The Raymer enterprise., 1918-01-03

that ne haQ forfeited Tue Tlsnt 10 sSV
her. Out OF the chaotic wreck OF
things but one driving motive had sur
ylyed, and II had grown to the stature
Of an obsession: the determination 10
wiring victory out Of defeat for Timan-
yonl High Line: to fall, If he must fall,
fighting to the last gasp and with his
face to the enemy.
Il know" he said. replying. after the
reflective pause, to the charge passed
on by Colonel Dexter. There Is
friend Of mine here from the East, and
have been obliged to show her some
attention, so they say | am neglecting
my job. They are also talking 1t
around that am your Jonah, and say
Ing that your only hope Is to pitch me
overheard"
That's Dave Kinzie," growled the
Mlssonrian. "IIe seems TO have II In
for you, some way"
Nevertheless, he was right" Smith
returned gloomlly. Then: Il am about
at the end Of my rope, colonel-the
rope / warned you about when you
brought me here and put me Into the
saddle; and I'm trying desperately to
hang on until my jobs done. When II
Is done, when Tlmanyoni High Line
can stand fairly on Its own feet and
fight It's own battles, I'm gone"
"Oh. no, you're not" denied the
ranehman-presId In generous pro-
test. you come on out home with me
tonight and get away from this middle
for few minutes. It'll do you heap
Of good; you know II always does"
Smith shook his head reluctantly but
firmly.
"Neyer again, colonel. II can only be
matter of few days now. and I'm
not going to pull you and your wife
and daughter into the llmelight II | can
help H."
Colonel Dexter got out Of his chair
and walked to the office window. When
he came back II was to say: "Are they
snre-enough chasing you, Johni-for
something that you have done1 Is that
what you're trying to tell me"
"That Is it-and they are nearly here.
Now you know at least one OF the rea-
sons why cant 60 with you tonight"
"Ill be shot II l dol" stormed the
generous one. II promised the missus
I'd bring you"
"You must make my excuses to her;
and to Corona you may say that am
once more carrying gun. She viii un.
derstand."
(which means, take 1t, that you've
been telling Cory more than you've
told the rest Of US. That brings on
more talk, John. ! haven't said word
before, have IT
NO"
"Well. I'm going to say II now: I've
got only just one daughter In the wide
wide world. John"
Smith stood up and put his hands
behind him, facing the older man
squarely.
Colonel. I'd give ten years Of my
life. this minute, II | might go with you
to Hillcrest this evening and tell Co
roma what have been wanting to tell
her ever since ! have come TO know
what her love might make OF me. The
fact that can't do 1t Is the bltterest
thing | have ever had to face, or can
ever be made to face"
Colonel Baldwin fell back into his
swlng-ch and thrust his hands Into
his pockets.
1T beats the Dutch how things
tangle themselves up for us poor NOR
tals every little so-whlle." he com
mented. after a frownlng pause. And
then: "You haven't said anything like
that to Cory. have your"
"No."
"That was white, anyway. And now
suppose the other woman-thls Miss
Rlch-something- brother over at the ho-
tel-has come and dug you up and got
you on the end of her trailing rope.
That's the way II goes when a man
mixes and mingles too much. You
never can tell"
Hold on" Smith interposed What.
ever else | may be, Tin not that kind
of scoundrel | don't owe Miss
HIGHLANDER anything that l can't pay
without doing injustice to the woman
| love. But In another way | am a
scoundrel, colonel. For the past two
days | have been contemplate enough
to play upon woman's vanity merely
for the sake of keeping her from talk
Ing too much"
The grlzzled old ranchman shook his
head sorrowfully.
II didn't think that OF you, John; !
sure didn't. Why. that's what you
might call low-down, tin-horn sort Of
game"
1T is Just that, and | know II as
well as you do. But It's the price l
have TO pay for my few days Of grace.
Miss Richlander knows the Stantons !;
they've made 1t their business to get
acquainted with her. One word from
her to Crawford Stanton, aud wire
from him to my home town In the mid
die West would settle me-
The older man Strengthened himself
In his chair, and his steel-gray eyes
blazed suddenly.
Break away from 'em. John" he