The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-02

prove It. But that lets me out. How's
the game goin' from now on?"
There amt much to 1t from now
on" declared Hubbard, gravely and
earnestly. "All you've got to do is to
you're Dave Toban, show your papers
to Harvey Toban's range boss to prove
1t, an take things easy till Dave To-
ban comes. Then put him out of
business-if you can. I've heard that
he amt no SLOUGH with a gun himself.
But he amt due for month; Devlin
told me that it'd take that long to get
Strengthened out down in Texas,
where he's got ranch. That's about
all. The Lazy L company's got an idee
that it wants the Triangular Bar
ranch, an reckon it's goin' to have
1t, If 1t has to put the whole Toban
family out of business. But you're
playin' lone hand. I amt in on the
deal. Likely you'll have a good ex-
cuse for shootin' Dave Toban. He'll be
some riled when he comes an finds out
that you've been passin' yourself off
as him"
Correct" smiled the stranger. I'm
bunkin' here tonight. Tomorrow I'm
hittin' the breeze to the Triangular
Bar, to prove that I'm Dave Toban."
He rose and walked to the door.
81 reckon that you don't mind tellin'
me what you've got ag'in Bill Dag
gert?" he questioned.
Hubbard snarled. my daughter
come in from the range one day,
cryin'. Told me that Bill Daggert had
insulted her. On his last day, too.
didn't see him again. If | ever
do"
The strangers eyes glittered. He
done that, did her" he interrupted
coldly. He smiled with straight lips.
"In that case I amt takin' that thou
sand for KILN him." he said.
Hubbard started. why" he began,
you're takin' a heap of interest
IN"
But his last word the stranger did
not hear, for he had stepped out Of
the doorway and was striding through
the dusk toward the clubhouse.
FOR two days Miss Hubbard was filled
with a riotous rage against the stran-
ger, and prayed that he might come
again so that she could tell him what
she thought of gun-fghters in general
and Of himself in particular. On the
third day her rage had been succeeded
by an ironic GOODNESS, in the midst of
which she decided that an outward
show of anger would have little effect
upon him. Therefore she decided to
adopt toward him a certain aloofness,
which would convince him that he had
made a mistake in attempting to de-
ceive her by impersonating Dave To-
ban. The fourth day was spent in
manufacturing crushing invective,
which she had decided to apply Law
ishly to him. But he did not come.
In the afternoon of the fifth day her
anger had burned itself out, and she
sat in a rocking chair on the wide
porch, thinking Of him and wondering
what she really would say to him.
And he came.
She noted instantly that he had for
saken his pony He now rode big,
rangy black horse Her lips curled
scornfully. and she made pretense Of
being busy with some sewing that she
had brought out with her, ignoring
him entirely-after the first glance.
Already, she decided. he was putting
on airs, as witness the change from
the pony to the black horse. 1t would
not have been so bad IL he really was
Dave Toban. But to masquerade thus!
She piled her needle faster and nib
bled her lips nervously, awaiting his
first word. 1t came shortly.
''Ma'am," he said quietly, 81 have
brought you another pony"
She had determined not to look at
him at all, but was surprised into a
swift glance. Her gaze rested upon a
pony that he had been leading. which
might have been Ginger. himself 50
nearly did he match the dead pony in