White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-06-20
The Dude
w rangler
Caroline Lockhart
Copyright, Doubleday. Page & Co
iiIllIIIIIIllIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIlIIIiIiIilllIlIi
CONTINUED from Last Week.

Here eyes were upon his face with
an expression that would have arrest
ed his attention IL he had seen 1t, but
he seemed to have forgotten her and
her question.
When he spoke. finally, 1t was to
himself, rather, as If in denunciation
of the momentary temptation which
the telegram had been to him.
"No!" emphatically. I'm not 60
ing back like a prodigal who can't
stand the gaff any longer! I won't
stink into soft berth because it's Of
|fered, and admit that I'm not man
enough to stand up and take what
comes to me! I'm licked again
proper-and," harshly, II don't expect
anybody to believe in me, but won't
stay licked If can help it."
"I'm said to be good picker and
I've always believed in you, Wallace
Macpherson" Helene said, slowly.
He stared his incredulity, then re-
piled with ungracious irony:
you've concealed it WELL"
"Flattery is bad for growing boys"
she smiled mischievously.
'I'm sure you've never spoiled any
one by it. You've treated me like a
hound, mostly"
Her eyes sparkled as she answered.:
II like hounds, If they have mettle."
Gwen when they run themselves
down following cold trail?" he asked
in self-derision.
Her reply was interrupted by voices
raised in alteration in the vicinity o.
the supply wagon. A clump CT bushes
concealed the disputants, but they
easily recognized the rasping nasal
tones of Mr.. Stott and the menacing
below peculiar to the cook In mo-
ments of excitement.
The wrangle ended abruptly, and
while Helene and Wallie stood won.
dering as to what the silence meant,
Pinkey with a wry smile upon his
face came toward them.
"Well, guess we're out Of the dude
business" he said, laconically.
whats the matter now?" Wallie
demanded so savagely that the two
burst out laughing.
"Nothin much, except that Hicks
is runnin' Stott with the butcher
knife and aims to kill him. don't
know as l blame him. He said his
grub was full of ants and looked like
craps for Fido."
Wallie was alarmed, but Pinkey re-
assured him.
Don't worry! He won't catch him
unless he's got wings, the gait Stott
J. was travelin'. He'll be at the hotel II
u about twenty minutes-it's only five
. miles. What do you make of this
y pardner?" Pinkey handed him worr
. and grimy envelope as he added II
: explanation:
II found it stuck in the cupboar,
:, Of the wagon"
Wallie took the envelope, wonder
: ing grimly as he turned 1t over
= there there was anything left tina
!, could surprise him. There was. o.
the back was written:
'Ellery Hicks INSULTED Au-
gust Bird, this year of our Lord,
1920"
!, Below, in pencil, was list Of thu
;. party with every name crossed on
y save Mr.. Stott's, and at the bottom
- ornamented with many curlicues an
beautifully shaded, was the signifcan
sentence, with the date as yet blank
"Ellery Hicks AVENGED, Au-
gust this year Of our Lord,
1920"
Mr. Gone stood at his desk, lookin
all Of ten years younger for his res
D. at the Sanatorium. Indeed, 1t was d.
IS ficult to reconcile this smiling, affabl
1, host Of the Magnolia House with tn
g glazing maniac of homicidal tender
"a cies who had hung over the counte
n of the Colonial Hotel, lingering tn
II potato penwiper and hurting bite
" personalities at his patrons.
The Florida hostelry had jus
Is opened and the influx of guests prom
y ised successful season, yet Their
1t was regret and wistfulness in Nj
Cones brown eyes as they scanne
the register, for in the long list Their
was no name of any member of Th
Happy Family.
There were strangers aplenty, tn
newcomer" had arrived, and Mis-
Mary Macpherson, but he wanted
see Henry Appel sitting on his "
randa, and Mrs. Budlong and &c. D..
and Miss Matte Gaskett-in fact, b
missed one not more than another.
= What did 1t matter, after all, b
- reflected, If Cutie" had kittens in tn
linen closet, and that Mrs. Appel use
the hotel soap to do her laundry? A
Mr. Cone looked off across the blu
waters of the Gulf, which he could Sc
through the wide open doorway, b
wished with all his heart that he ha
not flown off the handle"
! The Happy Family had been friend
: as we'll as 2atrons, and without friend
what did life amount to? The hott
| was full Of new people, but in spite {
his professional affability Mr.. Con
was not one to cotton" to everyhod.
and 1t would be long time, he toll
himself sadly, before these old friend
could be replaced in his affections.
y He would have listened gladly t
the story OF how Mr.. Appel got hi