New Britain herald., 1924-12-20

cate speed, for his first require ment of horse was the strength 10 bear up his unusual bulk. Some- where ahead of him was Mexico. and there the law sometimes slept.
 CHAPTER III
 The Clenched Fist
 There was fluster in the kitchen of the hotel. The heart of Mary, the waitress, chambermaid and occa- sionally clerk in the General Mer- chandise Store, was full. She had to talk. She would have talked to the wall had not the Chinese cook been there.
 Hes about that tall" said Mary, reaching high above her head Hes about that broad. Why. he'd All that door plumb full. And he's all man, Wu. There he goes now! He's finished washing up and he's going around in front. Look quick through the window"
 But Wu, with a grunt which might have been directed either at the frying steak or at her remark, turned his narrow back upon her and reached for the salt. One glance showed Mary that her con- fidant was thing of stone.
 So she kneeled on the chair and poured her heart through the win dow toward the big man. He was not quite as large as she had made him out, but he was big enough. And he was one of those men who carry about them such an air of conscious strength. such high headed and frank eyed good na- ture, that they appear larger than they are.
 He carried his hat in his hand, which showed all of a handsome. sunbrowned face He had taken off his bandanna, also, and opened his shirt at the throat to the evening air. His whole manner was one of utter carelessness, and Mary, when she had peered until he was out of sight, sat down suddenly in the chair with her head thrown back and a foolish little smile upon her lips.
 As for Harry Gloster, he paused at the front of the building to laugh at two sweating boys who, in the middle of a great dust cloud, were attempting to drive back & pig which had broken through the fence on the farther side of the street. Then he entered the hotel and went into the dining room.
 There was only one other present, and this was pleasant companion. He was one of those men who show age in the face and not In the body. Hts shoulders were as wide, his chest as high arched, the car riage of his head as noble as that of any athletic youth.
 But his hair was almost silver gray and his face was broken and haggard with time and trouble.
 Harry Gloster waved hand fin greeting and sat down beside the other,
 "Riding through or living here?" he asked.
 Riding through" answered the older man. "You?"
 Just blowing north," said Harry Gloster.
 "So am l." said the other. Tn rush. as matter of fact. We might ride on together tomorrow
 Harry Gloster eyed him askance.
 "I may be starting In a little while - may not wait for morning. he parried.
 He could have sworn that the other smiled, although very falntIy' And Gloster> leaned suddenly for ward and looked his companion squarely in the eyes.
 Whats on your mind T he asked sharply.
 The older man hesitated an in stant and then laughed. He added, speaking softly: Its albright, son But there's no red dirt Of that color south of the town. You're just on the Pebbleford trail. You're head ing south" The twinkle fin his eyes focused to a glesm. You're for the Rio Grande -- pronto!"
 Harry Gloster did not change color at the last words of his table mate; he even managed to main- tain smile. but the big muscles at the base of his Jaw were hulgine a little and he stared straight be- fore him,
 What do you mean by that" he asked.
 Nothing" said the older man: Nothing, except that l don't Ike 10 he blufted. If I were sherih' I'd lock you up on suspicion and hold YOU until I'd had a look at your back trail. But I'm not sherif not by a considerable distance'
 Then that's finished" ?"
 "lt is"
 (Io De COntinuedl