Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-30

Courtrey's beEinnin, she said "He's
heard tn word I sent tn settlers. He's
that he's used with every poor devil he
wanted to run out OF tn valley tn
tactics he darsent use while Jim Last
lived Well--go send Conford to me,
Billy" 4
Tho girl sat down in the doorway
and gazed somberly out over the sum.
mer land
before her, a slim, efficient figure. dark
faced and quiet, shs had already made
UP her mind. t.. s
Burt" she said swiftly, drive tn
cattle down from tn Cup Rim right
away Well run those two bunches
under Blue Pine an Nick Bob out
keep close Z tn others. trust tn
Indians, but there amt no Indian livin'
can meet Courtrey's white renegades in
courage an wits. Then we'll start right
In an dig well tn first we'll ever dug
on tn open range in this mans land"
Good Lord, Tnaron y cried Conford
"A we'll" f
Yes, tn livin, water holes have
we'll Ak this well Of ours SOS even
| Courtrey will respect It." .
| There was a grim note In the golden
voice.
How" asked Conford uneasiiy.
dig Il first," said Tharon, then I'll
| What the mistress said went. There
fore, the next morning saw disguised
I bunch Of cowboys and Indian vaaueros
setting to with a will at a spot much
nearer the Holding than the Crystal
had been, and IL took much shorte.
time to reach water In a good gravel
bed than any one had dreamed.
In three days tho thing was done
and Conford presented himself, smiling.
Now. Miss Secrecy he said. come
| on with tn mystery"
Tharon went in TO the big desk which
Jim Last had used and which was now
her own and returned with a square
white slab Of pine. elaborately srnoothed
and finished by Jose. XII.
Read that" she said, and held It up.
Printed neatly upon its shining sur.
face, In the Jet black ink that old Anita
made from the berries Of a certain bush
which grew at the foot Of the cliffs
across the valley. were these words;
This well is planted. I hope IL blows
up the first thief who tries to destroy
II. Tharon Last"
Conford took the slab. scratched his
head, holding his hat between thumb
and finger, read 1t over, read 1t again
smiled. and then looked UP. y...- 4.
Might work" he said an you're
| y
broadcast. amt your ~.
Certainly am" said Tharon briefly
II said ia fight, an want tn whole
valley Z know It."
tion. II heard in Coryan yesterday thai
John Dement, has rode th' range con
tinuous since he finished brandin' hi
new herd to tell tn settlers about It,"
Good" said Tharon, Couldn't b,
better. There's got TO be a change il
l @aN all L. lxl.N =
/, we'll be sooner"
And with that thought the girl let he
quick mind sweep out to take in tn
future. She sent Conford Off to. pos
her placard and herself went rummag
ing among the possibilities which he
defy had placed before her. She knev
that Courtrey would be coldly furious
, He had lived his life as suited him. hs,
taken what and where he listed. b.
fair means or foul, and though ever;
soul in the valley knew him and hi
methods, none had spoken the convict
ing word. II was the penstroke at tn
end Of the death-warrant to do So.
She knew that the faction Of the set
tiers hated him and his with a ~vitrioli
! passion, that they were In the minority
that they were no tin gods themselve,
and that they were being beaten ou
one by one.
. Year by year Courtrey had added t
his vast acreage, and It. was a matte
OF common knowledge how he had don
It. He was rich, powerful, bullying.
no limit. whose merest whim was hi
law whose will must not be thwartec
I Year by year his vaqueros drove dow
the wall herds of fat oattle, theI
brands blurred, insolently raw an
stood and seen his own stock 60 by 4
Courtreys band and dared not open hi
: mouth. In fact Courtrey' had bee
i, , known to stop and chat with such
one. smiling his evil smile and enjoy
: 'Insolent rIffian!" muttered yTharo
this day, frowninE above her daddy
pipes on the desk top,
He is going Z get one run for hi
money from now till one of us !
: my mark on him, so help me-
Straight killn's too god for him
want to smash him first"
"Tharon, mi, ocra1on," said Anita
for one to talk so. to himself. III,
EVIL One works on the mind that way
Tharon laughed.
Perhaps, Anita" she said shortly, 1T
is with the Evil One I have t do. an
The old woman crossed herself ane
went away, her wrinkled face dim will
care. And Tharon dressed herself
neatly. put a ribbon on her hair, SCI
|
, buckled on her heavy gun belt, ant
, went to the corral for I'll Rey. He,
daddy's saddle was her own now. :
huge affair carved and ornamented
profusely studded with silver.
Along the right side below. the pom
mel ran a darker stain, Jim Last
} blood, set before his daughter like
} star.
She mounted the silver stallion ant
, went away down along the summe,
| land lphf aho0tinR thrOuQ nj
the green Of the range.
/ Far over to her left she could se'
her cattle, beautiful punches spread lik'
figures In a tapestry. The figures o.
hsi riders were small dots on the out
skirts.
FL Rey. always hard on the bit. al
ways strong-headed. wanted to run ant
she swung loose her rein and lot hin
! go. But run as he might. there wa
always In his speed that rising note
; She passed the head of Black coules
swung out across the edge of Roiiinl
Cove, thundered down TO the ford o
the Broken Bend. Here she let TIN
! stallion drink, deep draushts ths
! Rey went up the bank beyond the for,
! like a charging engine. SQUARED ava:
! and stretched out to finish his run
He was within three miles Of corvan
I, , set like a stone In n smooth rreen sur
, his shoulders into his gait. With tn
first rock and swing Of the singlefooi
; Tharon smiled and settled herself NOR
comfortably In the saddle. This wa
, Joy TO her, this beautiful syncopation
= this poetic marked time that reeled OF
,, scarcely have shaken pebble from he
! hat -brim.
As she struck the outskirts OF tn
n Vryt N 4. 10. .fa hrAn nafat hau