Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-14

He rose. stretched his long length
and walked off the porch to mount his
horse, leaving Jim about as surprised
as he had ever been Happy Jack came
out in time to see him Join his COM
rades and ride back with them toward
the corrals
Short visit. Glad it was. what'd
he want?"
Darn II I savvy. altogether. Didn't
you hear any of our talk?"
mo. I reckoned the less I heard the
better. Then Hank couldn't razz me.
But I had q bunch Of what he was up
to-
Jim did not press the question. He
carried his rife back into the cabin.
rather ashamed Of his overhaste. and
Keeling already curious enough TO call
on HeeSeman
They had supper. after which Jack
smoked and talked. while Jim listened.
Eveldently Happy Jack had taken q
liking TO him. Jim went to bed early,
not because he was sleepy, but to keep
from calling on that fellow HeesemaTl.
How many nights Jim Wall had lain
down under the dark trees 10 wakeful.
ness, TO the thronging thoughts that
must mock the rest Of any man who
has strayed from the straight and mar
row path! 1t tormented him at GER
tain times. But that never kept the
old concentrated pondering over tomor-
row from gaining control Of his con.
seriousness
There had been no hesitation about
Hank Hays declaring himself in re-
gard to Heesenan. Callous. contemptu-
Gus, Hays had indicated the desirability
OF Kidding the range of Heesen1an. But
Heeseman had been subtle.
Unquestionably his motive had been
10 undermine Hays in Jtm's regard. And
few questions and an assertion or iva
had had their effect. Jim made the
reservation that he had not accepted
Hays on anything but face value. Still.
the robber had gradually built up a
character OF intent force, cunning and
strength. These had crashed. though
there was no good reason for that. jim
nad not accepted Hays word for any
thing.
Hays was not a square partner! This
stuck in Jim's craw.
Why this seemed true puzzled Tim
Heeseman had simply verified a form
ing but still disputed suspicion in Jir1's
rnind-that Hank Hays had evil de-
signs upon Herrick's sister. Heeseman
and Hays had probably known for weeks
that this English girl was expected to
arrive.
Suppose he had What business was
mat OF Jfns? None. except that he
now formed one of HAYS band and. as
such, had right to question activities.
Rustling cattle. at least in a moderate
way, was almost legitimate business.
RAnchers, since the early DAYS of the
cattle drives from Texas, had accented
their common losses II had been only
big steals that reused them to ire and
action, to make outlaws out Of rustlers.
Nevertheless, IL was extremely doubtful,
out here In the wilds Of Utah, that even
wholesale steal would Be agitating. To
abuuct q girl, however, might throw
western interests upon the perpetrators.
Hays object assuredly was to collect
ransom.
still. that had not been Heesennara't
intimation, nor had IL been. Jirn's orig
insl suspicion. He gave it up in dis
gust. Time would tell. But he did not
feel further inclined to cali upon Heese-
man. He would stick to Hays, awaiting
developmt nts.
The ensuing day passed uneventfully
No one of Smokys outfit showed up
nor did Havs return. Jim waited fol-
| Herrick to give him orders, which were
not Forthcoming. The rancher wa;
chasing jack rabbits and coyotes with
| the hounds,
Next morning Jim made It a point
to ride over to the barns. The rarlche1
came down in a queer costume. The
red coat took Jlr1's eye, A motley pack
of hounds and sheep dogs was new to
Jim, as he had not seen or heard any
dogs about the ranch. Jim was invited
to ride along with Herfick and the
mans camp, which was vacant. Jim
was to learn that the ranchef had put
the Heesen1an outfit TO work on the
cutting and peeling Of logs I'D on the
slope, preparatory to the erection Of a
new barn
Jack rabbits we're as thick as bees.
The cowboys led the dogs, which soon
became unInansgeable and bolted Then
the race was on. Where the ground
was level and unobstructed by brush
or cut up by washes, Herrick did fairly
well as to horsemanship, but in rough
going he could not keep to the English
saddle. He would put his horse at any
thing, and he had EARRING fall.
Notwithstanding this, Herrick finished
out the hunt. He was funny and queer,
but he was game, and Jim liked him.
On the way back Jim amused the En-.
glishman by shooting running Jack fab-
bits with his revolver. He managed 70
kill three out of five to Herrick's In
finite establishment and admiration.
by jove! I never saw such marks
manship," he calculated.
THAT was really poor shooting"
Indeed. What would you call. good
shooting, may ask?"
"Well. riding by a post and putting
five bullets into it. Or splitting the edge
of a card at 20 feet"
LET me see your gum"
Jim Wall broke his rule when he
handed it over, butt first.
Herrick. looked at it with mingled
feelings "Why, there's no tfigger!" he
exclaimed, in utter sstonishfnent.
az do not use a trigger
Enumeration. mani How do you
make the pistol go off?"
Look here. Let me show you" said
Jim. taking the gun. II thumb the
hammer . like that"
by Jovel But please explain"
"Mr. Herrick. the cooking of q gun
and pulling the trigger require twice as
much time as thumbing. For example,
supposing the eyesight and the draw Of
two men are equal, the one who thumbs
his hammer will kin the other"
"Ah-er-yes I see. Most extraor-
binary. Your American West is quite
bewildering. Is this thumbing q COM
mon practice among you desperadoes?"
Very uncommon. So uncommon
that I'll be obliged If you will keep it
to yourself"
ha! I grasp the point wal you're
a comforting fellow to have round the
place.
fferrick was evidently o free, care
less, impressive man who had been used
to fulfilling his desires. His excentric.
ity was not apparent except in the fact
of his presence there in wild Utah. He
liked horses, dogs, guns. the outdoors,
physical effort, but he had no concep-
Ia 81 IL
ton in this unsettled country.
When they arrived at the barn he
asked Jim to ride up to the house. where
they would look over some English
guns.
The big living room had three win.
u So