Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-30

ters SUCCESSFULLY tied down. She
shuddered Involuntary, her cheeks
paling with a sudden dread.
Three months before a man had
come to the Lazy l. wearing two
guns He had taken his place among
the men of the outfit. apparently en-
gagged as an ordinary puncher But
two months later hester named lIar
vey TOban had been shot to death. and
before an investigation could be
started the man had mysteriousy dis
appeared. After his disappearance a
vague "umor had reached her to the
effect that the man had been a gun
fighter, and that the Lazy l. company
had sent him to the ranch purposely
to kill the hester Her father had
been reticent regarding the incident
had even gruffly told her to mind her
own business when she had attempted
to question him Apparently the in
cident had been forgotten. But she
still remembered, and she cringed
away from the stranger little while
with furtive glances she made a ra-
pid searching inspection of him.
He was nearly thirty, she decided,
noting the level brows and the serene,
steady eyes that glintcd with a slight
humor as she made her rapid analy-
sis. And good-looking Her cheeks
redeemed a little as this fact was re-
corded
Apparently he was not disturbed
over her searching glances. He
smiled. You live anywheres around
here?" he repeated
My father is manager of the Lazy
L. she returned.
How far do you reckon the Lazy l.
is from here?" he questioned
six or seven miles," she returned,
her gaze going again to the injured
pony.
He went over to where his own
pony was grazing. catching the bride
rein and leading the animal close to
her before replying "That'd be a
right long walk-for a lady" he said
then. You hop onto my horse an
get along. III be comm later"
She objected. but he persisted. smil-
ing. You hadn't ought to refuse a
neighbor," he said finally. You say
your father is runnin' the Lazy l..
I've heard that the Lazy l. is right
close to the Triangular Bar-where
I'm goin' to hang out hereafter
She gave an exclamation of sur
prise and relief. Then he was not a
gun.fghter after all. She could not
conceal the satisfaction that shone in
her eyes.
Are you going to work over at the
Triangular Barr" she asked.
He laughed, surveying her with
pleased eyes. II expect I'll work over
there" he returned. You see, I'm
the new owner of the Triangular Bar.
I've got little ranch down in Texas.
L,,s
take care of the Triangular Bar too.
I expect takin' care of the two might
be called work
The constraint that had marked
her manner toward him suddenly
melted into genuine pleasure She
extended hand, smiling frankly.
Then you are Dave Toban," she said.
Il met your brother many times be-
fore-befOre he was shot, | am glad
to be the first to welcome YOU here"
For moment her hand lay in his,
and then she drew it away and al
lowed it to fall to her side, suddenly
aware of hard CLINT that had come
into his eyes.
81 reckon You didn't hear who it
was shot him." he questioned, with a
pronounced drawl,
Nobody knows" she returned. "A
man came here and joined the out
fit. He worked here two months
Then he disappeared and word came
to us that Harvey TOban had been
shot. We haven't heard of the man
since"
He smiled dryly We'll" he said
evenly, still drawing, II reckon Har-
vey ought to have took care of him
self"
With these words he seemed to have
dismissed the subject from his mind.
He smiled, pulling his pony closer to
her You'll take my horse now" he
said, KNOWN that we're goin' to be
neighbors"
He placed one hand on his knee, the
palm upward, as an invitation to her
She quickly placed one foot in il and
was swung lightly into the saddle.
From the pony's back she smiled
gratefully down at him her gaze lin
gering Just an instant longer than was
: necessary, Then she urged the pony
forward, leaving him standing beside
Ginger. who raised his head and whin-
MED despairngly as she departed.
Five minutes later when she was
well on her way over the plains toward
the ranchhouse, she heard a dull re-
: portland then another. She shud-
dered and covered her face with her
hands Another five minutes passed,
and then, reaching the crest of a rise,
= she looked back. The new Triangu-
= lar Bar owner was coming toward her
with long. swinging strides, bearing
her saddle on his shoulder.
: Dusk had fallen when the man who
e had called himself Dave TOban