The evening world., 1912-11-27


liAntly now. and from tho
porch Potter could see Nor
ton racing down the Dry Bot
tom trail with his pony In
n furious gauop. For q time Potter
Potter went into the house 10 COMMUNE
cate his message 10 his wife.
The rain had been heavy while II last
ed, but by the time Norton had begun
his race TO Dry Bottom very little evi-
dence Of II remained and the pony's NY
Ing hoofs found the sand OF the trail
almost "a dry and hard - before the
| storm. Indeed. there was now little evil
dence that there had boon a storm ~
all.
Norton spared the pony only on the
rises. and In something over an hour
after thu time he had left the Circle Hat
he drew up In front Of the Kicker once
In Dry Bottom. disfnounted. and bound
ed TO the door. II was locked. Hs
placed . shoulder against II and crashed
1t In. sprinxinG inside and lighting q
match. He snilsd Etimly when mo sAy
no signs Of Hollis-when he saw that
tho interior was In an orderly condition
and that there were no signs OF a con-
llct. II Ten Spot had KILLED Hollis he
ONCE.
Norton came out again. pulling the
| wreck OF the door after him and ,clOsing
Il a. well a. he could. Then, leaving
his pony. he strobe toward the Fashion
saloon. A he came near he heard
sounds OF revsiry isuuinG from the open
door and ne smiled coldiy. A flashing
glance through the window showed him
that Ten Spot was there. standing at
the bar. In the next instant Norton
was inside, confronting Ten Spot. his
big six-shooter out and showed viciously
against Ten Spots stomach.
what have you done with Hollis. you
NANCY son-of-a-gun7" he demanded.
Several men who had been STANDING
at the hAr talking and laughing fell
silent ana looked at the two men. thc
barkeeper sidlcd closer. crouchins
wariiy. for ne knew Norton.
Ten Spot had spread his arms out
on the bar and was leaning against II.
looking at Norton In unfeiwned bewtid-
ernent He did not speak At once
Then suddenly aware OF the foreboding
| savage CLEAN In Norton's eyes. q giint
OF grim humor camo into his own and
his lips opened little. curling sarcastic
| ally.
why" he said. looking at Norton. Il
don't reckon to be any ones keeper"
lie smiled widely. With a suddenly
| ludicruus expression.
III you're talkin' about that tender
foot newspaper guy. he don't need no
keeper. What have ! done to him.
| he repeated, his smile growing. why.
I reckon ! didn't do q heap. went
down to call on him. lie was right
socisble. ! was goin 10 bc mean to
him. but I just couldn't. when he
left he was sayin' that he'd he right
glad to zee me asain--he'd been right
playful durin' my talk with him I
reckon by now he's over a. the circle
Bar infYin' hisseif to sleep over the
msan way I treated him. You just
asst him when you see him"
A flicker or doubt came Into Nor
toms eyes--Ten spots words had the
ring Of truth.
You went down there 20 shoot HIM"
he said ooldiy. still unconvinced.
"Mebbe I did" returned Ten SPOT
"Howsomever, 7 didn't I Ant tellIn
how I come 10 change my mind--thats
my business. an you can't shoot 1t out
OF me, But I'm tellin' you this; me
an that guy has agreed 20 call II
quits. an II hear any man talkin
exttavasant about him, me az that
mans soin' to have run In mighty
| sudden,
some ones been funnln' you" ne
said. When he handed me back my
gun after sluEEin' -
But he was now talking 10 Norton's
back. for the range boss was at the door
striding rapidly toward his pony lie
mounted again and rode out on tho trail.
! proceeding slowly. convinced that some
thing had happened 10 Hollis after no
had left Dry Bottom.