The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-06-18
ZEN of the Y. ID.
NoveI of FoofbHIs

| puiScS slrduStiy d-tiH5ic, anu oubJS~'
ed him to deliberate but not IN
friendly inspection.
mo, don't believe he did," she said
at length.
Drazk cautiously approached, as
though wondering how near he could
come without frightening her away.
| He reached the fence and leaned bis
elbows on It, She showed no DISPOSE
tion to move. He cautiously raised
one foot and rested it on the lower
rail.
ITS a fire morning, .na'am" he
ventured.
Rather" she replied. why aren't
you with Mr.. Transley's gans?"
The question gave George an open
ing. "NNell, you see," he said, "it's all
on account of that Pete-horse. That's
him down there. l rode away this
morning and plumb forgot his blanket
So when Mr. Transley seen 1t he says,
'Drazk, take the day off an go back
for your blanket he says. There's
no hurry he says. Linder an me II
manage he says"
"Oh!
$50 here l am" He glanced at her
again. She was showing no disposition
to run away. She was about two yards
from him, along the fence. Drazk won
dered how long 1t would take him to
bridge that distance. Even AS he
looked she leaned her elbows on the
fence and rested one Of her feet on the
lower rail. Drazk fancied he saw the
muscles about her mouth pulling her
face into little, laughing curves, but
she was gazing soberly into the dis
lance.
Hes some horse, that Pete-horse,"
he said, taking up the subject which
lay most ready to his tongue. Hes
sure some horse"
81 have no doubt"
yep" Drazk continued. Him an
me has seen some times. Whewl
Things I couldn't tell you about, at
ALL"
swell. aren't you going tor
Drazk glanced at her cnriously.
This girl showed signs of leading him
out of his depth. But 1t was very
delightful sensation to feel ones self
being led out of his depth by such a
girl. Her face was motionless; her
eyes fixed dreamily upon the brown
prairies that swept up the TANKS Of
the foothills to the south. Far and
away on their curving crests the dark
snake-line of Transley's outfit could
be seen apparently motionless on the
rim Of the horizon.
Drazk changed his foot on the rail-
and the motion brought him six inches
nearer her.
"Well, FIR instance" he said, spur
ring his imagination into action, there
was the fellow l run down an shot in
the Cypress Hills"
"Shotl" she exclaimed, and the note
of admiration in her voice stirred him
to further flights.
yep" he continued, proudly. "Sho
an buried him there, right by the
road where he fell. Only me an that
Pete-horse knows the spot"
George sighed sentimentally. ITS |
awful sad, havin' to kill man." he
went on, IAN it makes you feel strange |
an creepy. specially at nights That
is, the first one affects you that way. |
but you soon get used to 1t. You see,
he insuIted-"
"The first one, Have you killed
more than one?'
"Oh yes, lots of them. A man like
me, what knocks around all over with
all sorts Of people, has to do 1t.
"Theu there's the police. After you
kill few men naturally the police be-
gins to worry you. / always hate TO
kill policeman"
ut must be en- interesting life"
ut is. but h'N hard one" he said,
after pause during which he had
feet again and taken up an
other six inches of the distance which
them. He was almost afraid
to continue the conversation. He was
finding progress so much easier than
he had expected. 1t was evident that
he had made a tremendous hit with
f.D.'s daughter. What a story to tell
I.inderi What would Transley say?
he was shaking with excitement.
ITS an awful hard life," he went
on, IAN there comes time, miss.
when a man wants to quit II. There
zones time when every decent man
wants to settle down. been t1inkin'
lbout that lot lately. =. What
10 you think about it7" Drazk had
zone white. He felt that he actually
lad proposed TO her.
might be good idea" she replied,
lemurely.
He changed feet again. He had gone
90 far to stop. He must strike the
ron when II was hot. OF course he
lad no desire to stop. but II was all ,
o wonderful. He could speak to her I
low in u whisper
How about you, miss? How about {
on an me JUS settlin' DOWN." I
She did not answer for moment
hen, In low voice:
ut wouldn't be fair to accept you /
Ike this, Mr.. Drazk. You don't know
nything about me-"