Evening journal., 1922-03-15


canyon ready TO ambush Wingo. who .
~ approaching In the distance. When /
sne attempts 10 drive back 10 warn /
Billy, Murray shoots one Of her mules /
She unharneeses and mounts tho /
other despite Murray's threat TO /
shoot.
The man In the brush stopped /
He dropped on one knee between /
two bushes. took a quick sight a.
the mules barrel six inches behind
the girls leg and pulled trigger
over and over rolled the mule. and
over and over a short foot In ad-
vance Of his kicking hoofs rolled
Hazel. Luckily she was not stunned
and she rolled clear. She scram-
bled 10 her feet and set or up tho
trail as fast az her shaking legs
would carry her
"Demn her," cursed Jack Murray,
notching up his back sight. ''I'd
oughta drop her! She's askin' for
Il. the hussyi'
His itching finger trembled on the
trigger. but he did not pull.
Billy wingo pulled up az sight N
the Wild apparition that was Hazel
Walton. But the check was mo-
mentarv. lie clapped home tho
spurs and hustled his horse into
garop. lie and Hazel came to-
gether literally 40 yards below the
crest. The girl seized his stirrup 20
save herself from falling and burst
into hysterical tears
"Lordy it's the girl that dropped
the PACKAGE" exclaimed Billy. dis
mounting In haste.
Hn huN hfu arm. rnrrrT lee
in time 10 prevent her falling 10 the
ground. She hung Imply against
him. and gasped and choked and
sohhed away her varied emotions.
The explanation was brief but be-
fore II was finished Jack Murray had
become a rapidly vanishing speck on
the horizon. He was sure that his
health. demanded long vacation in
the south.
CHAPTER V
Billy Wingo removed his hat and
stuck a brown head round the cor
ner OF the door jamb Hello.
Hazel"
10. Billy" said Hazel Walton.
breaking another egg into the mix
ture OF sugar and shortening In the
yellow bowl. Chase thai sprucy
chicken out. will you. there's a
dear"
Billy did not misunderuand He
had discovered that Hazel called
any friend dear" Il was her way
OF showing her liking. that was all.
Nevertheless. the appeiiation never
failed 20 give him a warm feeling
that felt pleasant around his heart.
your uncle homer" he asked
after a oigaret had been constructed
and It,
Hell he In for dinner" replied
Hazel with a swift Hash of dark
eyes And there I was hoping all
along YOU had come TO see me"
u came 20 sec you, too.
NE TOO is worse lots worse.
Shows what an afterthough 1 am.
Lies an awful thing for a girl"
BILLY. you're sheriff now" she
continued, changing the subject
''Not yet" he interrupted. Il
don't take office till the first Of the
year"
She nodded "1 understand. And
] want 20 ask you question-wh 10
elected you sheriff. Blly7"
He regarded her in some surprise
The voters"
81 know. but who manages the
voters2"
You mean the party machine?'
You hear rumors sometimes
Billy VIII you have free hand
then?"
so far az my powers extend.
will" he said.
And youli use it?"
I'm use IT," curlously.
Isis that quite safe?"
ut may not be safe for the gang
Couldn't you give 'em their way
sort or Not In everything. But jus
enough 10 keep 'em good-natured p
His curiosity changed 10 blanl
amazement. You know what YOUR
asking. ! suppose" he said coidly
~ though you didn't ike Raf
Tuckelton
81 hate him." was her simpl
statement But I'm afraid"
He believed he detected a sob ID
her voice. This would never do
Couldn't have Hazel crying.
III you'd only explain" ne sug
eested soothingly.
she paused. After minutes Al
ience she continued
4 You see, Billy. you've been prett
. nice TO me-uncle and me. An
you've come TO be sort Of a--sort O
q frend-kind OF and-and Nv
q don't want 10 see YOU hurt te
YOU. Bhly az true as / stand her
this minute. Il you try 10 fight tn
4 gang. you won't last out your term.
She clasped her hands and re
4 Earded him piteously. When a prett
i girl clasps her hands and regard
i you piteously, what are you goin
i 60 do?
But when he had kissed her thre
i times on the mouth she pushed hii
i away and cried distractedly. "Yo
4 mustn't! You mustn't! You don
i know what you're doing"
81 There. there" he said later h
lips pressed against her hair.
knew It would be all right once 20
81 let yourself 60"
She lifted her body slightly in h
arms. Tell me you love me, deai
est"
Then when he told her. she aske,
Then you'n do anything I asl
won't you? Promise?
Even as her arms ugkteued abol
his neck, he felt tightening at n
heart. And the latter was not