The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-08-19
~ The&
Triangle Cupid
Charles Alden Seltze,
(Asehor Of Tho Two.Gun MansD
An Adventure Romance Of the BIG West

saloons for the purpose OF hirfns . Gun-
man 70 search out the rustler that rad
been working on the Diamond Dot herd.
or. what ~ws more 10 The psiWt. 70 rt1s
Sign on n man whom he suspected or
rustilng. With 20 grave quest IN,
mind he had No dcsfre to mingle with
tho crowd that infested the Silver Dollar. ~
For an instant lonser ne hestated and ,
then took backward step. tatsna,ng 60 n
purrne his qacet IN one ef the ethet ca
looms. He colilded with some one who 3
had evidently been about 10 enter. and
turning he behe,d a tall man Of twenty
hvs or thirty. who AFTER tho cclNe1on A
had stepped slightly back and was now
gravciy eytnG oates. his brows con-
tractcd 20 a slight frown.
You runnin' that there door. stran-
ger7" said the man.
Gates stifened belligerentiy. IT reckea
] amt runnln' her" ne returned shortly, {,
lie saw the mans eyelds flicker trsmu-,
reckonin' on runnln' away from NJ"
ne sAAed. va
The man gNnned. Not Hiln' ne.
folks that's insidey" he questioned.
Gates nodded. mot Nkln' the foIho."
he admitted.
rNs man laughed. oassa saw . Nssh
OF omcthipg Tight HE eyep.
''shucks" he said. Now, what 40
you think OF that? An 10 you ain't
likin' tho company none7" Hts syss'
s,sddeniy took on an insosent RNNH II
reckon there's sorse msn witch - sAsAk
that they're better'n some cthersA L
reckon you're one OF them." He laughcd
cOidly. Tn that case Tn askin' you %
take q drink with me-"
oAtes sifreWed.
II amt reckonin' on takin' no Aveak
In there" ne declared.
Tie saw . chill come suddenly into the
mana eyes. felt his 1.-The. strong nay
drop into a slight crouch. Oates know
the sign: his oeliigerent aststS1s ssssook
him.
''seein' ne you he began.
The man laughed. III Amt very often
that I get 10 town." he said; ''Whsa
DO. Tn havin' things my own wAy."
He grfnned Aersiveiy. and 0ateo Vas
suddenly inside, leaning against the bar.
He saw the man take two steps toward
the centre OF the room. heard the mueac
stop. the shufYling feet sisenesd. che
dancers stand quietly IN their p>oees.
Then he heard The name vSlcs.
Jim Collins 10 runnin' thu 1ooat -
night r. anybody THINKS he ain't Ae's
showiR' his hand right nowv'
No ono elected 10 show his hama"
The company filed to the bar. knowing
that n the tall man was 'runuin
things the bar would be literally pat
ronixed. Therefore IN brief time the
proprietor vas busliy engaged with bet
ties and glasses. The voices OF tAe
dancers rose again as they drank Wfth
Jim Collins.
One man mad not responded to Ne
Invitation. He was seated beside .
card table In corner. facing the bar.
his left arm resting on the table, Q Glaso
and n bottle beside him. He was above
medium height. with good shouldesu tie
slim waist Of the cos-puncher. Niky
good looking with n quiet eve and q
straight. thin-lipped mouth. Looking Ut
him, Oates decided that he was . man
who could not be trlfled with. oakes
would have been afraid TO try.
But apparently Collins had no such,
fear. Toward the man he now director
his attention. He took half . doyen
steps toward the corner OF the roo@.
standing we'll away from the crowd aAd
confronting the man.
You drinkin'1" No demanded. he
voice sharp and cold
Tho man smiisd. I'm thanktn' yoA~
he returned: I'm pickin my company"
His thin lips curled slightly.
The crowd made . concerted rush ct
OF danger; Coliins's right hand dropped
swiftly to his gun-holster. "Yov uasa6lu
son-of-a-gun" he began.
Tho man at the table had been lnaa-
ing easily upon II. A. colhns's haod
moved toward his holster the man Ct IL
table moved slightly. There was Q ~
verberating crash; smoke cursod lAs1ly
upward from his hip. Collins sto0upred,
his six-shooter dropped to the dooPi
with his left hand he ssised the y1OAt
and lifted II. the right hand hsnsins