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

prove it. But that lets me out. How S
the game goin' from now on
There amt much to it from now
on declared Hubbard, gravely and
earnestly. All you've got to do is to
go over 10 the Triangular Bar, say
you're Dave Toban, show your papers
to Harvey Toban's range boss TO prove
II, 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 a month; Devlin
told me that it'd take that long to get
Strengthened out down in Texas,
where he's got a ranch. That's about
all. The Lazy |. companys got an idee
that it wants the Triangular Bar
ranch. an I reckon it's goin' to have
it, if it has to put the whole Tohan
family ont of business But you're
playin' lone hand | amt in on the
deal Likely you'll have 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 telln'
me what you've got a@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
The strangers eyes glittered. Gle
done that. did he?" he interrupted
coldly He smiled with straight lips
"In that case amt takin' that thou.
sand for KILN him,' he said,
Hubbard started. "Why,' he began
"you're takin' 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 bunk-house.
FOR two days Miss Hubbard was filled
with riotous rage against the sVan
ger and prayed that he might come
again so that she could tell him what
she thought of gun-fighters 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 tt
adopt toward him certain aloofness
which would convince him that he hac
made a mistake in attempting to dc
ceive her by impersonating Dave To
ban. The fourth day was spent II
manufacturing crushing invective
J which she had decided to apply Law
} ishly to him. But he did not come.
IN the afternoon of the fifth day he
anger had burned itself ont, and sh'
: sat in a rocking chair on the wid'
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 a biz
! rangy black horse. Her lips curle'
scornfully. and she made a pretense o
: being busy with some sewing that sh
J had brought out with her, ignorin
| him entirely-after the first glance.
+ Already. she decided he was putin
on airs. as witness the change fror
{ the pony to the black horse. 1t woul
l not have been so bad if he really wa
Y Dave TOban. But to masquerade thus
She piled her needle faster and nil
. bled her lips nervously, awaiting hi
D first word 1t came shortly.
"Ma'am," he said quietly, 81 hay
brought You another pony"
$ She had determined not to look O
+ him at all, but was surprised into
= swift glance. Her gaze rested upon
T. pony that he had been leading, whic
o might have been Ginger, himself S
r~s"'Y did he match the dead pony