The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-30

tOlu the Snef1n nOtnlnB Dey0n0 the
fact that Dakota had ridden to the
cabin from somewhere, some time
before. whether he was asleep. or
tASe point within or outside Of the
cabin was not quite c1eGf.
Therefore Allen. the Sheriff. . maA
Of much experience. advised caution.
After another careful roconnottre.
which settled beyond al reasonable
doubt the fact that Dakota was not
secretod In the timber In the vicinity
of the cabin, Allen told his deputies
to remain concealed - the edge Of
the clearing. while he proceeded
boldly to the door Of the cabin and
knocked loudly. He and Dakota had
always been very friendly.
A. the sound Of the knock. Da-
kotA's voice came from within the
cabin. burdensd with nccksry.
any chances On isavinS nay doSr un-
barred-can't tell who's pr6w1ina
around. II you'd sent word. now. %
I would have had time to dress de-
Gently. might have let you ID. seeing
it's you. I'm sure some soe1y."
Sorry, too" Allen grinned az the
door. II told the boys You're b
Watching. Well, Il can't DO helped.
I reckon. Only. I'd like mighty we'll
70 e: e: you. Coming out n the morn
:Maybs. Missed my beauty sleep
already" His voice was dryly ear-
castle. ITS too bad you rode this
far Tor nothing; eant even cst LOOK
At me. But ~: no time TO Visit 2
man. anyway. You and your oogs
the morning. Good night"
Good might" -.
Alien returned to the edge of the
clearing. where no communicates to
his men the result of the conference.
'He amt allowing that he wants to
b disturbed Just now" he told them.
sAnd he's too polite 70 monkey WITH
wen wait. Likely hem change hss
mind overnight" ..-
Nv IVA. 4. H Ssa4 *. sT'"''a Duncan
Allsn grinnsd mildly. soood advacet "
he said quietly. me ana my men VIII
Get here while you D. the bvstans.
Don't Imagine that ven be sore BE-
cause You take the Iced IN such . Mt
lie matter q That. ---l-..
III was the shsriR"-bssan
sure" interrupted Allen withN .
AIRY iauem; ~ You was the Sheriff.
There's Q lot OF things we'd do v Ne
was somebody else. Maybe breaking
down Dakota's door 10 one Of then.
But We don't want any on killed II
We can help Il. and it's . dad sure
thing that sone one would cash In II
we tried any monkey buAness with
that door. II you're wanting 70 do
something that amounts to something
10 help this game along. swap your
cayvee for oAe OF Dakota's and hit
the brease to the Double II for grub.
Well b needing It BY the time you
get back" r-.
Duncan had already ridden over
sixty miles within the past twenty
four hours, and he made Q gyambllug
rejoinder. But In the end he roped
one Of DAhota's horaos, saddled ID.
and presently vanished IN the lark
ness. Allen and his men built . IRE
near the edgS OF thS clearing and
rolled into their blankets.
At . o'clock the following morning
LangSord appeared on the river trail.
leading Q pack horse loaded with pro-
visions and cooking utensils for the
sheriff and his men. Duncaa. Lang
ford told Allen while thoy breAlkfast-
Cd, had sought his bunk. being tired
from the days activities.
you're the owner Of the Do1bls
RI" questioned Allen. -.
you and Dakota frisndlyf" he
questioned again. noting LAnofoS6'G
nod. .......... ....
"we'v. been quite frisndly." smiisd
LAngford. yv
"But you Amt nowf"
mot since this has happened. We
'rust have law and order. even at the
price Of frienAship."
. Allen squinteA mildly hostile eye
at Langford. That's . good prin-
eipis to get bach of--for . weak.
nneed friendship. But most men who
have got friends wouldn't let . little
thing IKE Law and order intsrfsrs b.
Langford REDEEMED. II havsu't
known Dakota long. Of course" he
defended. Perhaps I erred IN say
would better describe Il. think"
Aliens eye narrowed again with an
emotion that LAngford could not
fathom. Il always had . heap Of
faith in Dakota's Judgment" no said.
And then. when IAngford's face
flushed with . realisation Of the sub
tie insult. Allen said gruffly:
you say Doubler's deadf"
Il don't remambereoo have said that
to you" returned L.sngford, his voice
swapping with rage. what did say
was that Duncan saw him killed and
came to me with the news. ] sent
him for you. Since then my daughter
has been over TO Doubisr's cabin. He
II quite dead, she reported" ~ He'd.
There can he no doubt Of his guilt,
II that II what bothers. you" he con-
tinued. Duncan saw him shoot
Doubler In the back with Doubler's
own rine. and my daughter heard the
shot and met Dakota coming from
cabin Immediately after. It's
q clear case. Il seems to mel
YES, clear" said Allen. he evil
dcncs 10 all against him." VA
Yet IL was not all quito q or TO
Langford. To be sure ne Il n ex.
pectsd TO receive news that kota
had accomplished tho destruction OF
Doubler. but he had not anticipated
the fortunate appearance OF Duncan
at tho nester,s cabin during the com
mission Of the murder. nor had he ex =
pected Shells to bs near the scene of
the crime.
II had turned out better than he
had planned, for siAce he had burned
the agreement that he had made with
Dakota the latter had no hold on
him Whateyef, and II u were finally
prevsd that - had committed IL