Evening star., 1923-07-15


desert. Fifty years gone
even such a misty and sunless
September came last to the San
Quentin country. Senior, l have rid
den across this bare desert when the
air was drowsy with sweetness; STIR
rup deep all day in wondrous bios
SONS. snow white, blue and purple
golden. fire red. nameless." So
ouavered Don Apolonio, keeper of the
we'll at the gate of the desert.
Assuredly the senior may buy the
'sorrel at the price he names and 1
will do according TO his word for this
dark one that he leaves behind. Red
gold, broad ptsces-right! Now is
Alizan thine. Deal justly with him,
senior. Ask him not for great speed,
for that gift he lacks. A great heart,
roushness courage-these are ALI
zan's-and he will do you good serv-
ice.
Will not the senior rest until the
morrow? No? The senior is in haste,
perhaps. Food, then? y bit in hand
the while, tortillas and jerky i'll
vour saddlebag for the night camp.
There will be water in pools by the
waysde.
Farewell, then, senor-so with
God;
AIACGREGOR rode craftily, a brisk
A'I jog, a brisk walk; where the
trail was steep he slipped from the
saddle and led the way TO the next
smooth bit.
Hard by the head OF the pass he
raused on a iutting shoulder. The
fAr
and below there was glimpse OF
toiling horsemen. a black. WaVerine
line where the trail clung to the hill
side.
MacGregor took up long "a from
the sling below the stirrup leather
and dropped two bullets in the trail
before the advancing party. They
shrank back to a budding clump.
The mist shut down.
~'Tis plain have naught TO fear
from these gentry for all the heavy
weight this red horse of mine must
carry. For they will think twice
ana again at each bend and rock
fall. But beyont the desert? There's
telephone line ava TO the north,
and if the good folk of Datil be at
all of enterprising mind, It's like ]
shall hear tidings."
Dawn found him~beyond the desert.
breasting the long, slow ridges be-
meath the wooden mountain of the
Datils against which the rambling
building of the c |. ranch was
dimly seen.
"Ay." said the horseman. Now
the pot boils. For here comes one
at hard gallop-now he sees me
and swerves this way. | must cen
call science 10 my own employ Hullo,
CeatraI. Hullo. Give me Spunk.
please Hullo. Spunk. MacGregor
speaking Spunk. ] am now come to
r yerra strait place. and i would be
extremely blithe to hae your COM
pany. See If you Gamma bring Com
nonsense wi you. Hello, Central
Gimme Brains :. What's that? No
answer Try again, Central, gin We
please The affair is verra urgent"
The oncoming rider slowed down:
MacGregor turned to meet him. his
two hands resting on the saddle horn
"'Tis Mundy's self. thanks be" he
muttered aha, Brains! Are We
there at the last of ito That's weel!
shall need YOU
He rode on at a walk. The riders
drew abreast
Hands UP. you.' Mundy's gun was
drawn and leveled.
MacGregor's hands did not move
from the saddle horn. And that Is
no just what ye might call a ceevil
greeting, Mister Mundy. Man, ye
think purify. Do ye. see this rife
under my knee? Thirty-forty, smoke
less-and had I meant ye i'll, 1t was
but stepping behind bit bush to
tumble you from the saddle or e'er
ye clapped eyes on me-"
You have my name, L see" said
Mundy "And you might have taken
a pot shot at me from ambush, easy
enough Unless all signs fail, you
are fresh from the loot of Luna.
Now stick up those hands or I'll
blow you into eternity"
"And that is a foolish obsairve,"
said MacGregor, composedly. "Into
eternity" says he! Man. wonder at
ye. We're in eternity just noo-as
much as we e'er shall be. For the
ambush, you do me great wrong.
was we'll knowing to yon mischief
making telephone-but 1 took my
chance of finding you a man of sense.
Man, theenk ye I have nae self-luve
at all! Hands up might be all vera
weel for a slim young spark like you.
Wi looks and grace to bear II Off
with. But me, wi my years and the
hulking carcass Of me, in such q
bairnly play-man, should look just
reedeeculous. The thing cannae be
done"
HI7ERY well. I am coming to get
your gun. Keep your hands
on the saddle horn, I have you COW
cred. and IL you crook a finger I'll
crook mine"
"Tis early yet In the day, Mr..
Mundy." MacGregor held the same
unmoyed compesure. "Dinna be
hasty in closing in upon me. 1 was
thinking to propose compromise"
"A compromise? And me with
finger on trigger-me that could hit
you blindfolded?'
Nae doot of 1t at all. Myself, I
am slow on the draw-but. man! If
I'm slow, I'm extraordinary eefee-
cient"
Fool, 1 can shoot you three times
before you get to your gun"
Mae doot. nae doot." said Mac
Gregor pacfically. 'It has been
done--yet here am 1, little the waur
OF. Come, Mr.. Mundy, I came here
the moo because We are bespoken a
man of parts and experience-aTd
thereby the better able to judge weel
and deal wisely with another mar
as good as yourser."t
Sure of that?"
"Positeeve. Now, gin We were free