The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-02-17

upon u before q, could 10 seen. Its
back door looked down upon tho en-.
trance 10 canyon. This was fenced
across 10 make "a corral
The cattirman and the cowpunchcr
looked az each other without verbal
comment. 4 mes,ag, better not put
into words flashed from ono to the
other. This looked like the haunt OF
ruAtlcrN.
Horses wcrr browsing nioepny In
the corral Dave siid from the sad.
die and spoke to Crawford In a iow
voice.
"t'm going TO have look AZ those
horses" he said. unfaatcning hts
tore from the ticnios.
Tho oattlcman nodded. Ito drew
from is case beneath hts leg a rifle
and hold y aero~a the pommei.
Dave walked and sid down ia.
rubele % the steel hillside. clanh.
cred down a rough face Of rock. aud
dropped into tho corral.
Ills glance swept over the horses.
searched the hoofs Of each. II found
80" --sANts - h+hAN f'AR AffliWks
The cowpunchcrs rope whln-d
thru the air and settled down upon
tho shoulders ~ tho animal The
reldinE went sun fishing as a formal
protest against tho Ariat. then sur
rendered tamcly. Dave patted II
gently. atrokea tho neck. and spoke
softly rraSsuuuR words. lie picked
up ono 81 the front feet and exam.
insd the shoe This was badly worn.
and on tho left aida part 81 u had
broken of.
4 man came % th. back door OF
tho cabin and stretched In a long
and luxuriant yapn.
Prom tho aspens cams down
Crawford's voice. cool and fronic
Much Obliged. shorty. Leave EN-
right up and save trouble"
The squat cowpuncher'H eyes
moved back 20 the aspcns and found
there the owner Of tho u Bar Lazy
II ~wha'dya wantT.' he growicd
sullsnly.
'Yoa--just now. step right ou,
from tho house. shorty. Tha'a right.
Anybody else in the houscT"
~So."
"You'n be luekier - you tell the
truth"
I'm tcilin' H."
Hope 80. Dave. step forward and
get his alx.shoofcr. Keep him be.
tween you and the house. n any.
thing happens 90 you I'm goln' TO
kill him right now
shorty shivercd. hardy villain
tho he was. There had been nobody
In the house when he left ~. but he
had been expecting some one shortly.
II his partner arrived and began
shooting. he knew that Crawford
would drop him In his tracks. Ills
throat went dry as a lime kiln. lie
wanted 10 shout out 10 tho man who
might be inside not 10 shoot nj any
cost But he was "A game and loyal
ruffian. lie would not spoil his con
fcderate'a chance by botraying him.
III he said nothing. the man might
come. realize the situation. and slip
away iinobserved.
Sanders took tho mans gun and
ran his hand over his thick body TO
make sure he had no concealed
weapon.
I'm going 10 back away. You
come after me. step by step. so
close / could touch you with tho
gun. ordered Dave
The man followed him az directed.
his hands stiil in tbs air. Hts captor
kept him in line between him and
the house door.
The cattlcnan swung down from
tho saddle. "Sure wen light and
come in. Shorty. No. you first I'm
right at yorc heels with gun pokin'
into yore ribs. Don't make any mis-.
take. You'd never have time to ex.
plain H."
The room was empty. except for
the three men now entering.
you live here. Shortly" asked
Crawford CURLY.
Yes" The answer was sulky and
reluctant.
"Alone2~
yes"
WHY" snapped the oattleman.
Shorty's defiant eyes met his.
MY business"
Mine, too. III bet a dollar. n
you're nestin' in these hills you
caynt have but one business"
prove ~ Prove IT, retorted
shorty angrily.
some day-not know" Crawford
turned to Sanders. what about