Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-04-21

II was the impatient porter WIN III
%terrupted them. The girl sprahg up
TREMENDOUSLY TO accept.
ooh please. Is it later" Her glance
swept down the car and took IN ue
fact that her section alone was moi
made ND 81 didn't know-why, what
time is itY'
.'Most twelve, ma'am," replied the
aggrieved porter severely.
She flashed a look of reproach al
her companion and blushed again as
she fled with her bag to the Iadles
dressing room.
The train was rolling through the
cornfeIds of the Middle West when the
A%rizonan awoke. He was up early
bur not long before Kitty Mason, who
was Joined at once by Durand.
"Shucks! Nothin' to it a-tall," the
range-rider assured himself. "Ihat
uT girl must have the number of this
guy. She's firtin' with him to peal
three of a kind, but I'll bet a dogie
she knows right where she's at"
Cha did not In the least believe MS
own argument. If he had come from a
city he would have dismissed the mat
ter as none of his business. But he
came from the clean Southwest where
every straight girl is under the pro
lection of every decent man.. If she
was In danger because of her lnno-
cence 1t was up to him TO look after
her. There was no more competent
man in Graham county than Clay
Lindsay, but he recognized that this
was a delicate affair in which he mus
move warily.
On his way to the diner at noon the
range-rider passed her again. She was
alone for the moment and as she
leaned back her soft round throat
showed a beating pulse. Her cheeks
were burning and her starry eyes were
looking into the future with a happy
smile.
"You pore little maverick" the man
commented silently.
The two had the table opposite him.
As the wheels raced over a culvert to
the comparative quiet of the ballasted
track beyond, the words of the man
reached Clay.
F." and We'll have all day to
see the city, Kid"
Kitty shook her head. There was
hesitation in her manner, and the mar
was quick to make the most of it.
And it won't cost you a cent, grille"
he added.
But the long lashes of the girl lifted
and her baby-blue eyes met his with
shy reproach. 81 don't think l ought"
she breathed, color sweeping her face
in a vivid flame.
"You should worry" he scoffed.
Lindsay knew the girl was weaken
ing. She was no match for this big,
dominant. two-fisted man.
The jaw of the cow puncher set.
This child was not fair game for a
like Durand. When Clay rose to
leave the diner he knew that he meant
to sit In and take a hand.
The train was creeping through the
thickly settled quarter where the poor
er people r herded when Clay
touched Durand on the shoulder.
Like to see you a moment in the
he said in his gentle voice.
The eyes Of the two men met and
the gambler knew at once that this
man and he were destined to be en-
No man had ever said that Jerry
Durand was not game. He rose prompt
y and followed the westerner from the
car, swinging along with the light, cat
ike tread acquired by many pugilists.
The floor Of the vestibule had been
raised and the outer door Of the car
Durand found time to won
Ter why.
The cowpuncher turned on him with
IN abrupt question. "Can you swim?"
The eyes of the ward boss narrowed.
What's that to your he demanded
-ruculently.
"Nothin' to me, but a good deal to
you. I'm amin to drop you in the
river when we cross"
Is tHdC SO! SndrleQ DuralQ
You're quite a joker, amt you? Well,
suit me. But let's get this clear so
we'll know where we're at. What's
ailin' you, rube?"
II don't like the color Of yore hair
the cut of yore Clothes" drawled
Lindsay. you've got a s~ure-enough
bad eye, and I'm tired of travelin' in
yore company. Let's get off, me or
you one"
In the slitted eyes of the Bowery
graduate there was no heat at all.
They were bleak as a heavy winter
morn. "Suits me fine. You'll not travel
with me much farther. Here's where
you beat the place."
The professional dashed out sudden
with his left. But Clay was not at
receiving end of the blow. Always
quick as lightning, he had ducked and
clinched. His steel-muscled arms tight
ened about the waist of the other. A