The Lamar register., 1919-02-12

| for the sake of keeping her from talk
/ Ing too much"
The grizzled old ranchman shook his
head sorrowfully.
81 didn't think that of you, John; I
sure didn't. Why. that's what yos
might call a low-down, tin-horn sort OF
game"
at is Just that, and l know it as
well as you do. But it's the price
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, and 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
urged. Break 1t off short, and let 'em
all do their worst Away along at the
first, Williams and | both said you
wasn't . crooked crook, and I'm be-
lieving 1t yet. When 1t comes to the
show down. We'll all fight for you, and
they'll have to bring II derrick along
If they want to snatch you out of the
Timanyonl. You go over yonder to the
Hophra House and tell that young wom-
an that the brides or, and she can
talk all she wants to-"
mo" said Smith shortly. 81 know
what am doing, and shall 90 on as
have begun. It's the only way. Mat
ters are desperate enough with us now,
and If should drop out"
The telephone bell was ringing, and
Baldwin twisted his chair TO bring him
self within reach of the desk set. The
message was brief one. and at its
finish the neutrality-suspicious. was
frowning heavily.
by Jupiter 1t does seem as If the
bad luck all comes in bunch" !" he
protested. "Williams was rushing
things Just little too fast, and they've
lost whole section of the dam by
stripping the forms before the con-
crete was set. That puts us back an
other twenty-four hours. at least. Don't
that beat the mischieff'
Smith reached for his hat. "It's six
o'clock" he said; "and Williams form
strippers have furnished one more rea-
son why / shouldn't keep Miss Rich
lander waiting for her dinner" And
with that he cut the talk short and
went his way.
With blank evening before her,
Miss Richlander. making the tete-a-
tete dinner count for what II would,
tightened her hold upon the one man
available. demanding excitement. Moth
ing else offering. she suggested an eve
ming auto drive. and Smith dutifully
telephoned Maxwell, the railroad su-
perintendent. and borrowed a runabout. |
Smith drove the borrowed runabout |
In sober silence. and the glorious
beauty In the seat beside him did not |
try to make him talk. Perhaps she, too.
was busy with thoughts OF her own.
At all events, when Smith had helped
her out of the car at the hotel entrance
and had seen her as far as the eleva-
tor. she thanked him half absently and |
took his excuse, that he must return |
the runabout to Maxwell's garage, with |
out laying any further commands upon |
him
Just as he was turning away, a bell |
boy came across from the clerks desk |
with u telegram for Miss Richlander. |
Smith had no excuse for lingering. but |
with the air thick with threats he made |
the tipping OF the boy answer for a
momentary stop-gap. Miss Verda tore
the envelope open and read the inclo-
sure with u fne-lined little frown COM |
Ing and going between her eyes.
Its from Tucker Jibbey." she said,
glanclng up Mt Smith. Someone has
told him where we are. and he Is fol-
lowing us. He says he'll be here on
the evening train. VIII you meet him
and tell him I've gone to bedr'
At the mention of Jibbey, the money
spoiled son OF the man who stood next
to Josiah HIGHLANDER in the credit rat
lngs, and Lawrenceville's best imita-
ton of fianeur, Smiths first emotion
was one Of relief at the thought that
Jibbey would at least divide time with
him In the entertainment Of the bored
beauty; then he remembered that Jlb-
hey had once considered him rival,
and that the sham "rounder's" pres
ence in Brewster would constitute n
menace more threatening than all the
others put together.
81 can't meet Tucker" he said blunt
ly. you know very well can't"
ssrThafsa UNA tho nuIat raplv aOf