Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-02-09

might pass it on to you and Bob,
cough it isn't to go farther. It's
about that ten thousand dollars he
paid the bank when it called his loan.
he got the money from Buck Bying-
ton"
Buck" exclaimed the young man.
Il know" she explained 1.-THE
money wasn't his. He's executor or
something for the children of his
dead brother. When he heard Dad
was so desperately hard up for cash
he let him have the money. Now it
has been Strengthened out. That's
why Dad couldn't tell where he got
the money. Buck would have been
in trouble"
81 see"
A shadow darkened the doorsill
and Bob Hart stepped into the office.
His first words were ominauA but
before he spoke both of those look
ing at him he knew nc was the bearer
of bad news. There was in his
boyish face an unwonted gravity.
Sire in the chaparral, Dave, and
going strong"
Sanders spoke one word "Where?"
Started in Bear Canon, but it's
jumped out into the hills"
Joyce guessed the situation was a
desperate enc. rs Dad in danger?"
she asked.
Hart answered. ''No-not now,
anyhow"
what can | do to help?"
"We'll have hundreds of men. in
the field probably, if this fire has
real start Dave told her. Wen
need food and coffee-lots of it. Or
ganize the women Make meat sand
wiches-hundreds of them. And
send out to the Jackpot dozens of
coffee-pots. Your job is 10 keep the
workers well fed. Better send ban
dages and salve, in case some get
burnt"
Sanders was on the road inside of
twenty minutes, group of horse
men galloping at his heels. Through
the smoke the sun was blood-red.
The air was heavy and heated.
From the fire line Crawford came
to meet these new allies. Were
holdin' her here. It's been nip an
tuck"
Emerson Crawford was holding his
ground, though barely holding it.
How are things up above?" he
asked in hoarse whisper.
"Good. We held the check-line."
"See it through. Say, son, look
who's hereW His thumb hitched to-
ward his right shoulder.
Dave looked down the line of
blackened, grimy fire-fighters and
his eye fell on Shorty. He was still
wearing chaps, but ( his Chihuahua
hat had succumbed long ago. Mani
testify the man had been on the
fighting line for some hours.
Doesn't he know about the re-
ward?" #M
"Yes, He was hidin' in Malapi
when the cali came for men. Says
he's no gutter, whatever elese he is.
You bet he amt. He's worth two Of
most men at this work. Soon as we
get through he'll be on the dodge
again. He's good sport, anyhow.
FL say that for him"
CHAPTER XXI
When Shorty separated from
Doble in Frio Canon he rode incon-
spicuously to tendejon where he
could be snugly hidden from the pub
lie gaze and yet meet few pals"
whom he could trust at least as long
as he could keep his eyes on them.
Shorty was an outlaw and bad
man. He had killed, and might at
any time kill again. To save the
Jackpot from destruction he would
not have made a turn of the hand.
But SHORTY was cattleman, He
was loyal to his hand that paid him.
he stood by his pals, and he believed
in and after his own fashion loved
cattle and the life of which they
were the central fact. TIE destroy
the range feed wantonly was a crime
so nefarious that he could not believe
Doble guilty of it. And yet
He could not let the matter lie in
doubt. He left the4 tendejon and
rode to Steelman's house.
where's Dug?" Shorty demanded
&c Gtnn1nnan