Evening journal., 1922-02-09

iht squat man nodded an assent /
and followed him over the summit
into the valley beyond.
Brad Steelman sat hunched before !
a fire. head dropped low between his /
high, narrow shoulders. The rest
less black eyes in the dark Ratchet !
face were sunk deeper now than in |
the old days In them was begin
ming to come the hunted look OF the |
gray wolf he resembled.
Steelman sided to the door and |
opened It cautiously. A man pushed
in and closed the door.
did you come here to make
trouble, Dug?"
mo" I came to collect a bill"
$50? Didn't know I owed you
any money right now. How much
is it,"
"A thousand dollars"
Brad shot a quick, sidelong look al
him. "wha's wrong now. Dug2"
The ex-foreman OF the ID Bar Lazy
r took his time to answer. He
enjoyed the suspense under which
his ally was held. why, 1 reckon
nothin-a-tall Only that this mo'nin'
I put match to about a coupla
hundred thousand dollars belongin'
TO Crawford. Sanders and Hart"
Eagerly steelman clutchcd his
arm. "You did II, then2"
Didn't I say ia do it2" snapped
Doble, irritably, "Dya ever know
me rue back on a bargain"
shorty with your
sHe was. an he wasn't. 7 did IL
while he wasn't lookin' Shorty's
cot a soft spot in him. Game enough.
INIT with queer notions. Some time
I'm liable to have to" Doble left
his sentence suspended in air
whats wrong with him now.
Dug?"
well. he's been wrong ever since
had TO bump Off Tim Harrigan.
Talks about a fair break"
sVhat about that fre2 Sure II
got a good start2"
81 looked back from across the
valley. It was travelin' good"
"Tn get you the money hrst
thing in the mornin',' promised
Steeiman.
Doble poured himself a large
drink and took It at a swallow. !
would, Brad"
Doble drank steadily throughout
the night. He remained steady on
his feet, growing uglier and more
reckless every hour.
Tied 10 Doble because he dared
not break away from him. Steel
mans busy brain began 20 plot
wav 10 take advantage OF this man
weakness for LIQUOR.
60 course I know. Dug, you're
a better man than Sanders or Craw-
ford either. but Malapi don't know
it-yet.
.ern show 'eml" cried the enraged
bully.
"Iu bet you will. No man Twin
-car make a fool outa Dug Doble,
rustic the evidence TO send him to
the pen. snap his fingers at him,
and on top o. that steal MS girl
That's what told
Doble leaned across the table and
caught in his great fist the wrist OF
steelman. His bloodshot eyes glared
into those OF the man opposite.
..'What girl?" he demanded hoarsely.
steelman looked blandly innocent.
.Didn't YOU know. Dug2 Maybe l
ourhtn't to "a mentioned It,"
= Fingers like ropes OF steel tight
ened on the wrist.
"Don't do that. Dugl En- Craw-
-ford's girl" 80,
'0what about her and Sanders ?!
"Whv. he's oourtin' her-6dn't
you know"
when did he begin?" Doble
slammed n hamlike fist on the table.
"spit it out. or I'll tear yore arm
off"
CHAPTER XXI.
carponter working on the roof
-of n derrick for Jackpot Number
SIX called down 10 his mates;
"Flre in the hills, looks like.
= see smoke
The contractor was an old-timer.
He knew the danger OF hre in the
-chaparral at this season OF the year
Crawford borrowed without per
mission OF the owner the nearest
saddle horse and put it to lope'
From the tower Hart descended
swiftly He gathered together an
workers and equipped them with
-shovels. picks. brush-hooks, saws
and axes. To each one he gave also
a eunnysack.
The foot party followed Crawford
into the chaparrai. making for the
hills that led to Bear Canon. a
wind was stirring, and as they top
med a rise It struck hot on theii
checks. A fake OF ash fell on Bob''
hand.
Crawford met them at the mouth
OF the canon.
shes rip-r'arin', Bobl Got toe
big a start to beat out Wen cleai
"a fre-break where the gulch mar
rows Just above here and do oui
hghtin' there"
The wind was sitter now and thu
fury OF the fire closer. The iamei
roared down the canon like a bias
furnace. Driven back by the intense
head the men retreated across TIT
break and chung 10 their line. Al
ready their lungs we're sore from in
haling smoke aud their throats wer'
-innamed. A pine, Us pltchy trunl
nblaze. crashed down across tn
Gre-traI and caught in the fork o
tree beyond Instantly the foliag
-ieaned TO red fame.
Bob galloncd into the canon ant
sung himself from the horse.
shes iumpin' outa the gulcl
sbove Too late to head her on
We better run a trail along the tol
O. the ridge, don't you reckon?' h
- SAID.
80 aNa.rs1