Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-05

in that case. We'll stay till the last
possible moment" Sitting the sand
through his gloved fingers. he looked
up at Wheeler. You see we have to
| meet a party at Grindstone to sign up
an important mining proposition. He
! comes on the $40 train and we have
! to be there Phew' But it's hot"
Its going to b. some job said
{. Wallis. There's a heap of sand. Look
now-I got a mount of horses up here.
! squandering all over the country. III
| round EN- up and put 'em in the pen
/ first, before they stray off. I'll be
right back Any wagon that comes
along. you want to make 'em drive on
the other side of the road"
He did not come back at all. "Reck-
on some Of his horses quit him." said
! Wheeler, wiping his dripping brow.
& - y
DCT half an hour after Spud's de-
- parture. Joe Haskell rode down
from his farm. In the corral he found
Spud's mount. and on the porch he
found Spud himself in joyous confer
ence with Miss Gertie Wheeler.
Joe glowered from the step.
w ell. you Two seem u NC eHJoS =
ing yourselves" he said.
"Yes-don't we? It's right cool
and pleasant here" said Spud. His
eye wandered to the busy scene down
j the road.
, Whats up?" said Haskell. follow
! ing Spud's gaze. Lost something?'
i Spud explained.
. Joe smiled; his black eyes snapped.
I'm going to hunt for that ring" he
| declared. and stalked down the sunken
road to join the search party.
| Now, there goes a nice boy" said
| Spud. admiringly. plumb full Of
ginger. Good locker, too. And thrift
ty-my! Never see him laxe around
when there's a dollar in sight. AL
| ways up and doing. Why, he left
camp this mornin' at break o day.
| whilst 1 was poundin' my ear. A
| little more sleep, a little slumber. q
little closing of the eyes to sleep
that's my motto. Did you notice. Ger
tie, he didn't even say good morning
to you? Someway he didn't seem
right pleased"
, After much searching. Joe marched
back. Spud hailed him cheerfully.
"Find 1t. Joe?"
Joe shot him a triumphant look.
mo, but you sure missed out. old.
| timer. They paid US ten dollars apiece.
! I'm going to lope down to Willis and
have a screen sent up to run the sane
| through"
| He strobe on to the corral
| ."Spud Wallis" said Gertie, as soon
4 10 nat
holding out something. I know you
like book. You're up to some DEVIL
ment.''
Gertrude Lucretia." said Spud,
J I. scorn to deceive you. / am"
| Joe whisked around the corner on
q fat and fiery black.
| He was q crack horseman. and not
averse to proving it, Nearing the car
the horse snorted, SHE'D, and stopped,
| all a-quiver.
Joe piled whip and spur. The black
swerved suddenly across the acequia
bridge. then took of on the other
side with a tremendous bound. Joe
leaned over and wrapped his hand in
the rein to turn the horse from the
bluff: the rein snapped: pitching
nightly. the black held straight on
to the river. One plunge-two-at
! the third, horse and man went over
| the thirty-foot bank into the Rio
| Grande. The sound of q terrific
splash rose to the silent porch.
| Gertie gasped.
Spud smote his knee in yexation.
! There" he said. 81 told him this
morning not to do that"
"Spud, He'll be killed.
Him? No! The waters deep lin
der the bluff. We might go look"
He picked up Joe's hat as they raced
| to the bank. wish could ride like
I that" said Spud.
! They were in mid-stream, swim