The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-02
by Charles .Glaen Settler

E<X >of<SA9Gn
sososososo5oso5o5oE
out of business. He's been over TO
Dry Bottom, gassin' about me. An
there wasn't anyone knowed about me
shootin' his brother but you an Dew
lin. An Devlin amt givin' things
like that away"
Hubbard leaned forward in his chair,
his eyes flashing with a sudden gus-
picion.
"Daggert," he questioned slowly,
ARE, you still workin' for the Lazy l.
company"
Daggert nodded.
AM Devlin sent you over here to
kill Dave Toban?"
"T reckon you can guess some"
sneered Daggert-
Hubbard drew a full breath. His
lips slowly whitened, and he sat rigid.
1.-THE Lazy L company amt got no
two gunner workin' for It right
now?" he questioned.
81 reckon not" returned Daggert.
''In that case" said Hubbard, a grim
smile reaching his face, you've been
hearin' things pretty near correct
expect Dave Toban's here" He
laughed, sitting erect and looking at
Daggert with mocking eyes. 81 reck.
ON that's a Joke" he said. "A man
come here one night about a month
ago an ! took him for Lazy L gun
man. But ! reckon 1t was Dave To-
baan. An told him"
Daggert snarled.' You told him
that is was me who killed HIS brotherl"
he snapped. AN that amt no joke!"
His hand fell swiftly to the pistol al
his waist. you damned" he be-
gan.
The door leading to the ranch house
had opened suddenly and Miss Hub
bard stood in the opening, a heavy
six-shooter cleaning somberly in her
right hand, its muzzle menacing Dag
CERT. The latter's hand dropped away
from his pistol Both men were silent
} while Miss Hubbard spoke.
'Bill Daggert," she said slowly, II
} have been listening. You may be clSv-
} er enough with gun to shoot Dave
Toban-but / doubt it. But you are
not going to shoot anyone here. Dad
, dy is running the Lazy L. and am
running things right now. You've got
: just ten seconds to get out of this Of.
: fee and away from the Lazy L. I
} don't care which way you go. But
l
/ Toban you'll never go back to Cimar-
, ron to collect your money for killing
: him." She poised the weapon sugges-
lively. "You can go now" she said.
r Daggert rose to his feet, sneering.
/ "Why," he said, "I reckon that I'll be
/. goin'. An I'm certain that Toban's
r been here. He's the kind that fool
girls take shine to-"
Miss Hubbard's lips closed grimiy,
and the siX-shooter grew steadier In
: her hand. But Daggert had stepped to
the doorway. His jeering laugh
> reached Miss Hubbard and her father
in the Office.
Five minutes later Miss Hubbard
stood at the south window, watching
. with troubled eyes the dust cloud
made by Daggert's pony as 1t disap-
3 peared into the thirty miles Of plain
) that lay between the Lazy L and the
, Triangular Bar. VIZ
} The following morning Dave Toban
dropped from his pony just outside the
} Lazy l. ranch house. and strobe quick.
/ ly to the office door. Miss Hubbard
: and her father were within. Tohan
halted Just outside and peered In at
: them, his face wreathed in a broad
! grin. Miss Hubbard started forward,
her face paling. NJ
J "Why-why-" she began. did
you see"
) Toban's grin grew. "A man came
: over to the Triangular Bar yesterday, :
he said. He hesitated, and Miss Hub
bard stiffened. e
"Well?" che inquired. y
He LOOKED Er.vely at her. 'T en-
So a. A
! shot him, ma'am," he returned, q sud
den hard CLINT coming into his eyes.
But I didn't. I couldn't do that. az.
, ter you tellin' me that you wouldn't
look at man who would shoot an.
! other plum cold. But / don't mind
tellin' you that had TO do q heap OF
thinkin' about you while was talkin'
TO him."
A flash of genuine pleasure lighted
Miss Hubbard's eyes. She clasped her
hands tightly, her face suddenly beam
ing.
"ohl" she said earnestly. How can
ever thank you enough?"
Why" he said, advancing and
leaning his weight against the door
lamb, II reckon that's plum easy" He
looked fairly at her. The serene calm
had gone from his eyes; In them now
blazed admiration and anticipation.
i've come over to see II you won't
go ridin' with me, ma'am," he said
earnestly. "That'd be one way Of
thankin' me. You see," he pleaded,
aware Of the sudden flush that had
come into her face, II let Daggert of
for your sake. He was a plum sneak,
en- he shot-well," he smiled. There
amt any use of talkin' about him any
more. But mebbe you won't have any
objections to goin' ridin' with me
when / tell you who am"
Miss Hubbard smiled. IT think
know who you are" she returned IN
low voice. "And imagine I know
how hard It must have been for you
to sacrifice your revenge" Her eyes
now dropped away from his. but
must tell you this" she continued, her
face suffused with bushes. 81 am very
glad that you didn't shoot Dave To.
ban"
He started. Then he grinned with
embarrassment. so you've found
, out?" he said. "I was thinkin' to sur
> prise you But I'm glad any vay. that