The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-03

the fatal SHOT had taken effect as
close range.
+ The jury found him guilty yot
murder in the second degree. The
Judge sentenced him to ten years
in the penltentiary.
When Bob Hart came to say
goodby before Dave was removed
to Canon City, the young range
r:der almost broke down.
We're gonna stay with this,
Dave. You know Crawford. He
goes through when he starts. Soon
as there's chance well hit the
governor for a pardon. It's a
damn shame, old pal. That's what
It 49,"
Dave nodded. A lump in his
throat interfered with speech.
The OIL man lent me money to
buy Chiqulto, and I'm gonna keep
the pinto till you get out" con-
ttnued Bob. zone thing more.
Mlller's on the way back to NAL
apt. II he don't get a term for
hawss-stealin', I'm a liar"
CHAPTER XIV
The warden handed him a ticket
back to Denver, and with It a ster-
eotyped little lecture of platitudes.
Sanders walked slowly out of the
Office and through the door in the
wall that led back TO life. He was
free. Tomorrow was his. All the
tomorrows Of all the years Of his
life were waiting for him. But tho
fact stirred in him no emotion. AS
he stood In the dry Colorado sun
shine his heart was quite dead.
From ono job to another Dave
drtfted. His stubborn pride, due
in part to a native honesty that
would not let him live under false
pretenses. in part to a bitterness
that had become logged defiance.
kept him out OF good places and
forced him to do heavy, unskillel
labor that brought the poorest pay.
Yet he saved money, bought
himself good. cheap clothes, and
found energy to attend night
school where he studied stationary
and mechanical engineering.
One day he smiled grimly and
began to pack. When he left, the
mpressman took his trunk to the
station. The ticket which Sanders
bought showed Malapi as his des-
tination.
In the carly morning Dave
turned to rest his cramped limbs.
He was In day coach, and his
sleep through the night had been
broken.
AT the junction he took the
stage for Malapi. Already he could
see that he was going into new
world, one altogether different
from that he had last seem hero,
These men were not cattlemen.
They talked the Vocabulary OF oil.
They had the shrewd, keen look OF
the driller and the wildcatter.
At Malapi Dave descended from
the stage into a town he hardly
knew. Everywhere oil dominated
the place.
A branch line OF a trans-contin-
entail railroad was moving across
the desert to tap the new oil field .
Houses rose overnight. Mule
leans 1tngled IN and out'freighting
supplies 10 Malapt and from there
to the fields.
Up the street team OF half.
broken broncos came on the gal
lop. From the blackboard stepped
lightly a straightforward, we'll
muscled young fellow.
"Daye! Where in Mexico You
been, old alkali? We been lookin'
for you everywhere"
In Denver, Bob"
Sanders spoke quietly. HIS eyes
went straight into those of Bob
Hart to see whatwas written there.
He found only glad and Joyous
welcome, neither embarrassment
nor any sign OF shame.
"But why didn't you write and
let US know" Bob grew mildly
profane in his warmth. eve d idn't
know when the governor was goIn'
to act. Or we'd "a been right at
the gate me or EN- Crawford"
tContnued In Our Next Issue1