The Dolores star., 1924-05-23

friendly inspection
"No. don't believe he did," she said
at length
though wondering how near he could
come without frightening her away.
He reached the fence and leaned his
elbows on it. She showed no DISPOSE
tion to move. He cautiously raised
one foot and rested 1t on the lower
rail.
ITS a fire morning, ma'am." he
ventured
RATHER" she replied. "Why aren't
you with Mr.. Transley's gang?"
The question gave George an open
ing. "Well, you see" he said. Its all
on account of that Pete-horse. That's
him down there. | rode away this
morning and plumb forgot his blanket.
So when Mr.. Transley seen it 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"
"Ohw
$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 it 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
tance.
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. Whew!
Things 1 couldn't tell you about. at
all"
"Well. aren't you going to?'
Drazk glanced at her curiously.
This girl showed signs of leading him
out of his depth. But it was very
delightful sensation to feel ones self
being led out of his depth by such n
Sill- llSl ldIe WAS HeT
eyes fixed dreamily upon the brown
Praries that swept up the fianks 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
III l.; IT,
nearer her.
well, FIR instance" he said. spur
ring his Imagination into action, there
was the fellow l run down an shot in
thesCypress Hills"
"Shot !" 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 1t makes you feel strange
an creepy. Specially at nights. That
is, the first one affects you that way,
but you soon get used to it. You see.
he insulted-"
"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.
"Then there's the police. After you
kill few men naturally the police be-
gins to worry you. always hate to
kill policeman"
1T must be an interesting life"
1T is. but it's a hard one," he said,
after pause during which he had
changed feet again and taken up an
other six inches of the distance which
separated 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 tremendous hit with
Y.D.'s daughter. What story to tell
Linder! What would Transley say?
He was shaking with excitement.
ITS an awful hard life," he went
on, "an' there comes time. miss,
when man wants to quit 1t. There
comes time when every decent man
wants to settle down. been thinkin'
about that a lot lately. What
do you think about it," Drazk had
gone white. He felt that he actually
had proposed to her.
might be good idea." she replied,
demurely.
He changed feet again. He had gone
too far to stop. He must strike the
iron when 1t was hot. OF course he
had no desire to stop. but 1t was all
so wonderful He could speak to her
now in n whisper.
How about you, miss? How about
you an me jus settlin' DOWN."
She did not answer for moment.
Then, in low voice:
at wouldn'; be fair to ACCEPT you
like this, Mr.. Drazk. You don't know
anything about me-"
HAn' 7 don't want tn-I MANY, 7 .aa..,.