Evening star., 1924-11-09

Y was to his own ability to read
i.s,. to discover and capitalize
the elements "a any given situ-
III alton, that he must attribute this
present and complete success Of
his plans. Thus thought Dave
Nltrey. with pleasant complacence.
" he had not been able accurately
10 estimate the esteem in which the
usrtle town of White Cow held old
Charlie Low. he could never have
established himself as the unofficial
repository of the loose funds of the
community. He was at the moment
engaged in packing those same loose
funds in forms and bundles conVen-
.ent for transportation; the gold in
- money belt, the bills in packets for
his saddiebags. AS soon as this task
was completed he would be ready
to ride casually out OF town for that
inspection of distant mining pros
pcct of which he had been talking
for the past week. White Cow eX
perted him to go. would find nothing
remarkable in his departure. would
feel no sL.p.S when he failed to
return on the morId~. 1t was un-
likely that any inquiry would be set
afoot before Monday morning. As
hours hence, and by that time Dave
knew that he himself would be safely
across the line, with no pursuit to
fear.
He had no particular regret for
what he had done to Charlie Low.
Charlie was an old man, crotchety
and disagreeable. The eccentricities
of the added old fool had played
directly into his hands. Charlie
never went abroad: he was unpleas-
ant to casual visitors and the town
would not be surprised that he kept
indoors during the first two or three
days of Dawes absence. 1t might be
even longer before some curious in
quirer ventured into the back room
and discovered what lay wrapped in
blankets on the bunk there. Paltrey
chuckled with brutal relish of the
situation
Paltrey was working on his knees
before the rusty old safe in the room
behind a. store. He had come to
. White Cow years before, riding
down along the dusty road into the
straggly little town in the gulch.
After a few days spent in considering
the situation, he announced his in
tention to start another store, and
sent for consignment of merchan-
disc. Not till three or four months
later, after Nell had come to join
him, did he import this safe and ad-
FertiSe his readiness to receive and
safeguard the money of his custom
ers. The first reluctance of depos-
ltors he overcame by hiring old
Charlie to live in the room behind
the store to act as a watchman
Charlie had grown old in White Cow
he was known to be eccentric and
fraScible, but he was also incor-
ruptible. People trusted him who
would not have trusted Paltrey: and
as the months passed and Paltrey
discharged his obligations with a
punctuality and readiness which COM
manded their confidence, first doubts
vanished.
And all these six years his plans
had tended toward this end. The
Very simplicity of his measures as
sured their success. His approach
ing absence was outwartlly no differ
ent from many previous absences.
But heretofore old Charlie had al
ways been left behind, budding in
his room behind the store, incor-
ruptible and vigilant. This time old
Charlie lay wrapped in his own
blankets in his bunk and Paltrey
we'll knew that an earthquake might
come and go without disturbing him.
He finished his preparations with a
faint smile Of satisfaction. lifted the
light camping roll he had already
prepared. made sure the blinds were
drawn as they always were when he
was away, and went out to the rail
beside the store where his horse was
haddled and waiting.
With the currency in the saddle
bags and the roll behind the saddle,
he started. His momentary impulse
toward speed he stihed-jogged away
along the road and up out of the
gulch, pausing at the lip of the rise
to look back at the dusty huddle of
frame buildings. He could see three
or four figures moving to and fro,
n Of u
his hat to wave it in reply TO the
others lifted arm. Then he swung
his horse and set off at an easy jog
along the circuitous way that would
bring him. toward afternoon, into the
southern hills behind which, some
time tomorrow, he would cross the
fine to obscure security.
Later, his thoughts began to rest
upon Nell, approving his decision to
leave her behind him. The woman
had, these later months, begun to irk
him sore.
Nell did not come to White Cow
with Paltrey, but followed when he
was already established and in bust
ness as a merchant. He announced
her coming to his customers. My
wife" he explained. She's down in
Wind Hills. waiting for me to get
settled and get house ready for
:er here. She's coming next We'd
iasday now"
The stage brought the woman, and
he alighted from 1t where he await
ID her, and White Cow discovered in
her a pleasant, quiet person with a
friendly smile, her eyes perhaps al
.eady haunted by faint unhappiness
-'altrey introduced her largely; and,
liter the momentary prominence
thrust upon her at her first arrival
he receded into the background of
eis life and became an inconspicuous
and unconsidered figure in the So
ciety of the town.
- y :s
4 BOUT a year after their coming
= to White Cow a stranger came to
t:wn. a small, insignificant, and shah
.Sy person Of indeterminate age, who
.uaid his name was Howard. and con-
gessed that he was called Rusty. The
a.ickname fitted him perfectly. Upon
his first arrival he made some in
&uiries for a man named Palmer, and
described this man, but there was no
such person in White Cow, and the
description he gave might have fitted
Any one.
It was. therefore, a matter Of dra-
caatic surprise when this insignificant
rnan, encountering Dave Paltrey in the
Areet before the portals of the Cold
Fprings bar. accosted him by the
name of Palmer and loudly demanded
vhat had been done with his wife.
Paltrey heard his outcry with look
e1 disgusted surprise, and asked the
kystanders: who's this, anyway"
'Drifted into town." said some one
In noncommittal tone.
You know we'll enough who l am"
Rusty Howard protested querulously.
Don't go to pull that kind Of talk on