Evening star., 1923-07-15

see yCtir point, said Mundy. A slow
smile lit up his face. He put his gun
back in the scabbard. "Well, let's
! have It,"
i Let us cen be riding toward your
ranch gate while ye hear my offer,
! for when the sun reaches here we
should be seen--and yonder weary
bodies gain on us while Se stand
here dating"
; They rode on together.
First of it," MacGregor resumed,
we should know that not one OF
! these gentry behind have seen my
! face, the which I KEEP streectly COW
| cred durin' my brief stay IN Luna.
| Second, ye may care to know that
the bit stroke / pulled off in Luna
was even less than justice. For
within year and day good friend OF
| mine was there begowked and
| cozened by that same partnership
! yes and that wi treachery-of maif
| than ] regained for him by plain
| force at MONDAY. Third. for your
own self, IT is far known that you and
the Wyandotte Company and Steel
| foot Morgan are not agreeing verra
| we'll
/ any the worst of il, did you?'
! mo, but that they keep you well
/ occupied. So hear me now. l need
nae ask of ye if you have only but
! discreet persons aboot YEP
! Mundy laughed NO one at the
| ranch today but Hurley, the wafer
! mason. He's all right"
: y +
"VERRA weel. Do you send him
! away betimes on that beastie
atween your knees, and ] will be
watermason to you-the mair that I
| can run your steam pump as well
! as the best. The story will be that
the outlaw body passed by night,
| unseen. liftin' your night horse as ne
| fitted. and ieavin' this sorrel of mine.
Your man Hurley can join your out
| At and lose himself. For ! shall be
| blameless Maxwell. your water
mason-and who so eager TO run
down the runagate robber as he?
And when they see how ii is, that
their man has got clean away, these
men from Luna will be all for the
eating and sleeping"
Very pretty, and it can be done"
agreed Mundy. They will not be ex-
pecting their outlaw to call them in
to breakfast, certainly. But do
not see where l am TO sain anything"
You are TO hear, then" said the
| outlaw. II will fight your battles
| with you against all corners. Not
| murder, YOU mind. but plain warfare
against men Mt for war"
"A fghting man, and slow on the
draw"
II am that same Slow. ! cannot
deny it-slow. in compare with the
best. But man, I'm experienced. I'm
| judgma tical. and I'm fine on the lat
ter end. You have had word of me,
your own self. in Ei Psso. where,
indeed. l saw your face, though you
saw not mine. So now l offer you
the naked choice, peace or war. A
hundred miles and twenty. at the
least of it, 1 have now made in sax
| and-thirty hours-and blow high.
blow low. I ride no step beyond
yonder gate"
| II am decidedly inclined toward
| peace" said Clay Mundy. But as to
| your value in my little range war
you forgot to mention your name,
you know"
The name is MacGregor."
Not Sandy MacGregor? OF Black
Mountain"
That same. Plain shooting done
| neatly"
You're on" said Clay Mundy.
$50 MacGregor became Maxwell.
and Mundys. The search party came.
and swore, and slept. None mis-
| trusted Maxwell, that kindly and
capable cook, who sympathized so
feelingly with them. In the sevenyup
tournament organized after that
big sleep, Maxwell won the admira-
and they went home minglinK praises
of their new friend with execrations
of the escaped outlaw.
d OUND-UP season passed with no
AZ fresh outbreak of hostilfties.
After the steer-shipping. Mr.. Maxwell
had been given q mount, a rope and
a branding iron, and SO turned loose
to learn the range
One day in late October, the rain
turned to a binding storm and Max
well was glad to turn his back to
its fury and ride for shelter, at Pic
tured Rock. an overhanging cliff of
limestone, sheltered from three winds.
AS he turned the bend In the
canyon, Maxwell saw q great light
paused at the hill-foot and shouted:
"Hullo. the house! Will your dog
bite?"
"Hi!" It was q startled voice: a
slender figure in a yellow slicker ap-
peared beside the fire. Dogs dead.
poor fellow-starved to death! Come
on up"
The c l. A man rode up the short
zig-zag of the trail to the flre-lit
level. He took but one glance and
swept off his hat. for the face he saw
beneath the turned up sembrero was
the bright and sparkling face of
girl.
"You will be Miss Bennie May Nor
gan? 1 saw you In Magdalena at
the steer-shipping."
quite right. And you are Mr.
Sandy Maxwell. the now warrior for
Clay Mundy.'
Faces like ours are not easily
] forgot" said Maxwell.
Miss Bennie laughed. 81 will give
you a safe-conduct. Get down." She
sat upon her saddle blankets where
they were spread before the fire. and
leaned back against the saddle.
The c l. A man climbed heavily
down and strode to the fire, where he
stood dripping and silent.
We'll! How about that lunch: -"
demanded Miss Bennie sharply "It's