The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-30

ia length in the lead and gaining AZ
ievery stride. Daylight showed be-
tween them when they crossed the
line. Chiquito had been optfun by
a speedler horse.
CHAPTER III.
Hart came up to his friend grin.
ming swell, you old horn.toad, We
got no kick comm. Chiqlito run
a mighty pretty race. Only trouble
was his laigs wasn't long enough"
The owner Of the pony nodded, a
lump In his throat. He was not
thinking about his thirty.tlve dol.
lars: but about the futile race into,
which he had allowed his little
beauty TO be trapped. Dave would
not be twenty-one TIL coming grass,
and 1t still hurt his boyish pride
to think that his favorite had been
beaten.
The voice Of George Doble cut in,
openly and Extensively jubila1t.
It'll tell you now that broomtail
never had a chanco to beat Wits.
key Bill"
.Yore boss can run, seh,p admit.
ted Dave.
He didn't have to take the kinks
out OF his legs to beat that plug
You get our money" said Hart
quietly. "Ain't that enough without
rubin It in?"
The usual giveandtake OF gay
repartee was missing at supper
that night. What hurt was that
they had been t.icked, led like
lambs to the killing. None OF them
doubted now that the ~pack.horse
OF the gamblers was q ringer"
These men had deliberately crossed
the path OF the trail outfit IN order
to take from the vaqueros their
money.
Tho punchers were suiky. Instead
of a fair race they had heen up
against an open-and:shut proposi.
ton, as Russell phrased It. The
1eers OF Doble did not improve
their tempers.
They say ones born every min.
ute, AID. Dawged II / don't believe
It." he sneered.
Audibly Hart murmured his sen.
timents aloud. I'm liable TO tell
these birds what I think OF 'em,
Steve, II thoy don't spenI quite
some time layin' OF u.s."
Don't tell US out loud. We
might hear YOU" advised Doble IN.
lsolently.
I'm regards TO that, I'd sure wor
ry II you did"
Dave was at that moment return
ltng to his place with q cup OF hot
coffee. By some perverse trick Of
fate his glance fell on Doble'g sin
ster face OF malignant triumph. His
self.control snapped, and In an in.
slant the whole course Of his life
was DETECTED from the path II
would otherwise have taken. With
q flip he tossed the tin cup so that
tho hot coffee soused the crook.
"Goddelmighty!" screamed Doble
leaping 10 his feet. He reached for
his 'forty.five, just as Sanders
closed with him.
Miller, with surprising agility for
q fat man. got to his feet and
launched himself at the puncher.
Dave flung the smaller of his op.
pohents back against Steve, who
was sitting tailor fashion beside
him. The gunman tottered and fell
over Russell, who lost no time in
pinning his hands to the ground
while Hart deity removed the re.
volver from his pocket.
Swinging round to face Miller,
Dave saw at once that the biz man
had chosen not to draw his gun. In.
spite OF his fat the gambler was a.
rough.and tumble fighter Of parts,
The extra weight had come in re
cent years, but underneath It lay
roped muscles and heavy bones.
Instantly Dave plunged at him.
They went down locked together,
Dave underneath. The puncher
knew that II he had room Miller
would hammer his face to. a pulp.
He drew himself close to the barrel
body, arms and legs wound tight
like hoops.
Miller gave a yell OF pain,
"Lemme loose!" shrieked the
man o.. TOP. my Gowd, you're'kill.
in met"
Dave had not the least. idea what
was disturbing Miller's -peade Of
mind, but whatever It was moved.
to, his advantage. He clamped
tighter, working his heels into an.
other secure position. The big man
beloved with pain.
What's all this?" demanded an
tmrcrious voice.
Miller was torn bowling from thu
arms and legs that bound him and.
Dave found himself jerked roughly
TO his feet. The big rawboned fore.
man was glazing at him above his
large hook nose.