Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-12

| sseeI cieHIly from some blind pocket ht
| mad wandered into, might never find hi.
way back to the original canyon amonl
the continuous cuts that met and crossed
i ana passed each other among the tower.
Ing points and sheets.
| But Old Pete knew where he was 20.
Ing. Not for nothing had he threaded
| these passages for fifteen years. lie
knew the Canyon Country for the lower
part better than any man in the valley
| if Courtrey be excepted.
| SO this night he climbed and shouted
| to his burros and thought no more of the
sounding splits, for. here the echoes
raved, than he would have thought oi
the open plains below.
He passed on and up 10 where a Ger.
tain cut lay full, year after year, oi
packed and hardened snow. For f1fteer
years Old Pete had visited this cut, 0
deeper drop into the neither world oi
rock, and cut his supplies from it,
surface.
Every season he took what he needed
leaving widening circle at the edge
from which he worked. where the cut he
Travelled passed the mouth Of the pent
canyon, and every year the SNOW sitting
from high above. leveled 1t again. There
was no known outlet for this glacier.lilSe
pack, no sliding chance, yet II was al
ways on certain level--each summer
seeming TO lose just. what It gained IN
winter. It lay level at the mouth OF
the passing cut, was never filed higher.
Starting at dusk from Corvan, Pete
reached his destination around 2 o'clock,
filled his sacks, tied them on his mules
and started down. coming out of the
Rockface In time to meet the dawn that
quivered on the eastern ramparts.
But this night Old Pete. sturdy, fear.
loss, unarmed, was not to see the accus-
toned pageant Of the rising sun, the
ieeing wells OF shadows shifting on tn,
valley floor that he had watched with
silent 10y for all these years
This night he was well down along his
backward way, shouting In the darkness
for the slim moon had dropped down
behind the lofty peaks above when ali
the echoes in the world. it seemed, lei
loose In the canyon and all the weight
OF the universe itself came pressing hard
upon his dauntless heart with the crack
"Th' price 7" whispered Old Pete as ne
fell sprawling on his face, "fer pure
flesh !" With which cryptic word he
bade farewell to the sounding passes, the
tenets of manhood as he conceived them
the valor. and the grumbling at life In
general.
The little burros. placid and faithful
went on and saw the pageant OF tnu
dawn from the hidden gateway In the
Wall crept down the Rockface, single
file, and at their accustomed houi stood
golden cloud.
1t was Wan Lee. Old Pete's oete noir.
who found them there and ran shouting
through the crowd OF belateu players In
the saloons big room, his pIgtail flying,
his almond eyes popping, to upset table
and batter on his masters door and
scream that the "bullos" were here, "alL
esame lone" and that there was blood
all spattered on the hind ones rump !!
go old Pete. the snow-packer, had
outlet he had aSerted from Tharon
Lasts young head that day in the
Golden Cloud buc sheathed itself to walt
for HIM All the valley knew II. Not
beyond shadow Of n doubt who. o.
whose agents had followed Peter that
night TO the Canyon Country. Whispers
went flying about as usual, and as
usual nothing happened.
When the news of this came 10
Lasts Holding the mistress sat down
at the big desk M the living room. laid
her tawny head on her arms and wept
There was In her a new softness, n
new feeling of misery--as IL one had
wantonly KILLED rollicking puppy be-
fore her eyes, Those tears were OLD
Pete's requiem. She dried them quickly.
however. and set another notch TO ner
score with Courtrey.
II was then that the waiting game
ceased abruptly.
Tharon, riding on El Rey. went In
70 Corvan. She tied the horse at the
Court House steps and went boldly int
the sheriff's office.
Behind her were Billy, like her
shadow, and tho sane and quiet Con-
ford.
steptoe Service, fat and important,
was busy, at his desk. His spurs lay
on a table. his wide hat beside them.
The star of his office shone on his
Step Service" said the girl straight
~ when are you goin' to look into this
here murder?
Service swung round and shot an ugly
look at her from his small eyes.
10 Have already done So" he % said.
been out an saw to tn buryin'"
Tharon gasped.
you do it,"
Say" said Service, banging n nst
On his table. I'm tn sheriff OF Menlo
buried"
"Where?"
Whats It to youP"
Was Jim Banner there?"
!, Jim Banners sick in bed-got tn
Tharon's eyes began to blaze.
Bah !" she snapped 9Th times ripe
ONE on, boys" and she whirled from |
he courthouse
As she ran across the street to where
nc ringer Marks were tied, she came
ace to face with kenset on Captain.
Her face was red from brow TO
hroat, her voice thick with rage.
You talked o. law. Mr.. Kenset." she
yes upratsed to his. "an' see what law
here Is, in Lost Valley! Step Service
as buried tn -packer-without q
y-your-leave from nobody! TIL man
counts for three men-Harkness. Last
old"
She whirled again to run fer the stall
on, put the forest man leaned down
nd caught her shoulder in a grip Of
teel.
Not now" he said in that compelling
Nv voice, mot now. want to talk to
But don't want to talk to ycu!"
he flung out, I'm goin'!"
over head Confords anxious eyes met
Hold her." they begged plainly. ''we
And Kenset held her, by physical
The gray eyes of Billy were on him
oldly. Tho boy was hot with anger
the man. He put a hand on Ken
Let go," he said. but Kcnset shook
I'm eff.
Come out on the plain little way
i,h ,nna me- al Of YOU" he said this is no
Tharon, standing where he had
opped her. her breast heaving, her lips
part, seemed struggling against an un-
nown force. She put up a hand and
led to dislodge his fingers on her her
BOULDER, but could not.
Presently she wet her lips and looked
round the street, already filled with
atchng folk, then up at Kenset
What for2" she asked.
Il think / can tell you something"
> answered quietly.
".All right" she said briefly, 'let go
n I'll come"
Without a word the man loosed ber
he went to Ell Rey and mounted.
Her riders mounted with her. Bllly's =
zee frowning and set! From the steps |
Batsons store Il few coWboys