The evening world., 1912-01-29

- his intention he concealed II
with consummato skill. n was apparent.
however. that he took pleasure In plac.
Ing Ball In such positions that he APP
peared a ridiculous figure among the
men Of the outht.
Besides, having the reputation OF be-
ing a %gunnghtcr. Deveny might have
hcsitated about picking a quarrel with
the inoffcnsivc Ball. for while the men
Of the outn, were quite willing TO laugh
mt the young man. they might have re-
! .ented his being forced Into a gun night
that would end In his death. The Six
tenth Man communicated this 10 Rail-
one night after supper.
The boys know Devcny In after you.
md while they're not adin!rins you any.
they're going to see that you get a
square deal"
The sixteenth Mar was surprised hat
Ball showed no signs Of appreciation.
Then. one morning about n week later.
Deveny entered the bunkholsc while tho
men were ut breakfast and Ball was
pouring coffee. The range boss's man.
ner was one Of domincering in%soiencc.
We'll. Sonny. how do you Hike cook
Ing" he asked.
Hlll did not look at him as he replied:
MS a heap better than breaking
horses
The range boss %meditated. ~frownins
at Balls averted face. Then he smiled
with inscru,able humor.
you don't like TO break horsss. I
take IT. he said.
That's so." assented Ball.
Fol the first time In many weeks he
smiled.
Deveny grinned around at the men,
"Wc'rc going to round up a bunch oi
mavericks to-day. and ! reckon you'll
go along"
Half an hour later. as Ball wa,
Tightening the cinches Of his satdle
Deveny came up to him.
You won't ride that skatcg' hs
! sncered. indicating Bars pony. SHOW
I him 'Purgatory"" he ordered. speak
: Ing to the sixteenth Man.
0 Deveny srinned rnaliciously as n
departed for the managers ONCE.
, 'Thunder and blazes!" exclaimed th'
Sixteenth Man. white-lipped. to Bail
'Purgatory's' a devil; = lightninl
tho Territory cam
That him In the corner?" inter.
rupicd Ball. nodding toward q slant
. eyed. mustard-colored pony that hst
licked a clear space around him ir
the corral. The Sixteenth Man made
an Affirmative sign. Bah was ALREADY
unsiin3ins the coilcd rops that huns
at the pommei of his saddle. The
sixteenth Man stepped over 10 him
and laid n OBTAINING hand upon him.
Don't try to ride him." be said, end
his tone was almost a plea. He'll Kill
YOU like ne did that other tenderfooi
that caane out here two years NO.. II Z
was only a kid. md Dcvcny made him
ride 'Purxatory'-and 'Purgatory' knied
him. No man has tried to ride 'Pur'
gatory' since. And now
What kid?" questioned BAIL brusque'
~.
"a boy named Malone" said the Six
tcenth Man tenderly.
THE Kid ought to have known better
declared Ran WITH sudden Gruffness.
lie turned and watched the range boss
listening meanwhile 20 the Sixteenth
: Man and still working 10 uncotl the rops
ffrom the SADDLE horn.
"shtrks." aid the Sixteenth Mar
with rcproving heat. You didn't know
the kid or you wouldn't talk that way
about HIN. Any % rhe boys would have
went to hell for him. forget
what he md for me-" The Sixteenth
Mans voice softened.
What dad the kid do 20 Deveny tina
Deveny made him ride 'pureAtory'?'
questioned Ball. his face avert~d,
The sixteenth Man cursed softly.
What d.d you do 10 him that ne want
you to ride him." he flarcd back
Nothing. ] reckon. Only Deveny dtdn'
Ike him any more'n he likes you
showed II tho same way. too. Gets botl
Of you to ride 'P~urgstory.' And 'Pur
gatory' killed the KID and hen kin YOU
tsNt..sk. - .aiA nall ~knrtly IL shA1I
out his lariat and climbed the cora
fence. making his way slowly towart
the pony. A birdie trsiled from his ie:
arm.
The sixteenth Man leaned against IN,
corral fence. prepared TO extend his sym
pathies to Ball when the latter should
return-dcfeated. The Sixteenth Mar
knew that 'Purgatory" had q reputa'
ton for evasion that extended through
out the Territory. several OF the men.
ready for the trip to the range. rode w
To the corral bars and halted to watch
Bslrs defeat. They said no word. but
exchanged eloquent g~lances. They had
all had their trial with "Purgstory."
But Ball wasted no time In fails,
movements. Holding his rope low. 81
that A almost trailed the ground, he ap'
preached wiuhin hfty feet OF 'Purga'
tory" Then while the watchers mar,
yelled at his apparent carelessness there
was a sudden swish, a dust cloud AS
"purgatory" sensed the impending dan
ger, a struggle-and "Purgatory" las
prone In the dust, his head held down
by Ball.
The sixteenth Man took down the cor
raj bars. and I'm awed silence watched
Psll lead ~"Purgatory' forth, the bridls
securely adjusted, Then the SiNtcentt
Man replaced the bars and held "Pur,
gatory's' head while Hall placed tn,
saddle upon him "Purgatory's" efforts
40 prevent the tightening OF the cinches
we're frulliess, for the swift and sure
movements of this new mar took him
by surprise
After a moment he stood hat-eared
and vicious. trembling ~ rag and
fear. lu iva years no man had dared
oner him this ndignity, and his moment
Of INDIGESTION was given over to a dis.
|tractcd horse expression.
In that moment Ball had sprung into
the saddle. At that momen also De
veny came out OF the managers once
the manager following.
The crazy fool!" said Tucker. ~