Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-08

deserved to be touched. Wasn't that a
slick way to beat the boy here out of
six bits7"
ut shore was. An thet's what riled
me- Reckon. though, II he hadn't
flashed the wallet I'd been little more
rs there a sheriff at Green River?"
IT never seen him II there Is. Wal.
I'll be ridin' along. All you comm with
me, Stranger"
Stranger. what'd you say your name
call me wall. Jim WALL" rejoined
the rider.
Hays nonchalance treasured Wall as
to the status of Green River.
ANY dance hall in this burg?" asked
Wall.
Nary dance hall, worse luck. Any
weakness for such?"
Cant say It's a weakness, but the
last two I bumped into make me want
to steer clear Of more"
Women" queried the r0bber.
SIT wasn't any fault of mine"
wal, women ruined me-" returned
Hays, sententiously.
You don't look it."
Men never look what they air"
Don't agree with you. I can always
tell what men are by their looks"
How'd you figure me?" demanded
Hays
II don't want to fatter you on such
short acquaintance"
"Iiumph! Wal, here we air." replied
the robber, hating before a red stone
building.
doorway. that led into a saloon and
lodging house.
Howdy, Red"
''Howdy, Hank"
see anythin' of a fat party. sort Of
puffy in the face? He was ridin' a
roam an 1eadin' two packs"
~%Oh. him. Sure. He rode through
town yeliin' he'd been robbed" returned
the man called Red, grinning
The devil he didl Who was ne, Red?"
II dunno. Happy was standin' out
here. an when the feller stopped beller-
| in tibet he wanted the sheriff cause
he'd been robbed, why, Happy up an
says, Hey, my friend, did he leave any
thin on you?' Then the Teller up an
rode off,"
It was this speech of Reds that de-
cided several things for Jim Wall
Il want TO look after my horse" was
all he said,
Take him round back to the barn.
I'm dog-tired. Send that lazy Jake
after my boss"
This edifice was the last one on the
street. The barn mentioned was some
distance back, at the end Of q pole
fence. Upon turning corner to en-
ter the corral he encountered q loose
jointed young man.
Say, are you Jake?" he asked.
"You bet" returned the other.
There's man out in front who calls
himself Hank Hays. He wants you to
come get his horse. Do you know him?"
The stable boys reply to that was to
rush of, his boots thudding.
Enough said" muttered Wall to
himself. "Mr. Hays stands well in
Green River, as far as this outfit Is con-
cerned."
Wall sauntered back and before
Hank Hays and the two individuals
with whom he was talking were aware
OF his presence he had seen them
They turned at his slow, climbing step
Neither Of the two with Hays was the
man called Red.
"Hullo, here you are" spoke up
Hays. Il was speakin' of you. Meet
Happy Jack an Brad Lincoln. :.
Fellers, this stranger to Green River
answers to the handle Jim Wall"
Greetings were exchanged, but not
one of the three offered q hand. To
Wall the man called Happy Jack fitted
| his name. The only contradictory fea-
ture lay in his guns. Like Hank HAYS,
he packed two. The other, Lincoln,
was some one to look at twice-a
swarthy, dark, restless-eyes man, who,
ike Hays and his companion. had
nothing OF the cowboy stripe in his
makeup.
Let's have drink" suggested Hays.
Don't care If I do" responded Wall.
The interior, bright with lamplight.
proved TO be more pretentious than the
outside of the saloon.
The men lined up at the bar. to be
| served drinks by Red. who was evil
IDENTIFY bartender as well as proprietor.
| Wall missed nothing.
"Cowpuncher?" queried Lincoln.
"Yes. But I've not ridden the range
much of late years. replied Wall.
you've the cut of it. Where you
amin for?"
mo place in particular" replied
Wall, guardedly. Might try riding
here If can get on some outfit"
"On the DODGE" queried Lincoln.
What might you mean by on the
dodge'?"
Anybody particular lookin' for your"
II dareSay. More than one man.
$50 I thought. Friend. you have the
cut, the eye. the movement, the hand
Of a gun-hghter. I happen to know
Eyes? Wen, II that's 90 hope IL
isn't against me in Utah"
Here Hays, who had heard this bit
Of dialogue, interposed both with per-
son and speech.
"wall, thet's agin a man anywhere
in the West, generally So many fools
wantin' to try you out! But RECKON
it's a ticket for my outfit"
Your OUTFIT" questioned Wall.
Shore, Don't mind Brad. Let's
~ q ~
later"
Wall followed Hays into back room,
where woman waved them to seats
At the conclusion of the meal Jim
Wall had to guard himself against the
feeling Of well being resulting from a
full stomach.
Have a cisar2" offered Hays.
Don't care II do
wal, let's go out an talk before
we Join the other fellers," suggested
Hays. They returned to the big room.
1t was empty except for Red, who was
filling lamp.
They've all gone down to meet the
stage. It's overdue now.
Stage! From where?"
"West, so set easy" laughed Hays.
"Thet one from East won't git in till
next Wednesday. BY tibet time you
won't be here"
NO? Where will be, since you seem
to know"
"You may be in the garden of Eden
eatin' peaches" retorted Hays. See.
here, Wall, you're q testy cuss. Any
reason why you can't be @ good fell
ler?"
Come to think of that. yes, there
is" returned Wall thoughtfully.
IAN right. Thanks for tibet much.
I reckon I understand you better. What
were you Wall, once upon . time?"
wall laughed nusingly. "A country