Evening star., 1925-08-30
By Mary Synon
The Girl Was Afraid Nothing Would Ever Steady Him.

though. you'd better put Staley wise.
Old Cronkrite's meaner'n sheep
man"
I'm tell him.
Entertainment failing. he went to
his mothers, and, because he heid
hope that Lefty might change her
mind he fingered in town TIL Satur
day, and so chanced to meet Staley,
and told him OF the man s warning.
mo reason for Cronkrite to raise
a fuss about it, Staley said. II was
a fair, square, open deal. l paid his
price"
Don't worry" Jimmy counseled
"The old crabs have to yell about
something. You'll beat him hands
down"
Hes a mean old cuss."
He couldn't be meaner than the
XII outfit"
But you know what they'll do' anu
YOU can't guess about fellows like
Cronkrite. I wouldn't have dickered
with him at all if he hadn't owned the
land between the three pieces l nave
over there"
"Oh, forget him. The judge and
juries around here know him as well
as we do"
That's right" Staley said. adding,
as if in justification of his worry.
You see, l can't go around looking
for rows tho way you do. Jimmie.
I've got the kids to think about
sure" Jtmmto said, and went
away, pondering on the handicaps Of
parenthood. I'D like to see anything
keep me out of a good tght"
Through two days he avoided
Lefty, an easier trick now tnAt little
Ben and Jessie wero once more at
home with their father, and under
the haphazard care of an old Ino,an
woman whom Staley employed; but
Saturday night found him with a
strange distaste for the Purple Par
rot, and on Sunday morning he. rode
back to his own ranch. He did not
go into town again for nearly u
month, telephoning his mother that
he was too busy for the short jour
ney. Finally, though, the desire for
his kind triumphed over his melar-
choly, and he rode into Burning Bush
another Saturday afternoon. He
failed to see Lefty, and Strove TO hnd
out about her by discreet questioning
of his mother. The old lady was too
concerned. however, about the case
of old man Cronkrite against Staley
to have interest in any other affair.
He lost" she told Jimmie, "and he
said he'd kill him."
coyote" Jimmie Scoffed.
He could get no news of Lefty, and
he decided TO essay the dance hall.
After all, a fellow couldn't be her
NIT because a girl high-hatted him.
There were plenty of girls who'd
trust him with responsibility, even If
they mightn't be girls like Lefty. He
tried to whistle merrily as he fast
ened a tie with meticulous care. pre-
pairing for neat but not gaudy ap
pearance upon the streets of Burning
Bush. The whistle failed to ring,
though, and he sought to sing. Are
you in pain?" his mother called to
him.
Worse than that" he said. and
started out toward the kitchen just
as the sound of shot roared
through the evening quiet of Burning
Bush.
With one bound he was at the door
way, peering through the dusk.
Where is it?" Mrs. Braden cried.
Jimmie, don't go out!"
But already he was gone, having
seen a figure rushing out from the
Staley porch across the street.
THE children met him at the door
Jessie. too terror-stricken to
speak, little Ben moaning with ex-
citement. The old Indian woman
crouched in a corner of the room,
staring toward a heap on the floor.
Jimmie Braden followed her gaze
and saw Ben Staley lying in a widen
ing pool of blood. Go on over to
my mother" he bade the children,
He grabbed the telephone, and called
DIR Williams "StaleV'S shot" he
yelled. Then he went over to the
wounded man. Staley opened his
eyes heavily. "He got me-" he
gasped.
"Cronkrite?"
Yes"
Expertly Jimmie made survey of the
wound. He got you," he said shortly.
Want anything?"
Miller StaIey said. The lawyer.
/ want to add something tony will
It's in the safe" He summoned the
numbers of the combination by a ter
rible mental effort. That's IT. Hold
it till 1 can say it." His eyes closed.
Where's Miller?"
Coming"
He came, even before DIR. Williams,
and Jimmie went out, showing the
Indian woman before him, to leave
the two men alone. In a moment,
however. the lawyer came after him.
HE wants you, too" Miller said
He went back and knelt beside
Staley. seeing how gray he had gone
in the brief moments. II want you
to take care of the children Staley
said slowly, his voice hardly more
than a whisper. "Will you?"
Sure
I'm making you their guardian"
"Oh, say"
81 want them to grow up here. It's
their country. You understand"
yes"
Wont you do it?''
"Oh. sure, will 1t was not in
Jimmie Braden's code to refuse a
dying man who appealed to him.
Want them now?" Staley nodded.
and Jimmie went out and summoned
Jessie and little Ben. Solemnly he
stood between them, meeting the look
in Staley's glazing eyes. The children
clung to him as if he were their only
anchor in a stormy sea. DIR. Williams,
bending over the dying man, nodded
to Miller. His nod bade haste, and
the lawyer came forward to take a
place beside him.
"I want" Staley said, his voice
clearing little, 'to have Jimmie Bra
den have my children. Set that
down.
Miller set it on the pad in his hand.
make it hold,' Staley commanded.
"Sign here" the lawyer ordered. The
man signed heavily on the document
Jimmie had taken from the safe. II
want witnesses" Miller said, and
called two men from the porch. They
Sionad under Sta1av'S mama and yuarf