New Britain herald., 1925-01-21
. MAX pRAND.
BEGIN HERE TODAY

! cuscd Of the crime, On the way GoSter is jailed after getting into fight with several men over a girl.
 Joan Barry, daughter of famous rider of the old plains, helps Clos ter 10 escape. Later Joan, in quest of Gloster. falls in with bandit gang in the mountains. Joe Mac arthur. a quick-on-the- trigger scoundrel, is made chieftain of the gang when he appears with a scheme to rob the Wickson Bank. Samuel Carney, cashier, has given Macarthur the combination 10 the safe, but later repents and tells the president of the bank what he has done. Gloster goes with Buck Dam iels, loans guardian, to the bandit camp to find the girl. She will not leave, so Gloster joins the band, too, to be near her.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER xxx
 So Harry Glostcr became a sworn member of the band.
 It caused the sweat 10 start from every pore of his body when he learned that they were to ride that very night. But, looking down to the floor so that none of them might read the horror In his eyes, he set his teeth and decided that he would find way of withdrawing before the actual scene of the crime to be was reached.
 "Go out anl saddle, one by one, boys, so's Joan won't hear" went on Macarthur. Lead your hosses down through the gap and wait out there until we are all Together, then we'll start"
 They began to follow his com mands while Macarthur drew Clos ter 10 one side and explained to him in detail the plan for .the robbery of the Wickson Bank. Two men al the most would be all that were needed to make an entry into the tbank. But the other four would be posted at intervals here and there to guard against any possible dan ger. Now that Gloster was there. it meant that there were five extras.
 "An easy job for you this time, GIoster." said Macarthur. And you'll hook in on your full share or the coin. You ought to be more'n ten thousand dollars to the good before morning."
 Gloster nodded. After all, the thing could be managed. AS Mac arthur pointed out, this was an in- side job and there would be eir- tually no risk attached to it.
 He need not keep the stolen money which fell tS his lot. He could simply leave it behind him at the camp when he departed Or, better still, he could send it back to the Wickson Bank. He would have no actual share in the crime.
 And when the good time came and he found the mysterious mur- dercr of Nichols and Springer, he could return to the ranks of law abiding men with a reputation un- stained. By that time, too, he should have found a way to con vince Joan that she could not lead the wild life which she had chosen.
 Macarthur broke in upon his thoughts. He had been watching carefully the rapt face of the new recruit.
 That's the way 1t always is" he said. Its hard to take the plunge. Hut once you're in the. water the swimming is fine"
 He beckoned Gloster to him, and going to the wall he took down bridIe.
 "Gloster," he said what you find out in this here gang is kept secret. You know that?'
 q know that"
 "It ain't to be used against any man. You've sworn to treat the worst of us like he was your best 1 brother"
 "I'ye sworn," said Gloster gloom fly.
 Then, look at this"
 He tossed the bridle to Gioster,
 What about it?" asked the lat ter.
 Look it over"
 He obeyed, scrutinizing it care fulIv, but on the outside it was cer- tainIy the most ordinary of brides Tn appearancc. He looked on the inside, and at the top of the head band. half obscured by the in- crustation of horse sweat he found the initials I'll. S." cut into the leather.
 "II S." he muttercd to himself. who's that? H. S. Hal Springer
 He jcrked up his head. Good God," he breathed.
 Macarthur had folded his arms. But although he had set bis teeth to force himself to fl. he managed to meet the eye of Gloster.
 "Yep," he said. "I done that job
 And tried to make me swing for it?"
 I'm a hard man, Glostcr' sald Macarthur. but faint flush of shame had appeared in his cheeks. 'Td of let you swing and been glad of it. When one gent swings for a killing there ain't any look for an other killer. But now you're one ot us. I've swore solemn that I'd treat YOU like you was brother of mine' And I'm telling you the truth"
 Gloster groaned. There was such q mixture of astonishment and anger in his heart that he was breathing hard.
 T didn't go up there to do no harm to Nichols" Macarthur went on. "I was flat and l wanted 10 touch the old boy - but he seen through me. and that made me mad. There wouldn't have been no more than words, though, but when I got mad Nichols got scared and being scared he reached for his gun
 Then hell broke loose. In