, 1923-03-28
ZANE GREY
Author Of Riders Of
the Purple Safe.
Wildnre, Etc.
Copyright by Harper & Brothers
CHAPTER xviII-continued.

efOr-l@4 Chh I hhaAAy sOo
The boyish brightness fad~1 out Of
Gales face. Here, Bedding saw. was
,he stern reality arrayed against his
dreams.
"That devil, Radford Chase-he'n
toll nv secret" painted Nell. "He swore
n YOU ever came back and married me
nod follow us all owe the world to
tell it."
Bedding saw Gale grow deathly
white and suddenly stand stock-still.
"Chase threatened you, then?" asked
Dick and the forced naturalness of
his voice struck Bedding.
"Threatened me? He made my life
q nightmare" replied Nell, in a rush
of speech. "He got so half the time,
when he was drunk, he didn't want or
ask me to be his wife. l was about
ready to give up and go mad when
you-you came home"
She ended in a whisper, looking up
wistfully and sadly at him. Bedding
was a raging fire within. cold without.
Gale gathered Nell up into his arms
and held her to his breast for a long
moment.
Dear Nell, I'm sure the worst of
your trouble is over" he said, gently.
81 will not give you up. Now. won't
you lie down, try to rest and calm
yourself? Don't grieve any more.
This thing isn't so bad as you make it.
Trust me. I'll shut Mr.. Radford
Chase's mouth"
AG hn ratncCa1 hnr che Olonna1
quickly up at him, then lifted appeal
ing hands.
Dick. you W, MT HUNK for him-go
after him?'
Gale laughed enk the laugh made
Belding jump.
Dick ] cannot keep you back?"
NO" he said.
Then the woman in her burst
through Instructive fear, and with her
eyes blazing black in her white lace
she lifted parted quivering lips and
kissed him.
Gale left the patio, and Bedding fol-
lowed closely at his heels. They went
through tie sitting-room. Outside
upon thu porch sat the rangers, Mr..
Gale, anu Thorne. Dick went into his
room without speaking.
"Shore somethin's comm or" said
Ladd, sharply and he sat up with his
keen eyes narrowing.
Bedding spoke n few words; and,
remembering an Impression he had
wished to make upon Mr.. Gale, he
made them strong.
Better stop that boy" he conclud-
ed, looking at Mr.. Gale. He'll do
some mischief. He's wilder'n HI"
Just then Dick came out of his door.
Richard, where are you going?"
asked his father.
I'm going to beat a dog
Then Dick strobe OFF the porch.
Hold onr" Ladd's voice would
nave stopped almost any man. "Dick.
You wasn't agoip' without me?'
Yes. was. But I'm thoughtiess
'ast now, Laddy."
Shore you was. Wait a minute,
c'ck. I'm n sick man. but at that no
Moody can pull any stunts round here
without me-"
lie hobbled along the porch and
went into his room. Jim Lash knocked
ue ashes out Of his pipe. and. hum
ming his dance tune, he followed
Lhdd. In a moment the rangers APP
peared, and both were packing guns.
Where Will we find these Chases?"
asked Dick of Belding.
They've got a place down the road
adjoining the inn. They call it their
e,uo' AT this hour Radford will be
u,ere sure. ] don't know about the
Old man. But his Office is now Just
across the way"
lhey passed several houses. turned
= corner into the main street, and
stopped at n wide. low adobe struc-
'u'e' Ihe place was n hall, and need.
~ only a bar TO make II n saloon. A
urge table near n window was sur
'Vunued by n noisy. smoking, drinking
e'rele OF card-plnyers.
Point out this Radford Chase to
me" said Gale.
iherel The big fellow with the
seu lace. His eyes stick out n little.
,ee' Hes dropped his cards and his
ace isn't red any more"
DICK strobe ncross the room. His
heavy boot shot up. and with n crash
ae table split, and glasses, cards. chips
sew everywhere. As they rnttled
u'"n n the chairs OF the dumfound.
w players began to slide Dick called
,u'; My name Is Gale. I'm looking
'or Mr.. Rndford Chase"
'hil' henvy-shouldered fellow rose.
Guy enough. even swaggerlngly and
lowered at Gale.
m i'adford Chase" he said. His
ton. ''''"eSs Vi MS nc
,.h was over In n few moments. The
NY" and chairs were tumblcd into n
ss,a a pool table had been showed
rrne' a lamp law shattered. with oil
ieanng dark uron the floor. Lndd
- against n post with n smoking
wi Ill HNA - I