Evening star., 1922-01-29

In any danger?"lz" &c.
mot a bit Of it," said Mangss. This
was false; there was no telling what
a man like Heller would attempt. Ills
chief fear was for the invalid. He
refused to let the girl perceive this
fact, however.
Let the burros roam." he said.
catching up full canteen. "And
don't try to set up those monuments
until later in the afternoon, UNDER
stand? All right. Good-by"
The girl held out her hand to him
and flashed a smile. "Good-by, Mont,
and good luck"
With his hat pulled low over his
head Mont Mangas saw the end Of his
forced march ahead, the canon and
its cabin to one side. OF Heller or
his burro there was no sign. They
Or
THE afternoon sun was still hot, al
though fast sinking in the west.
Mangas was confident that Heller had
seen nothing Of him in the rear. for
he himself had take pains to keep
ought Of sight. making use Of every
available outcrop and butte, while he
exerted himself to catch up with Hell
Ter. He had not caught up, how
ever.
And now, where was Heller?
The answer came to Mangas as he
trudged YEARLY up the canon. 1t came
in the sound Of shot. heavy. un-
echoed shot which had not been fired
in the open. This shot came from the
cabin on the canon side.
Dropping his canteen Mangas ran
forward. He covered the hundred
yards that interveLed and rushed UP
the almost imperceptible trail to the
open cabin door. Mangas burst into
the cabin and stood painting. Facing
him, backed against the rear wall.
was Bob Linder. fear in his eyes, the
still smoking revolver in his hand.
The figure Of Heller lay against the
wall a.
IT shot him" exclaimed the boy.
Il shot him! didn't mean to kill
him, Mont"
Mangas stopped over the body Of
Heller and made a quick examination.
He rose. thin smile on his lips. you
didn't XIII him, Bob" he said swiftly.
He's Unconscious, that's ALL"
Thank heaven said Linder. q
he started for me"
Take it easy. old man. said Man
gas quietly. What happened? What
did he want?"
He didn't know I had the gum"
returned Linder. He came in and
tried to make himself pleasant He
said that he had found the place we
were after. and that he knew it was
valuable, but that no one else knew
it"
"Oh!" exclaimed Mangas. "He said
it was valuable, eh? Did he say
why?"s -.
NO. that was his secret He said
that he was going to town right away
and file his claim. but he wanted to
be fair to US. He tried to persuade
me to write out half interest in the
claim for him. offered to take US into
partnership. l suspected that he was
lying about it and refused"
'Oh.,.1 see his game now" cried
Manages. He wanted to get an inter-
est in. ..tie, claim from you. then he
could have played hob with US
through litigation
Il suppose so. Finally he los: his
temper and started for me. warned
him. but he came IN. i was fright
ened. and / shot" -
Mangas broke into a laugh. He
stopped and dragged the figure of
L o..
him." he said. indicating the course
of the bullet. "As you fired, he flung
up his arm. The bullet went through
the flesh of his forearm and then
nicked his tough skull. There. he's
coming around now! Stand bach
Bob. and we'll throw a good scarf
into the gentleman" Mangas jerked
out his own gun.
% & x
THE. eyes Of Heller opened. The
desert rat glanced around. then
scrambled to: his knees. He saw the
crimson stain that was over his arm,
felt it on his face, looked up and saw
Mangas' weapon trained on him. A
wild cry burst from his bearded lips
"You'te killed me"" he shouted
hoarsely, terror in his voice. Don't
shoot, don't make It worse. I'll tell
you all about it. Don't let me die"
Talk quick" said Mangas. cooking
his revolver.
Its collodal clay" replied Heller,
working forward on his knees. hands
outstretched. Don't shoot! Get me
a doctor, don't LEI me die. Mangas!
It's colloidal clay. same as soap. I
didn't try to jump your claim"
Mangas put away his gun. Then
he caught Heller by the collar. lifted
the abject, terrorized sooundrel to his
feet and calmly kicked him through
the doorway.
Exit Mr.. Heller" he said cheer
fully, as he returned to Bob Linder.
Don't worry about that fellow. Bob.
he'll make no further trouble. I'll
have to get back to Beth now AMI
then I'll get to town and file those
claims. So it's coiloidal clay. eh? I've
read something about that. I'd not
be surprised if we'd struck something
rich. after ALL
"You mean that you found the
claim?" asked Linder. "And it's val
uable?"
Good as gold. I expect. Well. I'll
go fill up my canteen. give Mr.. Heller
a little talk about claim jumping and
get back to fetch Beth home. Had to
leave her there. So long, see you
later!
He left Linder staring aftere him.
as he went back down the hillside AMI
recovered his canteen. Soap" said
ManRas to himself, ErinninE at the