The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-24

"He must be some tank, Bull"
 And don't hide it, Mir. de Spain"
 You'd have to crawl under Musit mountain to do that What I want h know is, do you like your jobT"
 On this point it was impossible to get an expression from Bull. He felt convinced that De Spain was press. ing for an answer only as n prelimi. nary to his discharge. "No matter" interposed the latter, cutting Bull'i ramblings short, "drop it, Bull. I want you to do something for me, and I'll pay for it."
 Bull, with q palsied smile and a deep quavering note of gratitude, put up his shaky hand. "Say what. That's all I've been paid"
 You know you're a sot, Bull"
 Bull nodded. q know it."
 "A disgrace to the Maker whose image you were made in."
 Bull started, but seemed, on refiec- tion, to consider this a point on which he need not commit himself.
 "Still, I believe there's a man in you yet. Something, at any rate, you couldn't completely kill with whisky, Bull-what?"
 Bull lifted his weak and watery eyes. His whisky-seamed face bright ensd into the ghost of smile. What I'm going to ask you to do," continued De Spain, "is a mans job. You can get into the gap without trouble. You are the only man l can put my hand on just now that can. 1 want you to ride over this morning and hang out around Duke Morgan's place till you can get chance to see Miss Nan"
 At the mentiCA of her name Bull shook his head moment in aiirma- tive approval. "She's a queenr he exclaimed with admiring but pungent explosives. "A queen 7"
 "I think so Bull. But she is in troublesome circumstances. You know, Nan and r."
 Bull winked in many ways.
 And her Uncle Duke is making us trouble, Bull. I want you to find her, speak with her, and bring word to me as to what the situation is That doesn't mean you're to get drunk over therein fact, don't think anybody over there would give you drinl-"
 Don't believe they would
 "And you are to ride back here with what you can find out just as quick, after you get into the clear, as a horse will bring you"
 
 Bull passed his hand over his mouth with a show of resolution. It indi- cated that he was pulling himself to- gether. Within half an hour he was on his way to the gap.
 For De Spain hours never dragged as did the hours between Bulls start ing and the setting of the sun that night without his return. And the sun set behind Music mountain in drift of heavy clouds that brought rain. All evening it fell steadily. At eleven o'clock De Spain had given up hope of seeing his emissary before morn ing and was sitting alone before the stove in the office when he heard the sound of hoofs. In another moment Duil 4QSt Sluou di tlS uOOls
 He was a sorry sight. Soaked to the skin by the steady downpour; rain dripping intermittently from his frayed hat, his ragged beard and ta- tered coat; shaking with the cold as if gripped by an ague, Bull, picking his staggering steps to the fire, and sinking in a heap into Q chair, sym bolized the uttermost tribute Of man. hood to the ravages of whisky. He was not drunk. He had not even been drinking; but his vitality was gone. He tried to speak. It was impos- sible. His tongue would not frame words, nor his throat utter them. He could only look helplessly at De Spain as De Spain hastily made him stand up on his shaking knees, threw a big blanket around him, sat him down, kicked open the stove drafts, and called to McAlpin for more whis- ky to steady the wreck of it crouch ing over the fire.
 McAlpin, after considerable and re- luctant search, produced bottle, and unwilling, for more reasons than one, to trust it to Bulls uncertain posses sion, brought a dipper. Bull held the dipper while De Spain poured. McAl- pin, behind the stove, hopped first on one foot and then on the other as De Spain recklessly continued to pour. When the liquor half filled the cup, McAlpin put out unmistakable dis tress signals, but Bull, watching the brown stream, his eyes galvanized at the sight, held fast to the handle and made no sign to stop. Bull r thun- dered the barn boss with an emphatic word. "That is Elpasos bottle. What are you dreaming of, man? Mir de Spain, you'll kill him. Don't ye see he can't tell ye to stopT
 Bull, with the last fiickering spark of vitality still left within him, looked up and winked at De Spain. McAipin, outraged, stamped out of the room. Steadying the dipper in both hands, Bull with an effort passed one hand at the final moment prelimi- narily over his mouth, and, raising the bowl, emptied it. The poison cleo trified him into utterance. 'T seen her." he declared, holding his chin well down and in, and speaking in proud throat.
 "Good. Bull p