, 1924-11-19
V-Continued

Yet his own pulse stirred with the
sheer melodrama Of the scene. For
as h man came forward 1t CHANGED
that the luminous moonbeams haloed
IKE a spotlight the blond head and
splendid shoulders of the prisoner.
Never In his gusty lifetime had he
looked the v%agabond enthroned.
He WINS coatless. and the strong mus
cies siOped beautifully from the brown
throat. A sardonic smile was on the
devil-may-care face. and those who
saw that smile labeled it impudent. deb
OMAR. or whimsical. as fancy pleased.
Jack Kilmeny nodded with cool
equality toward Farquhar and the cap
tain, ignored verinder. and smiled ge-
nially at India. For Moya his look
had a special meaning. 1t charged
her with the duty of faith In him.
Somehow. too, 1t poured courage into
her sinking heart.
afraid an engagement at Gunnison
with Sheriff Gill won't let me stop for
any poker tonight" he told his host.
Earquhar was on the spot to meet
him In the same spirit. "verinder will
be glad Of that. / fancy my pocket
book, too. will be fatter tomorrow
morning"
BigEs appeared to take the Eewly
arrived party In charge. AZ they
started to follow him the prisoner came
face to face with Joyce. who was just
coming out of the house. Under the
lowered lights OF evening she seemed
to swim In q tide of beauty rich and
mellow. The young man caught his
breath at the sheer pagan loneliness
of her.
"What Is it?" she asked in a low,
sweet. tremulous voice.
His assurance fed. The bravado
Was sponged from his face Instantly.
He stared at her In silence from fas-
einated eyes until he o forward
at the spur of an insistent arm ut
his elbow.
India wondered how Lady Jim would
dispose of the party. Jack Kilmeny
might be 4 criminal, but he happened
60 be their cousin. 1t would hardly
do to send him to the servants quar-
tiers TO eat. And where he ate the
sheriff and his posse. would likewise
have to dine.
The young woman need not have
concerned herself. Lady Farquhar
knew enough of the West and Its ways
not to make a mistake. Such food as
could be prepared at short notice was
served In the dining room.
Having washed the dust Of travel
from himself. the sheriff returned to
tle porch TO apologize once more for
having made SO much trouble.
Farquhar diverted him from his re-
grets by asking him how they had
mnde the capture.
Il Amt claiming much credit for get
ting him." Gill admitted. '"Thls here
WINS the way of 1t. A kid had beer
1ost from Landor's ranch-strayed
away In the hills, understand. She
was gone for forty-elght hours, and
everybody In the district was on the
hunt for her. Looked like they
weren't going to git her. Soon It
would be too late. even II they did
fnd her. Besides. there are a heap OF
mountain lions up In that country. !
tell you her folks were plumb wor-
ried--
Aoya. listening to every word as she
leaned forward. spoke wildly. "And
lfr. Kiimeny found her"
Tie sherif's surprised eyes turned
90 her. THAT'S right. ma'am. He did.
Z dunno how you guessed IL, but you've
ring the bell. He found her and
brought her town to the ranch. Il
Jusi happened we had drapped In there
ten minutes before. SO we gathered
him In handy as the pocket In your
shirt"
The sheriff retired to the dining
foom. whence came presently snatclies
~ cheerful talk between the prisoner