The evening world., 1912-01-26

manager OF LAZY y, b1W "
hundred miles OF . And
- dust. hot. dry n shimmer-
Ing In tho white glare OF . sun That
shone down from an empty sky. He
saw spiotches Of cactus. their BIOS
noms scarlet against q dull backxround.
contrasting wildly with gray thickste
Of mesquite. stunted oakbrush. sage and
yellow tinted soapwesd. between the
~ranchsouse and tho ragged skyline VA
an ON. tiness that suggested ntsrmin-
able space.
Tho manager had never been able %
discover beauty In the picture. and Sst
for FULLY I'VE minutes he had givsa u
his undivided attention. Presently he
turned 10 the young man who stood 1use
inside the ranohhouss door. garbsd IN
exaggerated Western costume. beard
less, i~ean.faced, with syss that limited
at a crave innocencs strangely blended
with the boldneas OF youth. And now
from fuckers expression was gone the
vagueness OF abssnt-Minded contempla-
ton. In his eyes had settled the light
Of humorous inquiry.
And % o want to work for Lazy
Jf' he asked. ~ though the Idea had
occasloned deep surprise.
IT reckon that's why I asked you."
returned the young man easily without
changing his position.
fuckers lips t~ighsensd. II was said
Of Tucker that this tightening Of the
lips was no indication Of the trend OF
his thoughts. In the present instance
ha might have bssn amused or DIS
pleased. He held no reputation for
lsvity.
Ten minutes 0sfers. when he had seen
the young man side from his droop!ns
| row pony. fling IN reins over It's head
and stride Into the ~ranchhouse with
boldly whtxstnS spuSv. fuckers eyes
had sought the VISA Of sand and cac-
tus. Ths hrse took he had taken at the
stranger had sant his mind on a LON
Journey into ths past. That was why
he had kept the young man waiting.
II don't remember" he said abrupt.
iy. that ths nere out6t has evnr ID.
vertised to break IN tsndsrfeet."
From under ~ shAggy eyebrows
Tucker watched fnrttvsly to nee how
the stranger would take thAs urmistak-
able slur. Exoept for . slight stifren-
Ing Of the body and the ~faintest trace
Of . smile. the YOUNG man save no indi-
cation Of fcsiinS.
II don't remember that. I asked you
to-" he returned. almost tenderiy.
In spite Of the softness Of the tons
there was = cold note somswhsrs. Tuck.
er's lips frightened again.
"Whsre did you come fromr'
The Bar Cross"
Tucker contemplated the a man
Eravely. Thsn after . moment ne rniieA
cynicaily. You're from the Bar Cross..
he aaid frigNdiy. That's McVoa's
ranch"
Sure. thought you'd know" Thar.
was q conpiacent enjoyment in ths
strangers tone.
tucker made . second inspsction al
him. He was tall and we'll sst up. M
ieathern chaps which had sgDsciaYv
aroused tho managers M-conceaied
scorn. a seen hard wear. But there
vas the wlde-brimmcd hat-too Wfds
Tor the ~cowpuncher who had been IN
me country Ion enough to appreciate
sagging over each hip-that were mors
OF a drag thar . convenience. sxcspl
when a man was adept In their uss
Tucker finished his inspection Ana
snapped MS eyes to . level with the
strangers.
81 expect you know NUvea's fsro.
man." he inquired, abruptly.
Dave Barry? Sure"
"Humphi And YOU worked under
him. ~
The yonnx man smiled dryly.
Couldn't have worked at the Bs,
Cross unless I did," he said,
Tucker glared with cold unbelie,.
Know a fellow over there named
Webb BALI"
The stranger nodded. Sure. You
know him." he returned.
Ilear OF him." was Tucker's an.
swer. Bronco buster. Barry told me
no was n regular daredevil at break.
Ing horses, Said he was plumb Quick
with n gun. too. but never looked Tor
trouble" He half-smiled at the YOUNG
man Just now We could use a man
like that"
"Gun-man?" said the stranger. drop.
ping his words slowly.
fuckers eyes nlckered with a ,rem-
ulous humor.
(To Be Continued.)