The evening world., 1912-08-15
~8The&-
Triangle Cupid
BY Charles Alden Seltzer

|l9(
lAuthor of 1.-THE 1wo-Gun Mann

molten silver, down the great arc or
white. blurred sky; the heat devils
danced on tho baked alkall; little whiri-i 2
winds Of dust rose and swirled In n wind
that blightcd growing things. crumpling p
and whitening and curling them into the
hot sand
Even In the Lone Wolf the heat was
almost unhearable. and as Jerry came
around the end OF the bar and ap-
preached the door he wiped the sweat
from his face with the tail OF his
apron.
when he reached the door he saw
man, seated upon "A pony. looking ~
him with "A mild curiosity. The man
was evidently "A puncher. for he was
rugged out In the approved manner OF
the perlod-chaps, broad brim. knotted
scarf at the throat, high heel boots.
and cartridge belt Rubhcs glance was
languld. iut IL took In all these details
In one sweep. In addition, Bubble noted
something else The man was broad
shouldercd. lithc ana muscular. and he
wore two guns. the bottoms OF their
holsters carefully tied down
'Two-gun," Bubble remarked mental
". with a longer breath than ordinarily.
From day two years before, when he
had been shot through the hin IN a
clash with two-gun man he had felt
sort OF chill when meeting n man of
t"at typt. but N customer WAS Gus
toner. and Bubble was GOT a man 20
deliberately place a check upon the gold
that flowed into his cash-drawer
Therefore he fought down the chill and
forced smile through his lips.
Mot to-day" he ventured.
Some hot" agreed the man. drawf-
ing. lie grinned. showing Bubble n
row OF white teeth that CLEANED under
his dropping mustache You got any
IA IVaT
crackin' my throat?' he question He
threw one leg over the pommel OF his
saddle. preparatory to dlsmounting.
There aln't bit OF wetness passed my
lips since l left Lazette last night"
ne added.
Il reckon I've got somethin' that'li
slick you up a Bit returned Bubble.
The man slid down from his pony and
stretched himself lansuidy. Then he
raised his right hand. jerking n thumb
toward the pony. "Ffxln's for himr'
he questioned.
shore" Ruhble nodded toward the
corner OF the building. Water in the
trough by the windmill. Plenty OF feed
In the stable"
lie watched as the stranger led his
pony out of sight around the corner OF
the building Then he returned to his
place behind the bar. a slight froVn
The stranger had impressed him un-
favorably. And this unfavorable tn
preston had not been entirely created
by his previous experience with two
gun men. There was something shout
this stranger. something that swan
deep In his serene eyes: a certain su8-
gestion OF grim mockery that drew the
corners OF his mouth down; an air OF
absolute confidence that smote RuhAls
with doubt and distrust
while the man cared for his ponY
Bubble continued his work behind the
bar. affecting an unconcern that he
did not feel. There was no apparent
reason why the stranger should have,
disturbed him. Other men had come
to the Lone Wolf-men with bad rep.
utations. strangers and acquaintance
whom he dared not trust out OF his
sight Then why should he distrust
this man. who had not spoken above
IA dozen words to him7
lie began to whistle his favor1te
tune, assuring himself that he was
growing "finlcky." But the spirit Of
unrest that had seized upon him was
not to be banished. and presently he
ceased whistling and poured himself
IA generous drink from his private
hottie. Then he drew out the ivory
handled sIx-shootcr that he kept al
ways In IA sling beneath his vest, ex-
aiming II carefully.
When the stranger came In he was
huslly at work among the bottles He
heard the stranger walk to the bar.
heard the bar creak as the latter
leaned his weight upon it, When hs
turned the stranger was carelessly
spinning double eagle with def,
finger. lie loo&ei up as Bubble faced
him.
"Trot ont a little OF that st.n the
you've been gassln' about" lac said
quietly
While he drank Bubble regarded
him furtively, lie discovered nothing
about him that might lead him to alter
his previous opinion So while the
stranger drank u second glass OF whls-
key bubble busted himself, apparently
unm'ndful of the strangers p.'ssensc
but in reality alert and watched
"Ain't half bad" observed the
stranger finally He looked steadily at
Bubble. You drnkin'?" he Ques-
toned
But Bubble found no welcome In his
heart for this man. Even his lust for
money could not have induced him to
harbor the man overnight But from
all Indications he was not to have a
voice in the matter Il reckon I'll
hang out here FOR a day or two" the
stranger had said. The expression
smacked OF insolence. and Rubo1s's
face suddenly Redeemed with anger