The Dolores star., 1910-04-29

the head and front Of his offending.
"Ocre" Vanreb was not greatly
missed. but he had gone out hog fash.
ion. evidence Of guilt pointing to the
man whom the whole town itched 20
macerate. The result was that Golfer
would shortly swallow the hemp.
The news bore down upon Magoon,
stirred Into disorder all the sorrow
and passion of his life, ignited ths
eager fuel Of hope.
The night was thick and hot and
late. There was no moon. but every
billion miles there shone q hardy
star. The shrunken Mammon moanod
as n In pain. Scotty woofcd.
What IL ut. lad?"
scotty leaped up and barked loudly.
Out OF the utter dark from behind
came a sound Of bare feet and pres
emily there appeared q man attired
only In trousers and sleeveless gauze
shirt.
I'm Golfer" the man painted.
shrinking back from the lighted door.
way. Il got away from Buckamuck and
came here"
AN what for?"
she told me to come to you--the
lady. ! was In Broderic's saloon two
nights ago TO buy a bottle Of wine. II
was our wedding anniversary and Net.
tie suggested that we celebrate. Van
reb was there and undertook to have
fun with me. was unarmed and got
away. He was knitted In The back
later that night"
60 on" said Magoon. scotty vas
quiet again.
They locked me up the next norm
ing before ! knew the charge. Nettie
came to me last night. Higgins was
guarding the door. He saw a bottle
OF whiskey sticking out OF her shawl
and appropriated II. There was a
sleeping-dope In It and when Il
worked she took his key and told me
to come here to you"
They had moved inside The sher.
iff's lips were white. distorted: his
face was drenched with sweat and
the dim glow Of agony was manifest
In the gray eyes. Suddenly Magoon
lifted the Iamn from the table showed
IL close In the male face NJ the pris.
oner and stared into his eyes.
"Nettie knows that I was with her
before Vanreb left Broderjc's and that
I never left the cottage that night, {"
Golfer said.
60 into that room" the sheriff
commanded in a grating voice, as he
put the lamp down. Il NAV be gone
q week or tn small part av wan. but
stay you here an make no noise. TIL
Chink will feed you. sor."
That night Magoon rode down the
river-bed to Buckamuck for the first
time in two years and Scotty fol-
lowed almost gaily. for night rides had
come to mean action. Dawn was per-
ceptitble when he reached the Belle
Mare" claim. His old cabin had been
enlarged and improved. He stumbled
over a circlet Of stones and the smell
Of geranium leaves was borne up to
him. The voice OF the woman which
answered his knock was softer than
ne had ever heard II.
Hello, Nettie. It's me-Magoon. !"
oh. all right, Danny. Just a min
ute and I'll let you In"
Then Magoon's throat frightened rs
II In the wrenching OF powerful I'M
gers. There was another voice in the
cottage. The door was opened and
she stood before him In the lamp.
light, the red hair hanging down in
thick braids. her face pale and anx.
ious. but ineffably sweeter TO him
and q bit Of a babe In her arms.
~ told him TO 10 to you. Have you
seen him. Danny she asked quickly.
Hes safe In me shack up the
river" he answered and his ewes were
moving about the room. Il was not
as he had left II. There were plush
chairs about and a comfortable, sup
porting books and n fancy lamp whose
light brought out WILDLY the sweeping
figure OF the carpet on the floor. The
child was grieying a little.