Cheyenne record., 1916-10-05


power behind the bolotnpstl
A. this stupendoyss knowledge forced
itself into his weary brain. the other
man turned and strobe swiftly away
among the boles. The wearying climb
had taken the breath from Sandry's
lungs and he drew q pistol from his
belt and fired over Hampden's head.
Like IN animal the man whirled. hand
to hip and faced him.
Tvs got you at lastl" Sandy pant
ed: 1--WE got you at last!"
Hampden's heavy lips curisd ven.
omousiy from his short, strong teeth.
"Ydli" he. breathed. s.you! You
DAMNED Easterner! You lfly-handed
stenderfoot!" ~
r Sandy smiled srimly.
This is Just about the biackest spot
In your crooked career, Hampden." !" he
said at last "the blackest and the big
gest hlunder. I can't see why you did
it,
"You can't!" snarled Hampden, "oh.
you can't! Well. by God. you will be-
fore I'm done with you. You didn't
know what you. was gettin' up against
you and your-your-Poppy Ord
way. You made yer fight. an you
thought you'd won! But you reck-
oned without me. I'm maxim mine.
an it's hummer"
He glared savagely along the gun
into Sandry's bloodshot eyes. and at
this moment Black Bolt heaved up
through the ferns. Siletz peering eager
ly along his straining neck. and the
face Of Poppy Ordway at her shoulder.
The girl slid out of the saddle and ran
to Sandry.
WHAT is TT" she cried. what is
tit"
Sandry pointed to the burning can
die at the pines foot and instantly she
sprang forward and snuffed 1t out
with thumb and finger.
Miss Ordway slipped down from
the foamy, steaming hips Of the horse.
to stand leaning against him, her
bright eyes beginning to sparkle with
the tension of the. moment At sight
Of her Hampden's face grew gray be-
meath its CRIME. She was smiling
with that pleasure which she always
found where men fought. or engi.
neered dramatic coups, or worked out
clever schemes, and her beauty was
never SO maddening to him in all his
knowledge OF her. His one pure dream
had. in truth. reached sorry ending
Sandy" said Siletz simply. Il came
to you. There's danger somewhere
I don't know where or what-but
there's something in the shadows"
vagrant wind famed up long
sheets and whistling banners that
hurried up to leap into the moaning
canopy behind the Hog Back. The
actors in this little drama were too
intent to hear the-heightened note.
$50 you come to be in at tn
DEATH" said Hampden at last. his
eyes on Poppy in anguifhed fury,
you done me to death an you want
to see me die!. Oh, tn games up and
l don't care damn! I'm TIL smartest
one of this bunch yet. An but fer
tn fact that you've got them two let
ters you stole from the commissioner
and tn account book with the records
of our deals an rakeoffs and so on,
I'd had chance to fight an win
yet. oul huOW yous HOppy-Oup
how damned well l know you!-an'
I know I'm whipped. But I'm maxim
fight-you're damned right l ami"
He waved an eloquent arm around
at the appalled,. shrinking country
which seemed to crouch in it's naked
ness under the shrouding smoke.
But tn thing that cuts is KNOWN
that you done 1t all fer him! A feeble
drivelin' thing from tn East! An
they say you'll marry him! Well. go
to It! He'll have to move out. fer
there won't be any more Dillingworth
Lumber company in twenty hours. I'll
be behind bars, ell right. but I've
cleaned him out"
AS he finished with q reckless laugh
Sandry turned amazed eyes to Poppy,
She was pale with anger and she
avoided his glance. This was the last
thing she wanted-that Sandry should
know OF her attempt to forestall him
in the getting" Of Hampden. She
saw her chance to gain his gratitude
by her gift drifting away. Also the
revelation OF her lawyers perfidy was
a mighty blow.
"Hampden." she said unsteadily,
you're the coarse5t beast I know!"
"All right. But amt that what It's
all fer? To lay me as burnt offerin'
at his feet-a sacrifice to win his
mincin' love? Didn't you say you'd
marry him? Amt heard 1t right
an left?"
MOI" cried Poppy. red with rage
under Sandry's astounded eyes. no!
l never did!"
"Yes!" cried Siletx ringingiy. ''you
did! You said when Sandry was dy-
ing that you were his promised WIFE,"
In the hush that followed. intensi-
fed BY the dropping brands from the
huge pine which was now but a black
ened nronzed aEana In the fhickenin3