Evening star., 1924-04-27

|
he did, too. And she knew that he
was remembering how he had stopped
the game solemnly, wherever the
mood caught him. strobe from Flat
Peters pool hall, where the gang
foregathered, bought these objects Of
art, with instructions that they be
sent direct to Ella, and then gone
back again and lost the rest of his
money with comparatively easy
mind, solaced by the thought of the
beautiful presents at home.
! But 1 mean it," he said steadily.
Tin not four-fushing. I'm of
| keeps"
| And she believed him.
'The mortgage, the tractor"-she
ticked them off by placing one brown
strong finger after another on his
cheek--''the things on the list. the
bank you'll put in all but just a
hundred dollars for running ex-
! penses), and then whatever it is the
! brotherhood's fixed up for you. and
then the midnight train back to me.
You said it. pardner. And won't
We make the little old ranch hum,
huh,- with both of US on the job all
the time! One arms as good as two
any day if it moves fast enough"
! "Da-dee! Da-deew sang Samuella
outside. as high and clear as a bird.
'Mr. Gree'suns come"
IT'S the first time in all our mar
ried life that l haven't been afraid
to let YOU go Off without me. But
I'd trust you now the same as I'd
trust myself. 1 didn't know l could
be so happy! And SO sure
He laid his hand gently on her
shoulder and looked straight into
her eyes. You go the limit, honey.
Be happy as you want to be. Moth
ing's going TO stop you this time"
As they came out, Samuella, who
| had kept one eye on the door. broke
off her conversation with Grierson
away down by the road and came
dancing back. Jackie, who had been
making toward her with the slightly
aimless steps of three, stopped in
| confusion at this sudden upsetting of
his plans, gave her smile of utter
confidence and alteration as she
passed, and turned himself about and
came padding patiently along be-
| hind her.
!. < x
| THE dooryard was only bit OF
scrabbly. hoof- Scared prairie, with
| baroed wire fence around it. A few
| little wild sunfiowers famed Mere
! and there, and there were dark green
| patches Of tumbleweed and a brilliant
! burst of dandelions over by the wind
| mill, but mostly the chickens had it
| their own way. The house had never
been painted. 1t had weathered
| streakily. The streaks ran down
| from the rusted heads of the nails.
| There was a small corral off to one
side, with sod barn in one corner
| of it. A chamois-colored horse with
stains on its hips and brindled COW
| munched at opposite sides of a gen.
erous pile of alfalfa hay with an
| air Of comradeship.. The roof of the
| barn had fallen in under the weight
of last winters SHOWS.
Sam cast his eye-over the dilapi-
dated ranch.
We'll make it the niftiest little
a hard days flying" He pointed to
a big prairie eagle cruising down the
wind high up.
Hey. SAM" Tom Grierson called
out. See who's here!" And a man
| climbed down from the front seat
| and came forward to meet them.
why, you old son of a gun. If
it isn't Charlie McKeever! You know
Charlie, Ella Only honest garage
keeper in the world"
They all shook hands.
Mckeever was big, awkward,
loosely built fellow of about forty,
with great heartiness of manner.
Come out to visit my brother
Henry. Aiming to come over to see
you every day, but the horses was
all busy. And last night a bunch of
the boys down to Denver called me
up on the long distance and deputized
me to drop over this way and inform
you of something" He revolved his
body impressively until he faced Sam.
I'm notifying you officially that the
gangs arranging the SWEETEST feed
| that the little old town of Denver's
ever seen. At Beefsteak Larry's to-
night at $50. In honor of Sam
Pavitt, hero!"
We'll, what do you know about
| that: In honor of me. Swell stuff,
| amt it, Ell?' His black eyes shone.
| His gregarious. admiration-loving
| spirit preened in them as openly as
a pretty woman before her mirror in
| a bright room with the curtains up.
And I can still get back on schedule
| time. Train don't leave till after
| midnight"
You amt aiming to come back
| tonight?"
"I amt aiming to, old son, Tn
| coming" Sam said with his old
| familiar grin and a tone of new de-
cisiveness. me and Ella and the
kids are breakfasting together to-
morrow at $780,
Climbing into the front seat beside
Grierson, Get in behind me, Satan
| he said to his friend. And don't
| open your head about me staying
over. It's not that I'm not itching to
do it, but I'm cutting out all that old
stuff now and starting over" He
! turned about in the seat and looked
into McKeever's eyes. Sober, Sam,'
he said seriously, that's me. And
I'm not playing cards. Or any other
games, seer"
Charlie McKeever leaned forward
earnestly and included both Sam and
Ella in his glance. Sure" he said,
honestly. And you'd ought to have
done it long time ago. You're not
the kind that can stand whisky. I've
always told you so. But this is not
that sort Of jamboree. All the old
gangs going to be there, but that's
not what they're coming for. It's
it's-er-well, to do him honor. Mrs