The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-18

NeW ! Ock.
 wonder. Tn lids off O. Rioville to- night"
 Evening had come on, and lights
 were glaring in the little sme1ter town down below on the edge of the foothills. Gibbs set a swifter pace, and we rattled down into the main street, which was crowded with min CTS. He insisted taking me into the Lion Palace. I htink the place
 was called. Anyway. it was long and narrow, and there were mirrors set into the walls on either side, so when you looked into them, the crowd seemed to be about four times as big.
 Reedy rolled off boisterously from group to group, and left me standing at the bar. And then a thing hap pened that hit me so hard I thought first it must be the dose of drink on
 my empty stomach, for hadn't eaten since morning.
 As I looked at the reflections in the mirror, a pair of eyes met mine,
 gleaming with latent hate out or q strong face. but one marked with lines of dissipation. I recognized it
 on the jump. The face of the man I had lashed with my riding-whip at the edge of the winding Woods Some where in this shifting noisy crowd he was watching me with some deadly purpose in his mind.
 I reeled back from the bar and glared into the crowd. Then back into the mirror again. I was trying to locate the man, but the nature of the reflection was deceptive. And now the face had disappeared. I plunged ino the crowd of miners and sme1ter hands, pushing them aside in spite of their curses and protests. They were a rough lot. but
 what did I care? I was we'll armed
 and prepared for anything. I was after the vicious devil who had threatened me-the man I suspected of shooting EmIna's father. If I'd met him I don't know what I'd done. But it was hard to edge | ones way through the length of the Lion Palace. A fresh rush of visi- | tors had swept in. Men were moving | in every direction. My effort 10 To- cate the fellow failed.
 1 The next minute I made a break | for the entrance door. There's al- | ways more sense in second thoughts. | Hadn't I sworn to keep out of trou-
 ble? I had too much at stake back | there at my home in Missouri. What 1 | law1ess mining town. where this man was probably strong in friends? I knew his hang-out, and could wait a more favorable time.
 I located my ponies at the hitch l ing rack, and rode at a hard pace i through the street of Rioville. The shouts, noises. and general disorder l of the night life died from my ears as I left the last house behind me. 111@ hoofs and the sound of a familiar voice that I cursed my luck in not 1 having been able to shake the jack miner.
 Whoa, there, buddy; what's the ! big rush?" shouted Reedy Gibbs. l He got no answer from me. The 1 sky was still light, and my eyes were l on the bare foothills of the range. l Only a few miles more and I'd leave l the road and strike across the hills 1 in the direction of the pass that would lead me across the mountains of Black Rock range.
 i Gibbs began to grumble, and I saw | the drinks he had taken on board had made him a bit ugly. "Yo're actin | blame short. there" he remonsrrated Listen, buddy" he continued thick ! ly: "Yo' an mes haidin' for the same place. I know more'n what yo' relckOn.'
 tWhat do you mean?" I asked. The other drove his bronco closer to mine. and, leaning over he nut l tered: EI know yore business, buddy. 1 Tore haided for jack. Yo' got tn chart. I ain't disputin' no claim. but 1 let me in with yo'. Sway to do it." 1 I refined in my ponies with a jerk l at that, I can tell you. Here was a | total stranger who knew about More | hard's chart. My mind flew back to l that other fellow in the Lion Palace. l What was I up against, anyhow? | Were these men in cahoots? l I sat for moment glaring the jack miner. ''We quit right here" I said.
 You pick the road you want to go." | Turning the heads of my ponies to | the right, I left the road and struck | off across the rough country.
 (To Be Continued Tomorrow.)