The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1916-06-15

Hampden OF the Yellow Pines was the
power behind the holocaust!
AS this stupendous 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 a pistol from his
belt and fired over Hampdens head.
Like an animal the man whirled. hand
TO hip. and faced him.
I've got you at lastl" Sanity pant.
ed: I've got you at last!"
Hampden's heavy lips curled ven.
omously from his short. strong teeth.
"You!" he breathed. you You
damned Fastener! You iily.handed
tenderioot!"
Sandy smiled grimly.
This Is Just about the blackest spot
In your crooked career. Hampden," he
said at last, the blackest and the big.
gest blunder. can't see why you did
IT,"
You can't" snarled Hampden. "oh.
you can't, Well. by God. you will be.
sore 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 Sandrys 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 IT." she cried. what Is
IT,"
Sandry pointed TO the burning can.
die at the pines foot and instantly she
sprang forward and snuffed II 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 It's 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 10 him in all his
knowledge OF her. His one pure dream
had. In truth. reached a sorry ending
Sandy" said Siletz simply. Il came
TO you. There's danger somewhere
! don't know where or what-but
there's something In the shadows"
A vagrant wind famed up long
sheets and whistlng 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.
so you come TO be in at tn
| death" said Hampden at last. his
eyes on Poppy in anguished fury
you done me to death an you wan,
TO see me die, Oh. IN games up and
| don't care damn. I'm III smartes,
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 rake.offs and so on
I'd a had chance 10 fight an win
yet! But ! know you. Poppy-Oh
how damned we'll know you!-an
| know I'm whipped. But I'm maxim
a fight-you're damned right ! am
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 II all fer him! A feeble
drivelin' thing from Tn East An
they say youll marry him! Well, &c
TO Il. He'll have TO move out, fel
there won't be any more Dillingworth
Lumber company In twenty hours. III
be behinN bars, all right. but I've
cleaned him out"
As he finished with reckless laugh
Sandry turned amazed eyes 70 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 for,atall hin
In the getting" OF Hampden. Sh,
saw her chance 10 gain his gratitud,
by her gift drifting away. Also tn,
revelation OF her lawyers periidy wa!
mighty blow.
"Hampden." she said unsteadIly
you're the coarsest beast ! know,"
"All right But amt that what III
all fer? To lay me as burnt offerin
at his feet--a sacrifice 20 win hi
mincin love? Didn't you say you'C
marry him? Amt heard II righ
an left?"
no" cried Poppy, rcd with rag,
under sandry's astounded eyes. mo
| never did"
"Yes'" cried Silctz rInRlngly, "yo,
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 tn
huge pine which was now but a black
encd, pronged shape I'm the thickeninI