Evening journal., 1923-02-17
(Continud From Our Last Issue)

llueIS a. IdIdulSe 10 dlScuSS Lne
Rustler--remembered the tight
Tipped quiet concerning that night
al Hunnewelfs.
The pain in her heart at Red
stars loss had been a bagatelle
compafed TO the black anguish that
lay there now!
The Black Rustier Velantrie-
the slim, the vital, the tenderl Vet-
antrie OF the sparkling eyesi This
then, was what he had meant when
he had asked her TO "let him go"-
was what Father Hillalre had meant
when he said II I should tell you
something that would make you
less happy'-this was the hldeous
meaning OF It ALL"
And Velantrie himself sat there
with his eyes upon her face and
said not a word. At last she wet her
lips and turned TO him-and the
man cursed inwardly az the anguish
on her face
''Tell-me." she said thickly.
that it-is-not true! Deny"
Velantrie turned his gaze from
her and looked out along the plains.
The blue eyes narrowed. the stern
look that the Border knew came
hard about his mouth.
NO" he said at last. 'T-do not
deny"
vsrs face worked and she put out
n trembling hand. Always II seemed
she was reaching. consciously or
uneonsciously. for this man.
He thought a moment.
No" he said. can not"
Her lips were shaking. the tears
were yelling in her dark eyes. all
but spilling over.
Even So" she said. you are my
man. Goodby"
without a word Velantrie stuck
spurs TO the horse beneath him and
shot forth TO the hot plain-and
oblivion.
And Val Harmon at the trails foot
laid her face down in Redoloud's
name and fell 10 weeplng-the low.
deep weeping that comes but rarely !
10 strong and sustained natures.
CHAPTER gVII
Briston Does some Thinking
Many things were brewing in the |
rangeland. Among the ranchers the |
talk had crystallized into prepared |
ness. Meetings had been held, squads |
apportioned for different parts OF !
the country under this rancher and !
that 20 patrol and TO watch. a sys-
tenn OF e-signals-farthest reach
ing sign-speech OF the plains
agreed upon.
At santa Leandra, Lolo Sanchez /
studied a man with her cunning I
eyes and cast the light OF her smiles /
that way-and the man was none /
other than that huge bulk OF laugh
ter and mysterious wealth. Bride
man. Amazed, fiattered out Of all /
reason, the bearded giant came often !
10 Leandra and he tied his horse at
Sanchez's fence, TO stand In the
shadow OF the cottonwoods and talk
with the girl.
And far in the rugged Businesses
Of the Blind Trail Hills the days
wore by with WEAKNESS. In Red
stars hidden glade the path by the
binding walls was growing deeper,
the top sapling OF the inset gate was
thinned and ragged. Haunting long
white fiber banners TO the breeze, for
the stallion never ceased his con-
slant gnawing at the hindering bars.
As for the king himself, he was lean
with the endless fret. hard as nails
with the everlasting runs about the
walls. and his eager eyes were hol-
low with despair.
At Paradise the old free life had
passed beneath a shadow, for VAL
the light OF the rancho, was dim
with strange depression. There (
was no laughter on her lips now, no
pretty tricks delighted the riders {
coming in or going out. Instead a I
mortal sickness was in her long !
dark eyes, n tremble was always ,
just behind her lips. =
Belle. the keenest heart at Para !
disc beside her daughters. knew .
that something was vastly wrong ,
and she made one gentle probe 10 ]
find its cause. I
"Val, darling" she said, there's a :
shadow in your sky. Can you tell {
your mother?" I
And Val standing by a widow in 7
the twilight where the fine-leaved {
vine grew thick, saw the crimson 9
and purple wells waver through her I
slow tears. 7
It's not a shadow. Belle" she 7
sald. TITS the end OF the world
seems llke-but cannot tell t-not
even 70 you, for there's a secret with 4
/ that's not mine"
But II all Paradise knew that Val
vas in trouble, there was one who
rave Il little thought-the boss him
self. John Harmon was a strange
nan these days, who had always
,een so TO his subordinates. He r
ieemed strung like a singing wire, Z
uT OF energy, blazing with zest Of /
lie that made him marked among 7
he slower blood OF more youthful ;
men. He entered into the ranchers' 7
,lans for the capture OF the Black !
7ustler with vim and apparent JOY. 7
Perhaps John lannon's magic" I,
,e said pointedly TO hem one day, :,
will work again-in another way" 4,
And sometimes his eyes dropped :
Iuickly when he felt their tell-tale !,
ire. shone with that odd excitement |.
hat was mad as lunacy.
'sTh' best in it's line" he muttered
o himself once smoking in the pa
10, tn Black Rustler is tn best in
lis line" =,
When the ache in her breast be- \
anne so heavy as to be uncomfortable,
rhen It seemed every breath she n
rev was fraught with pain, when
My sighs were on her lips TO ease Il
he structure OF her lungs. Val sad C.
led Dawnlight and went to Refu- Il