The evening world., 1912-08-21

Err father hAd told her thoS n
suspected Dan Of being the
rustlsr who had been work.
!'s on the Diamond Dot herd.
- Was hs1 HAD she done right
In agreeing to give Dan . month u
which 10 apprehend the ristlsrf NE
knew that her father did not ike Dan.
she had known Il for . long time.
And she had not failed to catch the
grim humor OF the situationAf Dan
was the rustier he certainty would not
deliver himself into Caters hands; and
| II he was foorhardy enough to DO this
he would never BE- able to marry any.
body. for Oates would be worry careful
to see that he mot the end that oams
/ to an rustlerS.
Much a. she liked Dan. she would
not marry him until ne had proved him
self
There was q sudden chatter Of hoofs
on the trail behind hor. . low voice, the
unnistakabie creak of saddle feathers.
She sat erect. her ianguor gone. to face
a man who sat astride OF pony not
over twenty feet from her.
The man was stranger. and for
an instant she sat quiet. fighting down
a sudden qualm Of fear over his sudden
appearance 30 near her. While she
looked she saw grin on his face-A
puzzling. mystifying grin. In which there
was suggestion Of insolcnce and
mockery.
Before she could open her tips to speak
his voice reached her.
you strayed off your range. maamT'
he said.
She straightened q little. resenting the
note OF familiarity in his voice.
81 do not think that have strayed.
she returned colby. This 10 the Dta-
mond Dot range and I have . Hshe
here"
HIS hat came off and he bowed with
a movement In which there was much
derision.
why reckon mebbe you have.
ma'am" he returned. II sure Amt In
no ways certain that I know anything
about this here country. An ! Amt
wantn' 10 arger the point with you"
lie glanced at the saddleless pony and
then NJ tho saddle itself. his eyes CLINT
Ing knowingly.
"Cinch busted" he said shortly.
There was no reply to make to this
and so she sat silent. watching him with
cold, alert eyes. and thinking not a little
OF the ivory handled 80 that snuggled
at her side.
But apparently there was no reason
saddle, merely twisting crossways In II
AID resting los weight asSinst tho
saddle horn, while he contemplated her
with narrowed. quizzical eyes.
She felt that she had seen no man
quite Ike him. In stature--so Tar az
she could see as he sat In the saddle
he was much like other punchers that
she knew. except that he was attired
a little more ell horately. tina. his cart
ridge belt was filled 10 It's capacity. and
that he carried six-shootcr over each
hip.
Ru, II was a subtle something In the
atmosphere that surrounded him that
brought to her sense OF his unique
ness; n certain indernable suggestion OF
posslhle violence and quiet preparedness
that smote her with a nameless dis
quiet.
The men she knew were happy, care
free fellows, who. while little addicted
To ugoirss speech, nevertheless made
one think that they could be drawn TO
talk freely II one cared 20 make the
eff Jrt. This man impressed her as de-
g'dedly different His speech 20 her
had been deliberate, seeming to he bur-
den.d with mild cyniclsm and IN
science. behind which lurked a warning
not to trtne.
II he had been ill-looking she might
have been frightened. But he was not
il-lookiug. In fact. she had decided
that he was rather good-lo>klng. but
she noted with uneasincss that he was
watching her closely She began to
wish that Dan would speedily return
with the missing buckle. Then the
stranger spoke again,
YOU'RE from the Diamond Dot, you
say" he questioned slowly,
She nodded. My father owns the
Diamond Dot" she returned quietly.
She saw slow smile gather on his
face. she thought the smile whimsical
with mlngling OF recklessness. He
shifted a little In the saddle and mys-
ter!ous humor seemed TO move him.
80 you're Ben 0ates's daughterf"
49, -s.s.Iaa~A ---...----. ----