The Lamar register., 1917-12-12

the corral ana stood there iii the re-
vealing sunlight. Wards eyes bored
like gimlets through the space that U-
vided them. Instinctively his hand
went to the gun on his hip. 1t was
long pistol shot and he was afraid h.
might miss, for Ward was not a wiz
ard with gun, much as | should like
to misrepresent him as Il dead shot.
lie was human, Just like yourself. He
could shoot pretty well, a great deal
better than lots OF men who do more
boasting than he ever did, but he fire.
quently missed. He measured the dis
tance with his mind while the man
stood there talking to some one un-
seen. 10 look at Wards face you
would have sworn that the man was
doomed but something held Wards
finger from crooking ON the trigger.
The man had his back turned squarely
toward the gun. Ward waited. The
man did not move. He waited another
minute, and then he opened his lips to
shout. And when his lips parted for
the call that would bring the fellow
AuNAAAE AAhA " AAb y TN NJ ~ AAA aAAhB
ped before his eyes the face Of Billy
Louise.
He lowered the gun. He could not
shoot when he knew that the bullet
would split a gulf between himself
and the girl-a gulf that would sep
arate him forever from that future
where stood his air castles.
He let down the hammer with his
thumb. slid the gun back into its hol-
ster and dismounted, with Il glance to-
ward the place where the lookout was
stationed. lie was sure he had not
been seen. and SO he crouchcd behind
splinter of rock and watched. He
had no plan, but his instinct impelled
him to closely watch Buck Olney.
Another man came into view down
there in the corral He also stood
plainly revealed. and Ward gave
little snort Of cOntemptuous surprise
when he recognized him. After that
he studied the situation with scowling
his conclusions or complicated his
manner of dealing with Buck Olney.
Ward would not have hesitated one
second about putting the sheriff on
the trail of Buck, but If the second
man were implicated he could not be-
tray one without betraying the other
And II the business down there in the
corral were lawful, then he must think
Of some other means. At any rate, the
thing to do now was to make sure.
The two in the corral came out and
closed the gate behind them. and the
fgI .H rt 10 m hara Of
u small fire and afterward busted him
self with the ground. either looking for
tracks or covering them up. They
came a little way along the side Of the
bluff. mounted and rode up toward
where the lookout waited. And one Of
them rode a dark bay and was slim
and tall and wore a gray hat.
Ward glanced at Rather standing
half asleep with relns dropped to the
ground. He reached out, took the
reins and led the horse farther down
under the shelter Of the ledge. Rat
tier priclled up his ears at the sound
Of those other riders, but he did not
show enough interest to nicker greet
ing. He was always a self centered
beast and was content to go his way
alone, like his master.
Ward stood up. where he could see
the rim of the bluff over the ledge Of
lava rock. lie might get a closer view
and see who was the lookout, and he
might be seen. For that contingency
he kept his fingers close to his gun.
He heard their scrambling progress.
Now and then one of the horses sent
a little rock bounding down into the
canyon, whereat the cattle in the corral
moved restlessly around the small in
closure.
They came closer after they had