Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-10-09

you going to dor asked the older man
patiently.
Again Harper laughed. "Clear out. !
suppose" be muttered bitterly. "and
leave the cabin for a luckier man-no;
l don't mean that Jlnk. know it's
my own folly that has caused my ruin.
only I'm 80 blamed down about the
whole thing. She-Elsie-well, you
known
Il understand" nodded Jlnk. Now.
IL you decide to go away after this
come and talk TO me, kid. I've got n
brother down in Arizona. He's fore
man OF a sheep ranch, and he'll put you
on there"
thank you. link I'll remember"
Under the chestnut tree a circle Of
6ery dots betrayed the presence Of 9th
er members Of the Twin Star outfit
Jlnk went TO them and in guarded
tones related what Bert Harper had
told him. A long silence followed his
remarks. and then there was a deep
consultation In low tones, broken now
and then by a note Of pleased laugh.
ter. Presently they scattered to the
corral. and each one picked out his
horse and rode away
Presently Harper rode away on his
sorrel horse toward the blasted cot
tonwood tree near Salt spring.
Deep in the shadows around Salt
spring eve men lurked. listening for
the pitapat OF the sorrel's dainty
boots. Presently It came tapping
along the hard trail. The sorrel swerv-
ed toward the spring and stopped.
Harper's tail form swung down from
the saddle and went to the blasted
tree. There was a fash OF something
white as the letter dropped into its
hiding place and against the moonlit
background they saw the boy lean his
head against the tree trunk. He stood
thus FIVE minutes, then he muttered
something and rode back toward the
ranch.
arm down into the hole and drew out
the white envelope. There isn't any
thing else in there so this must be the
letter." he grunted as he slipped It into
an inner pocket OF this flannel shirt
We'll. boys. readyF'
"Sureg' came back the muttered
chorus. So they mounted their horses
and Numbered along the trail toward
Casper Snyder's place where the school
teacher boarded.
Elsie Davidson was sitting in the llv-
ing room OF the house when the spokes-
man of the party, Jink Probe and Me-
son Pepper, went on to the verandn
and knocked ut the front door.
"Oh, good EVENING" she cried when
she saw them. then with a frightened
glance into the gloom OF the yard she
added, faltering: HAS anything hap
pened2 You know. l thought perhaps
Bert was hurt
Hes as safe as a bankr' assured
Mason Pepper in his hearty way. quite
unconscious that he had used an I'M
fortunate simile. Eve cnme on q mat
ter OF business. Miss Elsie. didn't we,
Jinkr'
"Yes." said Jink heavily as he sat
down near Elsie's rocking chair.
1--WE want to ask your advice" began
Jink after he delayed until the silence
was awkward. Mason here"-he wink
ed at Mr.. Pepper as he spOke-"has a
nephew. who has been counting a girl
down in Arizona. but the girls dead
set against drink. and small blame to
her, ! say! Drink and cards are the
bane Of her life. And, says she 10 Ma
sons nephew, IF you drink Or gamble
after we're engaged It's all OFF, He
promised he wouldn't touch run or
cards, and-well, he broke his word
He fell for n little game down there.
and he lost all the money he'd been
saving for the wedding. and now he's
down and out, and we're wondering
how to patch It up. Mason aud |
thought we'd ask your advice what to
tell him to do, you being much Of the
same sort of nice girl Mason's nephew's
sweet on" Jink wiped the beads Of
perspiution from his forehead and
sighed with relief. Mason Pepper re
garded his friend with open admira
ton for his powers Of Invention.
Elsie Davidson was sitting with her
great gray eyes fixed steadily on Jink
Probe.
Mr.. Prole," she said proudly, III
you're telling me this story as a means
OF breaking news to me Of Bert's folly
last night you are too late. Mrs. Sny.
der told me this noon that Bert Harper
had gumbled away all our wedding
money and that It was the talk Of the
town" Her lips quivered for an In
stunt and were Immediately controlled
to a sweet frmness.
Jink Probe and Mason Pepper ex.
changed swift g%lances OF dismay; then
the former asked brusquely:
well, what are you going to dc
about 1t. Miss ElsieT'
A week passed by. Bert Harper had
not heard u word from Elsie, and each
day the boys face grew more sharp IN
outline and more stern about the lips
Boss CarwoOd must have heard about
fha hRaHaU noa Uaunauk To- 10 -