The evening world., 1911-12-22

man whom other men re-
- spected for he very traits
that his expression had revealed. No
man would be likely to adopt an air of
superiority toward him: none would -
tempt TO trife with him. She felt that
she ought not to trine. but. moved
by some unaccountabls Impulse. b
laughed.
lie turned his head at the iaukh and
looked quizzically NJ her.
Il hope you were not thinking Of kill
Ing some one7' she tainted.
His right hand slowly clenched. Some
thing metallic suddenly giinted his eyes,
TO be succeeded Instantly by = slight
mockery. You afraid some ones gotn
to be killed." he inquired slowly.
"well-no.' she returned. startled by
the question. But you looked $3.50
determined that II thought
lie suddenly seized her arm and drew
her around so that she faced tho little
stretch OF plain near tho ridge about
which they had been speaking previous
iy. Ills lips were In traign lines again.
his eyes cleaning interestedly. p
You see that man down there among
them cattle7" no questioned.
Following his gaze. sho saw . man
among perhaps a dozen cattle. AZ the
| moment she looked ths man had swung
= rope, and She saw the loop fall true
over tho head of . COW tho man had So
iected. saw the pony pivot and drag the
' COW prone. Then tho man disnountcd.
ran swiftly to tho side Of tho fallen COW.
4 and buAied himself about her hin legs.
WHAT Is no doing?" she asked. q
sudden excitement shining In her eyes.
Ties hoG-tlsing her now" returned
Ferguspn.
She knew what thai meant. She had
seen Bon throw cattle in this manne'
when he was branding them. Hog
tieing'' meant binding their hind leg
with a short piece or rope to proven
s%truggiin. while tho brand was 6sin,
applied.
Apparently this was what the mar
was preparing to do. Smoke from a
nearby fiye curlcd lazily upward. ant
about this fire the man now worked
evidently turning soino branding Irons
lie gave some little time TO this. ant
while Miss Radford watched she hcart
Ferguson voice again.
II reckon we're goin' to see som,
fun pretty soon.' lie said quietly.
"Why2" she inquired quickly.
lilo smiled. DO you see that mar
rldin' through tnat break on thu
out to her. She nodded, puzzled b.
hts manner. lie continued dryly.
well. II that man that's comm
through the break In what he ought u
be- he'll DO shootin' pretty soon.'
"Why?' she gasped. catcn...g at hi'
sleeve. "Why should he shoOt?"
J Ito laughed ~again-grtmly. WELL" h
Ireturned, 'lf a puncher ketches a rustic
with tho goods on he's got = heap o
right 10 do some shootin'."
She shuddered. And do you thini
that man among the cattle 10 q rus
1 tier" shs asked.
wait" he advised. peerins intent!
toward the ridge. why" he con
! tinued presently. there's another ma
irdln' this way. An he's hldln' from
Inn. ~other-keepin' In the guilies an tn
draws SOS the first man can't see hfr
he ho looks back" lie laughed softly
'"I,'s plum re-diculous. Here We are
: nble to see all that's soln' on dow
D There an not able 10 take n hand In II
AN there's them three go'n' ahead Wit
/ 'what they're thinkin' about not kno"
-. I'M lint we're watchin' thorn. an Two q
lthcn not KNOWN that the tara man !
;wntch!n'. ia cali that plum re-dicu
/. lous."
Tho nrst man was stu riding throug
the break IN the ridge. coming boldly. n
D parently unconscious Of the presence q
s The man among the cattle. who was We
concealed from the iirst mans eyes u
o n rocky ~promontory at tho corner OF IN
break. The third man was not over a
eighth OF a mile behind the hrst mar