Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28
THE SUNDAY STAR WASHINGTON JULY g. T.

and after little further talk Dell and Peter
Ogg rode back up the gulch toward the camp.
They passed Charleys horse again on this re-
turn trip, grazing little farther away from the
cabin. and Dell pulled up his own beast and
looked at the creature for q long minute spccu-
latively. Peter asked curiousiy:
What you looking at?"
But Dell, whose eyes were on the horse made
NO reply. -. ~~-> g.
For . few days more Beede continued in this
apparently purposeless fashion. 10 ride to and
fro about the Ida neighborh00d. His ways
were solitary, he Still refrained from asking
questions and he acquired some reputation for
aiience and abstraction. Once or twice he rode
up the main canyon to the larger camp some
miles away. and once or twice he rode down
the creek. But always he returned to Ida and
1t began to be evident to every one that Dell
believed the lone bandit dwelt either in the
camp or close by.
This whisper moved to and fro and men set
. guard upon their tongues One or two men
drifted quietly out of camp and were seen no
more, but Dell Beede seemed undisturbed by
these departures
And as the days passed and he still made
no move the general uneaSiness was by his
delay intensified
Charley Collet once or twice came stumping
up the gulch On his crutch to spend an hour
or two in the camp. He saw Dell Beede and
they seemed on the friendliest terms but Char
ley confessed to Dell that he was tired Of this
Job he held.
I'm more used to the fiat lands" he said
now and again. This up-and-down-hill bust
ness goes hard on man with one leg. Likely
I'll be moving out before very long"
Dell made no comment, but o day or two
later Ida heard that Charley had gone so far
toward carrying out this intention as to ask
for q relief =
When Dell Beede heard the news he seemed
concerned and regretful and he sought out
Peter Ogg.
Busy" he asked. Peter was not particu-
LARRY 50. 81 thought we might 60 down and
try to talk Charley Collet into staying on for
Q WHILE" said Dell.
"Ill get my horse" Peter agreed.
II thought we'd walk" Dell explained
Pete started to protest. The way was steep
and the sun was high. But Dell had already
turned away unheeding, and 50 Pete fell in
beside him and they departed down the trail.
Pete had been in Dell's company so much
that he had learned to respect the others habit
Of silence. so he said little now. They moved
indttferently side by side. but as they left the
camp Dell did something that startled Peter.
There was an ore dump over the trail and o
sardine can had lodged on this dump five or
ten yards from where they passed. Dell, with
out warning, whipped out his gun and flung q
bullet into this can and it leaped into the air
and fell and tumbled toward them. Dell
grinned and looked at Pete.
"What'd you do that for?" Pete demanded.
Il wanted to see II could hit It," said Dell
well. you did," said Pete resentfully. But
Dell offered no apology. He elected the empty
shell. reloaded and they went on down the trail
Pete thought casually that Dell had been
mighty quick with the gun.
When they came to the path that led from
the trail up to Charley,S cabin they turned that
way. Charieys horse usually grazed along the
little stream here, but they did not see him
etll they came near the cabin. He was tied
up I'm the shade Of . clump Of aspens, and
Pete said:
Charley must be going for o ride"
But Dell made no reply.