The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-20

I grope Tor the moral OF the story"
The moral II. mind your own
business and-and give "A guy
chance"
"Um.m, Suppose We leave Il at
that FOR the present"
Maliow. who had remained silent
during his friends argument. greet.
ga this suggestion with relief lie
was glad 10 change tho subject.
"ooodl' he cried. heartily. "rd
about as soon face Old Tom Parker
like that fellow in the restaurant
did. IA 10 face jackson. He'd sink
a stillson In my head. sure. II"
"Pagkerg Was that old man Miss
rarkcr's aftherg"
"CcTtainlsi What d'you think
allied that Isunmang D'you think ho
got tho flu or something. all OF a
sudden There Amt anybody left
tough enough 10 banker for Toms
scalp, Hes pinned rose on ali
OF those old.tlmers. and he's deadly
poison 10 the new crop"
For the first time Calvin Gray
understood clearly tho reason FOR
the unexpected outcome OF that en-.
counter Ia tho cafe. No wonder
tho strangers trigger finger had
been paniyzed. Barhara's father.
Indeed How stupid Of him not 10
guess. On the heels OF his first
surprise came another thought; sup.
pose that old Paladln should con.
slider that he. Gray. had shown
weakness In allowing another 20 as.
sumo the burden OF his quarrel7
And suppose he should tell his
daughter about a. That would be
situation. indeed,
Il must ind him. quickly" Gray
declared, Perhaps he'll ride back
10 town with us"
II was not n difficult task to 10.
cate the veteran officer. ana Tom
was delighted at the chance 10 ride
home with his new acquaintance,
That Journey back to civilization
was doubly pleasant, FOR Mr.. Parker
cherished no such feelings as Gray
had feared. and. moreover. no re.
sponded quickly TO the younger
m.n's liking. They got along n.
mouslY from the start. and Tom
positively btossomcd under tho at.
tentions no received. IL had been
a trying day for him. but his III
humor quickly disappeared In the
warmth OF a new.tound friendship.
and he talked more than was his
custom. He was even led 90 speak
% old days, old oombats. Of which
the bloodlcss encounter that evening
was but tame reminder. The pic.
lures no contured up were colorfui.
A unique and an engaging per.
son he proved 90 be; an odd com.
pound OF gcntleness and Rcerbity. OF
kindlincss and rancor. quiet.
guilcless. stubborn, violent old man.
alarms. who would not DO inter.
rupted while no was eating. Ito
was both scornfui and coutemptuous
OF evii-doers All needed killing.
Hard luck. call Il. for bud.
ding pespcrado TO wreck career
OF promise tho why that wro,ched
fellow did" Gray told him with q
laugh. ''oui OF all tho men In
Texas. to pick YOU
"oh. no ain; a buti He's quite
killer"
'Indccd7~
HE kills Mcxicans and nigscrs
and folks without guns. mostly.
Low-down stuff He's got three or
four. believe. ! never could see
why the Nelson's KEEP him.
There was brief silence. II beE
pardon7" said Gray.
He's been on tho Nelson payroll
for years--doing odd jobs that
wasn't fit 10 be done. But / guess
they got tired Of him. anyhow he's
been hanging around Wichita for
/ the last two or three weeks. He's
been in an out OF our office quite
a bit"
/ Your Officer What forY'
y dunno. unless he took a shine
to Bob"
"Not-~rcaily?
Mr.. Parker uttered an unpleasant
sound She never said anything
about It. but suspicioncd she had
to order him out. finally. I'd OF split
his third shirt button IL he'd stood
his ground. He knew ! had some
thing on him. but no couldn't fig
ure just what 1t was" Old Toms
teeth shone thru the gloom. "A
man viii most always act like thai
| WHEN he don't know Iuat Mhcrn he,