Evening journal., 1923-02-12

JOHN hANNON, wealthy rdnch Own
beautif i daughter VAL. live happil
together In lannon's Wonderful ranc
- me, Paradise. Redstar. the king o
the Red Brood OF horses. disappear
FATHER HILLAIRE. in charge o
a the Mission. introduces Val 20 his friend
-NELANTRIE from the Border. Al
interesting friendship springs up be
tween the two young people.
While John Harmon Is on mysterl
q Gus journey. BOYCE CLENDENNINC
calls at Paradise ranch. He is a suite
for Nars hand favored by her parents
but treated with indifference by III
Clendenning offers 10 head a search
ing party to try 20 capture the rustler'
who may have stolen Redstar Va
asks 70 90 with them
"Oh" he said. Il told him it would
be-better for his health IL he came
e. along qietly
"Gun-man?" asked Val laughing
Instantly Velantrie sobered.
Not exactly" he said, in his slow
soft speech. though I might be on
occasion"
Yes" said Val. Il know. l might
be- too. My dad is"
"Two-gun ?" asked Velantrie with
interest.
mo one" she answered proudly
. the best and quickest shot in this
country. When rustlers drive from
this range they leave Paradise alone.
That is. until lately"
velentrie looked at the brown
hand on her pommel.
Yes" he said. Il think you
might be, also. Are you like your
dad?"
chip off the old block. Look like
him, think like him. act like him"
Then he's a mighty quick man.
decided and strong" said Velantrie,
admiringly.
You're dead right he IS" said
Val. warmly John lannon's the
. best and biggest man. all ways, in
these parts"
Like him a lot, take Il? and
the speaker smiled while his blue
eyes searched her features.
"I sure do. and so does Belle.
That's my mother" she explained.
and they're all bound up in each
other"
Never in her life before had she
.old a stranger, or any one else, so
much about the sheltered life at
Paradise.
A little silence fell between them .
and the girl looked off across the 7
stretches 70 the south. while the man /
ooked at her.
Then they fell to talking OF the /
attic country and = long dry spell.
md Val told him that the springs
we're holding out pretty well. and .
nat her father hoDed to drive early
and get tho best from the stock he .
-ould. And the sun went swiftly
down tho heavens and the purple
.eils began 10 weave their magic on
he stretches. while they sat beside
he Little Antelope and forgot that
Time was. after tho manner OF youth
since the world began.
MY racious " said Val at last.
startled. its getting late! I'll have
to run for II now"
Looks like YOU could do il on
this horse" said Nelantrie. admir-
ingly, Il wish I had my own mount
here. Ia like you to see The
Comet"
WHATS he likc2'
Il couldn't describe him. You'd J.
have TO see him TO know"
Il could say the same" said Val,
quickly for I said that rustlers
never struck al Paradise-until late
ly. They took the greatest horse
that ever raj these plains a short
time back-and Id kill the man who
did it Ike I would a snake."
''Rustlers?"
"Yes-they say the Black Rust
Ter himself has been seen in Santa
Leandra this summer and I make
no doubt 10 was ne who lifted Red =
ter"
"Redstar" unused Velantrie, You
all him Redstar?" !
Yes"
And mines The Comet. That's
coincidence. isn't il? Both meaning
ight-the heavens star"
Why, so they do" cried Val =,
and from our own words they are +
9th great horses. What color is this K