The Lamar register., 1920-04-21

1.-THE Drunken Fool" He Muttered
Quietly.
louder. Suddenly they heard an oath
and shot, and the next moment
Wild rider. lashing foaming horse
with a stinglng luirt. was upon them.
Westcott barely had time to swing the
girl to safety as the tornado flew past.
"The drunken foolw he muttered
quietly. "A puncher riding for camp.
There will be more up ahead prob
ably"
His little act Of heroism drew the
man strangely near to Miss Donovan,
and as they hurried along in the silent
night she felt that above all he was
dependable. as II, too, she had known
him months, aye years, instead of
scant hour. And in this strange coun.
try she needed friend
Now that I've laid bare my past"
he was saying. don't you think you
might tell me why you are heref"
The girl stiffened. To say that she
| was from the New York Star would
close many avenues of information to
her. No. the thing TO do was to adopt
some "stall' that would enable her to
Idle about as much as she chose. Then
the mad horseman gave her the iden.
"Oh" she exclaimed 81 forgot
| hadn't mentioned II. I'm assigned by
Scribbler's Magazine to do an article
on The Old West. Is 1t Really Goner
and, Mr.. Westcott. think I have
lovely start"
A few moments later she thanked
Providence for her precaution. for her
companion resumed the story of his
mining claim.
Its might funny haven't heard
from that partner. II isn't like him
not to answer my wire. That's why
I've waited every night at the depot.
No, it's not like Pep even If he does
take his leisure at the College club"
Miss Donovan's spine tlngled at the
mention of the name. "Pep." she muir
INJURED. trying to be calm. 'what was
his other namef'
"Cavendish." Westcott replied.
| Frederick Cavendlsh'
A gasp almost escaped the girls
lips. Here, within nn hour. she had
linked the many eastern clues of the
Cavendish affair with one In the West.
Was ever n girl so lucky7 And imme-
diately her brain began to work furi-
ously ms she walked along.
A sudden turn about the base of
large cliff brought them TO Haskell, a
single street running up the broaden
ing valley, lined mostly with shncks.
although few more pretentious
buildings were scattered here and
there. while an occasional tent tapped
Its dlscolored canvas in the night wind.
They went forward, Westcott watch
full and silent the vnlise in one hand.
the other grasplng her arm. The mar
row stretch of sidewalk was jammed
with men. surging in and out through
the open door of saloon, and the
two held to the middle of the road.
which was lined with horses tied to
long poles. Men reeled out into the
| street. and occasionally the sharp
crack of some frollcsome revolver
punctuated the hoarse shouts and
bursts of drunken laughter. No other
woman was visible, yet. apparently. no
particular attention was paid to their
progress. But the stream of men
thickened perceptibly. until Westcott
was obliged to shoulder them aside
good-humoredly in order to open a
passage. He released her arm and
suddenly gripped the shoulder of
man passing. He was the town mar
shall.
"Say. Dan. reckon this is your busy
night. but I wish you'd help me run
this lady through as far as Timmons;
this bunch of longhorns appear to be
milling, and we're plum stalled"
The man turned and stared at them.
Short stockily built, appearing at first
view almost grotesque under the broad
brlm of his hat, Stella, recognizing the
marshal. was conscious only OF q clean
shaven face. a square jaw and pair
OF stern blue eyes.
"oh, is that you, Jim?" he asked.