The Lamar register., 1919-02-12
Illustrations
~iiSsnyer.
Copyright 81
chas. 3cribners Sons


grounded window.
you mean that she might hear of
of Miss Coronaf" he suggested.
you've roped it down, at least" said
the friendly enemy. 'Stanton'll tell
her-he'll tell her anything and every
thing that might make her turn loose
any little bit of information she may
have about you. As | said minute
ago. I'm hoping she hasn't got anything
ON you, John"
Smith was still facing the window
when he replied. I'm sorry 10 have
to disappoint you, Starbuck. What
Miss HIGHLANDER could do 10 me, II she
chooses. would be good and plenty"
The eS-cowboy mine owner drew a
long breath and felt for his tobacco
sack and rice paper.
"AIl Of which opens up more talk
trails he said thoughtfully. 'Since
you wouldn't try to take care Of your
self. and since your neck happens to
be the most valuable asset Tlmanyoni
High Line has, tust at present. I've
been butting in. as told you. Listen
to my tale of woe, II you haven't any
thing better TO do. Besides the Miss
Rich-ranches episode there are nl
couple of others. Want to hear about
'emi"
Smith nodded.
"All right A little while past din
ner this evening. Stanton had II hurry
call to meet the Nevada Flyer Tailed
onto the train there was a private lux
ury car. and in the private car sat u
gentleman whose face you've seen
plenty of times In the political ear.
toons. usually with cuss-words under
II. He is one OF Stanton's bosses; and
Stanton was in for wigging-and got
II. / couldn't hear. but / could see
through the car window. He had Stan
ton standing on one foot before the
train pulled out and let Crawford
make his getaway. You guess, and
I'll guess. and wen both say II was
about this Escalante snap which is
aiming 10 be known as the Escalante
nzzle. Amt 1t the truth?"
Again Smith nodded. and said, "Go
on"
after number five had gone Stanton |
broke for his nutocab. looking like he
could bite nall in two. / happened
to hear the order he gave the shower.
and | had my cayuse hitched over ut
Bob Sharkey's joint. Naturally. II
ambled along after Crawford. and J
while / didn't beat him to 1t, l got
there soon enough. II was out at Jer
Barton's roadhouse on the Topaz trail,
and Stanton was shut up In the back |
room with sort OF tin-horn bad man |
named Lanterby."
"You listenedf' said Smith still |
without eagerness.
Fright you are. And they fooled me,
Two schemes were ON tap: one point |
Ing at Williams and the dam. and the |
other at you. These were both last |
resorts Stanton said he had one more |
string to pull first. If that broke
well, I've said It half n dozen times |
John: you'll either have te |
hire bodyguard or go heeled. I'm |
telling you right here and now. thai |
bunch Is going to get you. even II II !
costs money!"
"You say Stanton said he had ons
more string to pull: he didn't give II
n name, did hef"
"No. but I've got notion Of my
own" was the ready answer. He, |
trying to get next to you through the
women, with the Miss Rich-pasture for |
his can opener. But when everything |
else fails. he is to send a password |
to Lanterby. one OF two passwords. /
Williams means dynamite and the
dam; Jake means the removal from
the map of Il fellow named Smith. Nice ,
isn't itT''
Smith was jabbing his paper knife
Into the desk blotter. And ,
yet we go on calling this n civilized
countryi' he said meditntively. Then I
with sudden change of front: 'rm /
In this fight TO stay until | win out
or die out. Billy; you know that. As
have said, Miss yerda can kill me OFF
If she chooses to; but she won't choose ,
TO. Now let's get to work. It's pretty
late to rout a Justice Of the peace
out of bed to issue a warrant for US.
but wen do 1t. Then wen go after
and make him turn states
evidence. Come on; let's get busy"
But Starbuck. reaching softly for
handhold upon Smiths
desk, made no reply. Instead he
snapped his 1.-the body out of the chair
and launched II In . sudden dyer