The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-01-31

CONTINUED from PaGe One)
make camp last night. They kept on
travelin'. If you ask me, they're movin'
yet and they've got our broncs with
EN-"
This had already occurred to Dave
as a possibility. ANY proof he ask
ed quietly.
"A-plenty. Threefour times We cut
tran Of five horses. Two Of the five
are bein ridden. My Four-Bits hoss
has got a broken front hoof. so has
one of the five
"Movin' fast, are they?'
You're dam whistlin'. They're hivin'
off for parts unknown Malapi first Off
looks like They got friends there
"Steelman and his outfit will pro
tect them while they hunt cover and
make a getaway
"He was probably lynn. You can't
tell Point IS we've got to get busy
NV notion is we'd better make bee
line for Malapi right away proposed
Bob
"Well travel all night. No use vast
ing any more time
Within an hour they were on the
road
In the late afternoon they rode
back to the trail through a draw, the
ponies wading fetlock deep in yellow
red. blue and purple flowers. The
mountains across the valley looked in
the dry heat as though made of pa
pier-mache.
CHAPTER V
The two d Bar Lazy + punchers
ate supper at Delmonico's. The res
taurant was owned by Wong Chung
A cantonese celestial did the cooking
and another waited on the table. The
price Of n meal was twenty-five cents
regardless Of what one ordered.
Dave helped himself to bread from
a plate stacked high with thick slices
He buttered it and began to eat Hart
did the same. Just about to attack
a second slice. Dave stopped to stare
at his companion. Hart was looking
past his shoulder with alert intentness
Dave turned his head. Two men,
leaving the restaurant, We're paying
the cashier.
The men were George Doble and a
cowpuncher known as Shorty, broad
heavy-set little man who worked for
Bradley Steelman, owner Of the Rock
ing Horse ranch.
They paid their bill and passed into
The street. Immediately the sound OF
a clear, high voice arrested their at.
tcntion. 1t vibrated indignation and
dread.
What have you done with my
father" came sharply to them on the
wings OF the soft night wind.
A young woman was speaking. She
was in n buggy and was talking to
two men on the sdewalk-the two
men who had preceded the range.
riders out of the restaurant.
"Why, Miss, we amt done a thing
TO him-nothin a-tall." The man
Shorty was speaking, and in a tone Of
honeyed conciliation.
That's a lie." The voice OF the
girl broke for an instant to sch. "Dc
yor think I don't know you're Brad
Steeiman's handy man, thar you do
his meanness for him when he snaps
his fingers?"
"Is your paw missin?" I'm right
sorry 10 hear that" the cowpuncher
countered with suave irony. His
glance followed Doble, who was NOV
ing slowly down the street.
The girls face, white and shining
In the moonlight. leaned out of the
buggy toward the retreating vaquero.
Don't you dare hurt my father!
Don't you dare" She warned. The
words choked in her tense throat
Shorty continued to back away.
"Youre excited, miss. Youll be
sorry you talked this away to me-" he
said with unctuous virtue. Then he
turned and went straddling down the
walk.
Quickly Dave gave directions to his
friend. Duck back into the restau-
rant Bob. Get a pociSetful Of dry
rice from the Chink. Trail those
birds 10 their nest and find where
they roost. Scatter rice behind you,
and I'll trail along later. First off, ]
got to stay and talk with Miss Joyce"
A moment later Hart was in the
restaurant Communicating rice and
Sanders was lifting his dusty hat 10
the young woman IN the buggy.
III can help you any, Miss joyce
he said
Beneath dark and delicate brows
she frowned at him. "who are you?"
Dave Sanders my name is. I reck'
on you never heard tell Of me. punch
cows for your father"
Her luminous, hazelhrown eyes
steadiod IN his, read the honesty Of his
simple boyish heart.
'You heard what said 20 that
MANI"
part of st."
"wen. It's true. I know Il IS, bu,
! cant prove H."