The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-09

AAEs
Ready, Shortly" he asked.
The squat man nodded an assent
and followed him over the summit
into the valley beyond.
y
Brad Steeman sat hunched before
q fire, head drooped low between his
high, narrow shoulders. The rest
less black eyes in the dark hatchet
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 sidled To the door and
opened it cautiously A man pushed
in and closed the door
Did you come here to make trou-
Bile, Dug"
NO. / came to collect Il bill"
so? Didn't know / owed you any
money right now. How much is it?"
"A thousand dollars"
Brad shot "a quick. sidelong look
at him. "NNhas wrong now, Dug?"
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, | reckon
nothin a-tall Only that this mo'nin'
l put a match 10 about Il coupla
hundred thousand dollars belongin'
TO Crawford Sanders and Hart"
Eagerly Steclman clutched his arm
You did it, them"
Didn't ! say I'd do it?' snapped
Doble, irrtably. "D'ya ever know
me rue back on a bargain?"
shorty with you?"
"Te was an he wasn't. I did il
while he wasn't lookin. shorty's
got soft spot in him. Game enough.
but with queer notions. Some time
I'm liable to have to Doble left
his sentence suspended in air.
What's wrong with him now
Dug?'
wen, he's been wrong ever since
/ had to bump off Tim Harrigan..
Talks about fair break"
what about that fire? Sure it
got a good start?"
II looked back from across the
valley. 1t was travelin' good"
I'm get you the money first thing
in the mornin'," promised Steelman.
Doble poured himself a large drink
and took it at u swallow. l would,
Brad"
Doble drank steadily throughout
the night. He remained steady on
his feet. growing ugIer and more
reckless every hour.
Tied to Doble because he dared
not break away from him, Steel.
mans busy brain began TO plot a
way to take advantage of this mans
weakness for liquor.
90 course l know, Dug, you're a
better man Than Sanders or Craw-
ford either, but Malapi don't know
it-yet.
I'm show 'emg cried the ennged
bully.
I'm bet you will. No man lvin'
can make a fool outa Dug Doble,
rustic the evidence TO send him to
the pen, snap his fingers at him,
ana on top o. that steal his girl
That's what I told"
Doble leaned across the table and
caught in his great fist the wrist of
Steehnan. Ills bl5odshot eyes glared
into those Of the man opposite. What
girl?' he demanded hoarsely.
Steelman looked blandly innocent
Didn't YOU know, Dug? Maybe
oughtn's 10 - mentioned it,"
Fingers like ropes Of steel tight
ened on the wrist.
Don't do that, Dug' Em Craw
ford's girl"
what about her and Sanders"
"Why, he's courtin' her-didn't you
know"
when did he begin?' Doble slam
media hamlike fist ON the table. spit
it out, or I'm tear yore arm ,ff."
CHAPTER XXI.
) carpcnter working on the roof
Of "a derrick for Jackpot Number Six
called down 20 his mates:
Fire in the hills, looks like. ]
see smoke
The contractor was AN oldtimcr.
He knew the danger Of fire in the
chapraul at this season Of the year.
Crawford borrowed without permits.
sion Of the owner the nearest saddle
horse and put it to a lopc.
From the tower Hart descended
swiftly. He gathered together all
workers and equipped them with
shovels. picks, brush. h.hooks. saws and
axes. To each one he gave also
gunnysack.
The foot party followed Crawford
int, the chappaul. making for the
hills that led go Bear Canon. 4 wind
was stirring, aud as they topped a
rise Sc struck hot ON the cheeks. A
flake Of ash fcll ON Bob's hand
Crawford met Them at the mouth
OF the canon.
"sho's rpEar.n Bob Got TOO
Dlg start to holt cut Won clear
firebpak where the glch narrows
just above here aud do our rRhun
thcrc"
Tho wind Was stftcr now and the
fury ~ the fire olusDr Tho flames
ruamd down thee canon like "a blast
furnace. Driven back hN the intense
heat. tho mon retrclted across the
break and cmng TO their imo Al.
ready their lungs wvrc sore from in.
haling sm1kc and their throats were
inflMned. A pine, its pityhy trunk
ahhze, crashed down across the fire.
trail and caught in the fork Of "a
tree beyond Instantly the foliage
leaped to red flame.
Bob Elllonod into tthe canon and
flung himself from the horse.
"She's iumpin' outa the vulch
above. Too late TO- hd,r her Off We
better run trail along the top o.
the ridge. don't YOU reckon he said
Yes, son." agreed Crawford. we
can Just about hold her here. 1tu
be- hours before | can spare man
FOR the ridge. We got IT, get help IT,
hurry. You ride TO town and