Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-01

well, L reckon you've kinda up
set my plans, EN-. Course l was "a
coddin' you. l didn't aim to hurt you
none, though I'd "a liked to have
talked you outa the water-holes."
The big cattleman ignored this
absolutely. "Have a team hitched
up right away. Shorty will tend to
that. Bob, tie up yore friends haid
with a handkerchief"
Hart thrust his revolver back into
its holster. He was willing to trust
Crawford to dominate this group of
lawless foes, every one of whom
held some deep grudge against him.
you'll drive us, Steelman," an
nounced Crawford.
Me-" screamed the leader of. the
other faction. You got the most
nerve l eve did see"
you'll drive" the cattleman re-
peated steadily.
The weak spot in Steelman's
leadership was that he was person.
ally not game.
"Oh, well, what's it matter? We
! can talk things over on the way. Me,
I'm not lookin' for trouble none"
he said, his small black eyes moving
| restlessly to watch the effect Of this
on his men.
CHAPTER VIII
Joyce came flying to her fathers
arms. She threw herself at Craw-
ford with a moaning little sob.
"Oh. Dad . . . Dad . Dad"
she cried, and her slender arms
went round his neck.
you're not . . hurt, she Deg
ged through her tears.
Not none. Never was huskier.
But 1 got a boy out here that's beat
UP some. Come in, Dave-and you,
Bob"
Dave was up and ready to say
goodbye within forty-eight hours.
He was still a bit under par, a trifle
washed-out, but he wanted to take
the road in pursuit of Miller and
Doble, who had again decamped in
a hurry with the two horses they
had stolen.
'They had the broncs hid up Frio
Canon way, l reckon" explained
Hart. Were not liable to find them
tain pocket"
might. Les take a whirl at it
anyhow urged Dave.
Hate to give up your paint boss,
don't ?" said Bob with his
friendly grin. "Ain't blamin' you
none whatever. I'd sleep on those
fellows trail if Chiquito was mine"
When Joyce was in the room
where Dave lay on the lounge the
young man never looked at her, but
he saw nobody else.
What took him by the throat was
her goodness. She was enshrined
in his heart as a young saint. The
sweetness of her affection for rough
EN- Crawford, the dear, maternal
tenderness with which she ruled her
three-year-old brother Keith, moth
erless since the week of his birth.
the kindness of the luminous brown
eyes to the uncouth stranger thrown
upon her hospitality: Dave treasured
them all as signs of angelic grace,
and they played upon his heart
strings disturbingly.
Yes, we all want you to come
back she said with a charming
smile. II think you saved fathers
life. We can't tell you how much
we owe you. Can We, Keith?"
He shifted awkwardly to the
other foot, flushing to the hair while
he buried her soft little hand in his
big freckled one. The girl showed
no shyness. Seventeen is sometimes
50 much older than twenty.
Emerson Crawford sauntered in,
big and bluff and easy-going. Hit
tim the TRAIL. boys? Hope you find
the thieves. They're treacherous
devils. Don't take no chances with
'em. I left an order at store for
you to draw on me for another pair
of boots in place of those you lost
in the brush, Dave. Get a good pair,
son. They're on me-"
Continued in our next issue)