The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-01-27

toward tn Black Coulrc. Then we u
start right In an dig well-th' hrst
welt ever dug un IN open range ~
,his mans land
Good Lord, Thaion!" said Conrord,
a Nyll,'
"Ncs TN lv,u' water holes have
been ga griIc OF tn Valley, 1 knoM,
0ut wei iN tAis well Of ours sos
even tOuI'rcN viii respect it.
There VAS grim note N the golden
vo CO.
How" oshcd Concord uneasly.
DE 3D. first said TharOn, then
~ tDu you"
What the mistress said, went
In three days the thing was done
and CunfOrd presented himself, smil-
ing.
Nov. Miss Secrecy" he said.
come ON with tn mystery
Tharuu went o. 10 the big desk
which Iim Last had used and which
was now upT own. ana returned wItn
square white slab VI pine, clabor-
aitly smUOthod and finished by jose.
Read that" she said and held Il
up, face out
Printed neatly upon It's shining sur
face were these words:
This well is planted / hope II
blows up the first thief who tries To
destroy u. Tharon Last"
That afternoon Tharon dressed her
self neatly, put "a ribbon on her hair.
set her wide hat carefully on her
head. buckled on her heavy gun belt
and went To the corral for ri Hey.
She mounted the silver stallion and
went away down along the summer
land. u shaft Of light shooting through
the green OF the ranges.
As she struck the outskirts Of Cor
van tho unmiGtukable sound Of III
Rcy's iron shOd hOOfs brought heads
INTO doors, children at the house
corners 70 look upon her. She came
down the main street at a smart Cltp,
to bring up with slide at the hitch
rail before Baston's store, where the
monthly mail was handled.
As she stepped In the open door
her quick glance went over the big
room with a cOmprehensiveness which
catnlogued It's inmates accurately and
lnstinctively. Courtrey was not there,
though his great bay, Bolt, stood out
side. However, WylaChe Bob was
there
Tail. slow Of action, slcepy-eyed, he
was trCaCherous as a snake, AZ swift
to move when necessary. lie had
been known to sit as he was now,
idly playing, to leap up, crouch, draw
ana kill q man, and be down again
at his place, idly playing, before the
| breath was done In his victim.
At the end OF the store porch she
! came face to face with Courtrey and
! Stuptoe Service. the Sheriff OF MenlC
County She swung 10 one side to de-
scend the rough steps, vouchsafinG
them no word or look. but Service
4 blocked her way.
What's this hear. Tharon?"
asked Service, about you a-makin'
! threats?'
what have you heord2" she
wanted TO know.
The Sheriff flushed
Look here. Young woman, he
raised his voice suddenly and on the
instant there was sound OF boots
ON the store floor and the settlers,
the two men in the corner. Baston
ana two clerks came CroWding out to
hear you look a-here-don't you
/ know it's a-gin tn law for any one
! L make threat like you done open
an above board. in tn Golden Cloud
/ tn other nightp'
/ ".aw?" she said. Law"
Yes. law! you young hussy. an
J don't you fcrgit that 1 represent it,"
The girl who had been carrying a
meal sack for provisions over her
arm, threw II TO the ground.
She flashed both hands on the gun
! butts. Courtrey, watching, was half.
a-second behind her and stopped with
his hands lowering.
Not much, Courtrey," she said
you fast gun man! You're too slow
An this amt your game, anyway
not face [ face. You're all right Oh
dark night-an' from behind Fine,
But you're a coward. You're what
called YOU before-an assassin"
She was pale as ashes, her eyes
narrowed TO blazing Sits. Jim Last
gunman, was in her like those com.
lpOsitp pictures which show tho
shadow in the substance Baston wal
stuck against his wall like a leech
lrigid. These men knew that sh,
tempted death.
An now you know what you are
Courtrey III tell tn same to you
step Service. Law! In Lost Valley
Yes, Courtreys law! Th' NV OF tn
gun aione-th' law Of thievcs-th
law Of muNderers."
Thnron, crouched a bit, her fee
Iapart, her elbows crooked .-bove he
hips. her fingers curled on her gun
butts with nice precision, wet he
own pale lips.
i, She backed slowly along the porch
keeping them in view,
Get away behnd me-" she called
There was a path opened instantly
] the sound OF shuffling feet, Alon
the porch she went. stop by steI
lstOpping every moment or so to kec
close hold on her advantage, ever
nerve strained. every one OF her facu
ties at the top OF its power.
She felt for the step with her foo
went down, backed through Ia
, crowd, brought them all in the ranE
- OF the guns which she flashed OF
n now and held upon Thorn,
o As the girl backed clear there cam
Into her vision q new figure
He wore "A uniform OF semi-militar
style, leather leggings, a flannel shil
Y. Of buttcrnut and a smart, tan, broaC
In bTimmcd hat.
He. too, came in the range OF u
) travelling guns and awaited the
pleasure
=, Tharon reached El Rcy She stu,
her right hand weapon In it's holste
Al loosed the rein, flung II over the sta
lions head. As III Rey rose on b
hind feet. WlhrlnE, that unWaverir
4. muLLle whirled also, TO keep in Nm
b. The king struck into his gait and n
IS rider. facing backward. swung avs
n down the narrow street. Until 81
1t was well out OF range the tensiC
AZ held.
10 Courtrey laughed, one Of his RAJ