The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-02-06
CHAPTER TX
Gun.irht Pas

The pursuit took tho riders Across
wide. unduiating plain above which
danced the dry heat ~ the dnaerf.
out OF the fiery furnace Of the
plain they came In late afternoon 10
the uplsnds. piunginE into a land
Of deep R0rgcn and great chamrs,
When nigh, fell they built a fire
Of niggcrhrads and after they had
eaten found ia glow grateful Tor
they were wen up In the hills now
and tho night air was sharp.
In the sandy desert they had FOL.
lowed easily tho trail OF the thieves.
but as they had SO; into The hills
tho tracks bad become fainter and
fewer. The young men discussed
this while they lay In their blankets
IN water Quilted ruich no, too near
the fire they had built.
Like huntin' for needle In a hay.
stack" said Bob. Their traits done
poterrd out. They might be In any
one OF hundred pockets right close.
or they might have bore way Off TO
tho right All they got to do IL hole
up and not build any fires"
Fat chance We got admitted
Dave. Unless they build fire like
We done Say. Ia n heap rather be
slecpin' here than by tina; niger.
head biaz. tonight. They might creep
up ana try 10 gun us"
I. Before they had been In the saddle
an hour next day the TRAN of the
thieves was lost. The purrurerS spent
TN sunset trying a. pick Il up again.
The third day was wasted In aimiraa
drifting among the deflles Of the
mountains.
mo use. Bob said his friend
while they were cooking supper
They've made their getaway. Might
ne well drtft hack TO Maiapl. don't
you reckon
Looks like. We're only wasiin'
our time here"
The court.hous. COCK a, Maispi
said tho time was midnight when
the dust covered men and horses
drew into tho town.
The tired men slept TN noon. At
the Deimonico Restaurant they found
Buck Byington and steve Russell.
The trail herd had been driven In an
hour before.
''Dug's psyin' off today. boys
Russell told them. You'll find him
round to the Boston Emporium
The foreman settled first with
Hart. after which he turned % the
page in his pocket notebook that held
the account % Sanders.
You've drew one months pay.
That leaves you three months. less
tho week you've fooled away after
the pinto
Greet admitted Dave.
"I1l dock you seven and half for
that. Three times thirty's ninety.
Take seven and half fr'm that
leaves eighty-two fifty
Hold on objected Dave. MY
pays thirty-five a MONTH"
FIRST knew Of u said the fore
man. eyes bleak and harsh. "Thiriy's
what you're gettin'."
II came in as top hand Mt thirty
five"
you did not denied Dobie fatty.
The young man flushed. You
can't run that on me. Dug. I'll not
stand for IT,"
''EiRhfy.two fifty IL what you get,
answered the other dogrnaucally.
"You can take II or go 10 hell"
He began to sort out a number OF
small checks with which to pay the
puncher. At that time the currency
OF the country consisted largely OF
cattlemen's checks which passed
from hand to hand til they were
,yriyoy WITH dirt
wen see what the old man says
about TINT" retorted Dave hotly.
"Ail right" sneered the foreman.
Run with yore tale OF grief 10 craw-
ford. Tell him / been piclSin' on you.
hear you've got 10 be quite pet
OF his"
This brought Dave ND with short
turn. He could not take advantage
OF the service he had done the owner
OF the u Bar Lazy X 20 ark him 10
interfere In his behalf with the fore-
man. Doble might be cypicaily do
frnuding him OF part Of what vas
due him in wages. Dave would have
10 fight that out with him for him
self
I'm no pet of anybody" he flung
out. "Gimmr that money. II aln't
= square deal. but I reckon I can
stand IT,"
II reckon vou'il have 10. It's neck
meat or nothin'." gruntcd The fore