The Arizona copper camp., 1920-07-24


The girl folded the message, thrust
1t in her jacket pocket, then turning to
the marshal and Westcott, gave each
a firm hand.
You've both been more than Kind,
she said gratefully.
H, maam," Dan deprecated,
"that warn't nothin' ~ And he hurried
into the street as loud cries sounded
outside.
Goodnight, Miss Donovan" West
colt said simply. "If you are ever
frightened or in need of a friend, call
on me. I'll be in town two DAYS yet.
and after that Pete here can get word
to me-" Then, with an admiring, hon
est gaze, he searched her eyes a mo-
ment before he turned and strolled to-
ward the rude cigar case.
"All right, Row, ma'am?" Pete Tim
mons said, picking up her valise. The
girl nodded, and together they went up
the rude stairs to her room, where
Timmons paused at the door.
"Well, I'm glad you're here" he
said, moving away. "We've been wait
In for you to show. may be wrong,
ma'am, but I'd bet my belt that you're
the lady that's been expected by Ned
Beaton."
you're mistaken" she replied
shortly.
AS she heard him clatter down the
stairs Miss Stella Donovan of the
New York Star knew that her visit
would not be in vain.
The miner waited, leaning against
the desk. Timmons came down the
stairs, eager to ask questions.
LADY friend O. yours, Jim?" he
asked. "If I'd knowed she wus
comm I'd saved a better ROOM"
81 have never seen her until tonight,
Pete. She got off the train and Car
son asked me to escort her uptown-it
was dark, you know"
"What do you suppose she's come
yere for?'
mot the slightest idea; take it
that's her business"
"Sure; but a feller can't help won
derin', can he? Donovan" he mused,
peering at the name; ''that's Irish, I
take it-hey?"
"Suspiciously SO; you are some de-
tective, Pete. I'll give you another
clue-her eyes are Irish gray"
He sauntered across to the stove,
and stood looking idly at the card
players, blue wreaths of tobacco smoke
circIing up from the bowl OF his pipe.
Some one opened the street door, let
ting in a babel of noise, and walked
heavily across the office floor. West
colt turned about to observe the new
conner. He was a burly, red-faced
man, who had evidently been drinking
heavily, yet was not greatly under the
influence of liquor, dressed in a
checked suit of good cut and fashion,
but hardly in the best of taste. He
bore all the earmarks of a CONNER
cial traveller of a certain sort--a domi-
neering personality, making up by,
sheer nerve what he might lack in
brains. But for his words the miner
would have given the fellow no further
thought.
"Say, Timmons,' he burst forth
noisily, and striding over to the desk,
sthe marshal tells me dame blew in
from New York tonight-is she regis
tered here?"
The landlord showed the book for
ward, with one finger on the last sig
nature
'Yep," he said shortly, "but she amt
the one you wuz lookin' for-I asked
her that, furst thing"
"Stella Donovan-huh! That's no
name ever l heard; what's she look
like? Dark or Ight?"
'Waal sorter medium, 1 should say ;;
brown hair with bit o. red in it, an
a pair O. gray eyes fun of fun-some
girl, to my notion"
The questioner struck his fist on the
wood sharply.
'Well, what the devil do you sup
pose such woman has come to this
hole clear from New York for, Tim
mons? What's her game, anyhow"
blessed if I know" and the pro-
prietor seated himself on a high stool.
81 didn't ask no questions like that;
maybe the gent by the stove there
might give yer all the information yer