your size fur a meal
to-day"
The door burst suddenly open and
Grizzly Joe walked swiftly into the
'bar-room. The next instant the man
who was menacing Eames with his
six-shooter received a blow on the
huckles Of the hand which held 1t,
and the weapon fell TO the floor.
"That'll be all from you for a while"
said the newcomer harshly. Let me
see you make another move with that
shootin' iron OF yours, an I'll blow
your head on. ANY more OF you gents
got anything 70 say agen them or
ders7"
He confronted the remainder of the
crowd as he spoke, his gun balanced
careiessIy In his right hand, but there
was no reply. Grizzly Joe had earned
a reputation that extended far beyond
Wolf City, and was not 10 be trified
with. He touched Eames on the
shoulder and beckoned him outside,
the young man following meekly.
Later in the day the two sat facing
each other on benches outside the
door of a log cabin. At some distance
sat Comanche Charley. HIS head
buried IN his hands. Eames listened
sumissively TO the words OF his stall
wart companion.
You know, Harry" said Grizzly
Joe, tive tried TO do the square thing
by you and keep you from the com
pany OF that devils crew down on the
Fork. But when got on the train an
saw that sweet little sister OF yours,
an she lookin at me with them big,
innocent eyes. an askin' bout you,
why blame me II 1 didn't feel as II I
hadn't looked out for you worth a
cent. An, say. Harry. It amt too late.