Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-02-09

III
might pass it on to you and Bob,
Trough 1t isn't to go farther. les
about that ten thousand dollars he
paid the bank when it called his loan.
he got the money from Buck Bying-
ton"
Buck" exclaimed the young man.
Il know" she explained ''Thc
money wasn't his. He's executor or
something for the children of his
dead brother. When he heard Dad
was so desperately hard up for cash
nc let him have the money. Now it
has been Strengthened out. That's
why Dad couldn't tell where he got
the money Buck would have been
in trouble"
81 sec"
A shadow darkencd the doorsill
and Bob Hart stepped into the office.
His first words were ominous, but
before he spoke both of those look
ing at him he knew he was the bearer
Of bad news. There was in his
boyish face an unwonted gravity.
Sire in the chaparral, Dave, and
going strong
Sanders spoke one word. "Wherc?'
Started in Bear Canon, but it's
iulaped out into the hills"
joyce guessed the situation was
desperate one as Dad in danger?"
she asked.
Hart answered. "No-not now,
anyhow
what can | do to help?"
"We'H have hundreds of men in
tie field probably, if this fire has a
real start" Dave told her. Wen
need food and coffce-lots of it. Or
ganize the women. Make meat sand
wichcs-hundreds OF them. And
send out to the Jackpot dozens OF
ee-pots. Your job is to keep the
workers well fed. Better send ban
dages and salye, in case come get
burnt"
Sanders was on the road inside OF
twenty minutes, group of horse
men galloping at his heels. Through
the smoke the sun was blood-red.
The air was heavy and heated.
From the fire line Crawford came
to meet these new allies. Were
holdin' her here. It's been nip an
tuck"
Emerson Crawford was holding his
ground, though barely holding il.
"h'ow are things up above?" he
asked in hoarse whisper.
Good. We held the check-line.'
See it through. Say, son, look
who's here" His thumb hitched to-
ward his right shoulder.
Dave looked down the line of
blackened, grimy fire-fighters and
his eye fell on Shorty. He was still
wearing chaps, but his chihuahua
hat had succumbed long ago. Mani
testify the man had been on the
fighting line for some hours.
Doesn't he know about the re-
ward?"
"Yes. He was hidin' in Malapi
when the call came for men. Says
he's no gutter, whatever elese he is.
You bet he amt He's worth two Of
| most men at this work. Soon as VIC
get through he'll be on the dodge
again. He's a good sport, anyhow.
I'll say that for him."
CHAPTER XXI
When Shorty separated from
Doble in Frio Canon he rode incon-
spicuously to a tendejon where he
could be snugly hidden from the pub
lie gaze and yet meet few pals"
whom he could trust at least as long
as he could keep his eyes on them.
Shorty was an outlaw and bad
man. He had killed, and might at
any time kill again. To save the
Jackpot from destruction he would
not have made turn Of the hand.
But Shorty was a cattleman. He
was loyal to his hand that paid him.
he stood by his pals, and he believed
in and after his own fashion loved
cattle and the life of which they
were the central fact. TIE destroy
the range feed wantonly was a crime
so nefarious that he could not believe
.Doblc guilty of it.. And yet
He could not let the matter lie in
doubt, He left the tendejon and
rode to Steelman's house.
O.