New Britain herald., 1924-08-18
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
"Huh?" demanded the Wreck.


 "comes out of your wages. guess,
 observed Timothy. T bet you mus
 bust quite n lot"
 The Wreck placed the remainder
 of the dishes on the table and se'
 lected the top one.
 I'm going 10 bust more" he said.
 As Timothy dodged the dish he
 uttered yell of surprise. It hit the
 wall just behind his chair. A second
 one was not so well aimed. for il went through a window. But Tim othy did not wait for any improve.
 ment in the craftsmanship. He
 boted for the door, which he reached while the fourth dish was in the air. It crashed against the jamb and most of the pieces fell outside.
 The Wreck surveyed the marks of his achievement, shrugged his shoul- ders, lifted the pile of dishes from the table, and resumed his journey to the pantry.
 Damn that Underwood pup he said.
 Timothy had not personally figured in the matter at all, so far as the Wreck was concerned. He was mere- ly a symbol.
 Late in the afternoon the Wreck went for walk. His impulse was to take the trail in that direction Sally and Chester had ridden. But he sternly compelled himself to fol- low the wheel tracks that went to- ward the main road. Let her stay out riding as long as she liked; it was no affair of his.
 He did not pay much attention to the trail. His mind was concen- trated on the problem of where Charley McSween had hidden the wheel of the fiivver. In odd hours he had been searching furtively, but without the least satisfactory result. The flivver was locked in a shed, into which he could have easily broken; but he knew that it was useless to search there. Charley would not have made things quite so simple as that. The wheel was somewhere else, and it would he time enough to break into the shed when he located it. Several times he considered the advisabiity of trying to thrash the truth out of Charley, but Sally always vetoed the project She had respect for his prowess, but she was by no means sure that he could whip every body on the ranch. Even if he did, there was no certainty that Charley would tell.
 He was still walking slowly, his eyes staring at the ground, when a drumming sound caught his ears. he paused to listen. Horses. They were coming nearer, ,oo. Probably Sally and Chester had been circling around through the lills, he thought, Well If that was he case, he had no desire to meet hem. He did not want Sally to get | he notion in her head that he was | ,avesdropping or that he had the east interest in anything that she did. 50 he stepped off the trail.
 There were clumps of young [ bruce on every hand, and he moved | Lround behind one of them, where le could not be readily seen. The loof-boats continued to grow louder, md the Wreck, crouching, peered through his screen for view of the rail.
 Only one horse, after all, he de- ided few seconds later but it was moving briskly. Then, around a urn in the trail, it appeared. It vas big, black animal, with a long tride, and the man who rode it was .lso big. A rifle in a holster hung from the saddle. The Wreck, staring curiously, also had ime to note that there were two guns t the belt of the rider. Then the. black horse drummed on, out of sight
 "Doggone" said the Wreck aloud, $ he stepped from behind his spruce helter and stared down the trail.
 The rider was Bob Wells, the heriff.
 Not long did the Wreck stand in ismayed consideration of his discov- ry. He clenched his fists and set if at dog trot toward the ranch ouse in the wake of the black horse.
 The obvious thing to do was to get ack to the house as rapidly as pos lble, and he was doing it. There Tas Sally to be warned, if ever he ot there in time. He groaned as e thought of Sally suddenly con- ronted by the sheriff. The Wreck found himself running 'ith steadiness that surprised him. Ie did not try to sprint. He could , ot overtake the black horse, any, ow. and there would be nothing to ain if he did. Not being able to uess just how far he had walked. e conserved himself. Step after . .ep he plugged away, slowing a bit n the up-grades, and fighting hard 'r his second wind. The main thing as to get there ss soon as he could. , fter that lt would be time to see 1. nat there was to be done about , ob Wells. When the trail emerged at last . 'om the spruce he came to a halt, , anttng sharply as he stared in the irection of the ranch buildings. The md was open all the rest of the . ay to the house, and there was no oncealment, if he needed any. so he ecmed if wise to make a reconnais- ,nce. He had no notion of being about anything, for his lind was cool, despite his anxiety bout Sally Morgan If she had TO- a