The Lamar register., 1917-03-28


"You will never learn Younger We
must have man to run that line that
can curb the disorders along the route
Calabasas valley. De Spain, is Il bad
place
rs tt?" De Spain asked as naively
as II ne had never heard OF Calabasas
though Jeffrles was nervily stating u
fact bald and notorious to both.
''There are lot OF bad men there:
Jeffries went on who are bad simply
because they've never had man to
show them"
The inst general manager was
killed there, wasn't heT"
Not in the valley, no. He was shot
at Calabasus inn.
Would that make very much differ.
ence in the way he felt about itY
Jefrries, with an effort laughed
That's all right Henry they won't
get you. Again ne extended mis- fin
ger dogmntcally "If I thought tnes
would wouldn't send you down
there
Thank you
you are young, ambltious-four
thousand year isn't hanging from ev-
cry telegraph pole; it is almost twice
what they are paying me"
you're not getting shot at
''No nun, Henry, knows the hour of
his deuth No man in the high coun-
try knows when he is to be made Il
tnrget-that you well understand. Men
are shot down in this country that
have no more idea Of getting killed
than ] hnve-or you have"
Don't include me. l have a pretty
good idea Of getting killed right
away-the minute / take this job.
I'VE have temporized with this Gala
basns outfit long enough declared JEFF
fries. dropping his mask at last. Deaf
Snnduslsy. Logan and that squint-eycd
tiirf. DIVE Sassoon-all hold-up men,
every one of theml Henry, I'm put
ting you in on that job because you've
got nerve. because you can shoot, be
cause J don't think they can get you
and paying you whaling big salary to
-truighi-n things out along the Span
ish Sinks. Do you know, Henry
Jeffries leaned forward and lowered
his tone Master of the art of persuad-
ing and convincing ol hammering and
pounding. Of swaying the doubling and
deciding the undecided, the stronEey.d
mountain man looked his best as he
held the younger man under his spell.
DO you know he repeated. Il suspect
that Morgun's Gap bunch are really be-
hind and beneath n lot of this devil
try around Culabasasf You take Gale
Morgan-why, he trains with Dave
Sassoou; take his uncle, Duke-Sas-
soon never is in trouble but what
Duke will help him out Jcffries ex-
ploded with IA slight but forcibie eNplc-
tive. WAS there ever thief or
robber driven into Morgans gap that
didn't find sympathy and shelter with
some of The Murgunst / believe they
are in every game pulled on the Thief
river Stages.
As bad as thatT"
Jeffries turned to his desk. Ask
John Lefever'
De Spain had long talk with John.
But John was a poor adviser. He ad-
vised no one On any subject. He whis-
tied he hummed a tune. He extended
his arm. at times. suddenly as If on
the brink of a positive assertion. He
decided nothing. and asserted nothing.
But concerning the Morgans and their
friends, he did abandon his hnbitual
reticence. 'Rustlers, thieves. robbers,
colners. outlaws :" he exclaimed ener-
getically.
as this because they got your money
today, JohnT" asked De Spain.
"Never mind my money. I've got a
new job with nothing to do, and plenty
Of cash"
De Spain asked what the job was.
"On the stages" announced Lefever.
II am now general superintendent Of
the Thief River line"
what does that meanT"
ut means that l am to be your as
sistant"
I'm not going to take that job.
John"
Lefever took of his nat and twirled
1t skillfully on one hand, hummlng
softly the while.
Il believe you'd better change your
mind. Henry. and stay with u.s."
No" returned De Spain medlta-
lively I'm not going to stay. I've
had glory enough out of this town for
a while" He picked up his hat, poked
the crown discontentedly, and, rising
with "a loss of afniability In his fen.