The evening world., 1912-08-27

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didn't you kick him outr' she saad.
her eyes flashing.
Taggart smiled with straight lips
-rm gettin' too old TO take rtshs.
Mary" he said resignedly: especially
with Q man that's considered to gst
his guns in workin' position = full
second faster than any man In the
Territory. I nsvsr did risk much ON
men that shoot from the hip. An
whcn''-- He paused and looked ~
her gravely. That's Two Gum Hss-
Ian, from over at Las Vegas. I reckon
you'vs heard tell OF him BEFORE 81
The girls face grow . tribe paies.
She caught hsr breath a. she took .
sudden step backward and cienched
her hands. what II he doing Over
here" she Questioned. ~
TAssart shook his head. Il dsait
know, Mary. Not fos any gne4 I
reckon. Solbridgs wrote to me six
weeks ago. teilin' mo he was comm.
an to give him q free hand"
That means that he II to 80 and
como when he pieases." said tho gifl.
her eyes narrowing.
That's Just H.
For q moment she stood silent. hosiGin0
resentfully toward the bunkhouss. Lnts
which Harlan had disappeared There
can be only one reason for solbridss
sending that man here" she said prsa-
entity: ''Higgins-"
II reckon Joe's In for &C." said rag
CART. There ain't any OF the big cattle
companies got any use for nessar.
] wish sometimes that I'd never Got
into this business
The girl turned from him and walled
TO the door. gazing out into tina sunlit
world. raggart looked after her for .
moment and then turned to hs dssk
with q sigh. After q moment the sri
came away from the door. her lips set
with determination. TaEsart caught the
expression - he looked up at her.
why. whats up. Nary
She turned and walked to tho door
that led into the ranchhouse. pausinE
on the threshold. her eyes lighting
strangely.
u was thinking Of Joe HlGEins's vile
and baby" she said.
She was gone. the door closing oshAad
hss. while TAGsArt with another Sigh.
was turning again to his desk.
Just before daylight the next morning
Miss Taggart opened the door Of phs
Two Bar T. ranc hhouse and paused for
an instant IN the opening. The men had
all gone up the Ute with the wagons.
taking sven the blacksmith with them.
Mise Tax8art proceeded To the corral
gate. taking down the bars and clsvr'y
rop!rg her pony.
eMs swiftly sadtded and bridisd ".
pserins meanwhile fearfuiiy Into the
shadows for signs Of men. There were
none. She bresthed easier as she swung
into the saddle and walked her pony pase
tho bunkhouss and down 20 the far
side OF the corral, near . cottonwood
cl,nnp that would hide her from visw
Of the bunkhouse.
She was some minutes reaching tho
wood. but II was accomplished finally.
and once on the plains She sighed with
relief and urged tho pony into . sharp
iope. making for the river tran. Fol
lowing this trail shs rode for more than
two hours. while the day broke In the
east and the sun began It's climb up
into tho great arch Of the sky. Then
suddenly. as she emerged from . shall
low valley around a sharp bend IN the
river, she came upon an ADOBE hut
that snuGgfed tho waters edEs.
Hhe drew up at the gate Of small
corral. her ponys hoofs clatterin6 In
tho clear morning air. Before she csuid
dismount q man came out OF tho cabin
door and hurried To her side. taking
tho birdie rein and hitchinx the animal
20 the fence.
IT'S Mary raxsartr cafied the man
as he came near her. He turned toward
the door he had left. calling again:
'Kfttiev'
A woman OF thirty appeared IN the
doorway. At sight OF Miss Tassart her
face lighted with pleasure.
Come right In. Nary" she sa.x smil-
ing: you're just In time for break
fast"
Mas Tagsart left the corral fence
and walked 10 the cabin door. standing
beside the woman. The man had fol-
lowed. What on earth -" he began.
But something In the young woman's
face slenced him.
IT don't want any breakfast" sho
said. hurriedly. II couldn't eat and
I've got 10 get back and get DADS
breakfast. I've como to tell you." shs
added breathlessly. that II has coma.
The Two Bar Company has sent q
gun tghter here!"
Tho woman In the doorway paied.
standing rigid.
I'VE ought TO have gone away. Joe,
she said. quaverngly. Now IT'S .os
late"
The mans face had paied also. bur
no smiled grimly i've got a hundred
head OF steers he said quietly. and
they're all mine. There amt none OF
them been rustled from the Two Bar 7.
or any other company. This Is Gov
eminent land. and I've taken up a
Quarter section. I've proved II and Eve
got some pretty nice buildings. IT'S
going TO take more than a Two Ra. Y,
gun fighter TO get me out Of here"
The woman dropped uncertainty; the
girl smiled approvingly
lr0 Be c0ntiausa ..Li,J