Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-06
INSTALLMENr xxx.

| ~ On Inc porch 1Ote
~ here you arel" was his greet greet,
as il they were returning from
| q days visit to the village.
Eyes, Bernie, here ~am-thanks TO
my escort" replied Helen.
Jim helped her out, while some cow
boys came running.
"I1l take the team down." Jim said
hurriedly.
"You come in." returned Herrick as
he grtpped Jim's hand and gave him
and led her in, with his arm around
her. Jim purposely fingered at the task
OF collecting Helen'S worn and muddy
luggage and carried It in. Brother and
sister stood with arms locked and their
gaze was hard to meet.
Jim, you will have supper with u.s."
she said. "I'll leave you and Bernie
-. Oh, what will a tub and change
feel like!"
out of the living room.
Helen hadn't time to tell me much"
Herrick said. Hays kidnapped her for
ransom. Took her to q hell hole down
In the brakes. Robbers Roost she
called 1t. Held her there captive. They
fought among themselves-gambling
with my money. Heeseman's crew found
them. There was battle. In the end
you killed Hays and brought Helen back
That's the gist Of her story. But
want it in detail"
dollar. Herrick." replied Jim.
The Englishman regarded that as Of
little consequence and urged Jim to q
recital of the whole affair.
Presently Herrick spoke with some
thing Of gravity: Helen told me that
I was to keep you at Star Ranch.
hope you won't let this Hays debacle
It'll be impossible for me to stay"
rejoined Jim briefly. But thanks for
your kindness"
give you an interest. Anything"
Please don't embarrass me further.
l cant stay. =. It's hard to con-
fess-but have had the gall, the abb
surd luck, to fall in love with your sis
s you to oS SnoR b help it. want
turned me from that old outlaw life.
I'll go away and begin life over again. !"
BY Jove! So that's your trouble.
Does Helen know?"
yes, told her. It was after she
asked me to come and stay at Star
| Ranch. Said she would never feel safe
again unless came. So I had to tell
her.
Declare I don't blame her. I'd, feel
little safer myself. That devil Hays
lett his trademark on me. Look here.
BY thunder, Wall, it's blooming
mix understand you. and think you're
a man to respect and like. Can't we
get around the trouble somehow"
There's no way, Herrick."
Helen has her own sweet will about
everything. II she wants you to stay,
you'll stay, that can assure you. is
| there any honorable reason why YOU
| ought not stay-outside of this unfor-
tunate attachment to Helen?"
I leave you to be Judge Of that"
r rei Jim, and briefly related the
Il like your West. like you West
erners!" Herrick exploded. "Whatever
Helen wants Is quite right with me.
I can't conceive of her insisting
on your staying here-unless there is
hope for you"
That is wild. Herrick. can't con-
ceive OF such a thing. 1t wouldn't be
Iair to take her seriously-after the
norror Sne's been through-and her In
Helen came in to breakfast next
morning attired in the riding habit she
mad worn on that never to- be- forgotten
i, day Of their ride
BY Jove!" exclaimed Herrick. IF I
were you I'd never want to ride again I"
After greeting her Jim could only
look his admiration and wonder,
am taking up my ranch life where
II lett oh-with reservations from sad
experience Exp replied Helen as she took
ner seat. Bernie, We had to trade
Jtm's horse, Bay. What can he ride
today?"
He may take his choice. There are
any number of good beasts"
by the way, Jim, told Tasker to
follow us at once with our horses.
snail treasure that horse Gray. A rob-
Ders horse! Tasker ought to be
here soon, maybe tomorrow"
Jim felt the solid earth slipping from
under his feet.
Il expected to leave today" he said
casually. But I'll wait till tomorrow.
Bay is horse hated to part with !"
SO soon!" exclaimed Helen, with
dark, 1nscrutable eyes on him,
You are home. All is well with
you.
! Bernie, could you not induce Jim to
Stayp" she queried.
Herrick waved a deprecatory hand.
Bernie has consented to let me share
MS ranching enterprise" she said. "Id
IKE TO see 1t pay-a reasonable inter-
est, at least. And I have rather con-
ceived the idea that it'd be difficult, II
not impossible. without you"
Not at all" replied Jim, constrain-
edly. '''''
Presently she arose. Come. let us
ride: We can discuss it better In the
saddle"
Jim could not find his tongue. He
was vastly concerned with this ride.
After it, would he be as strong as he
y u-0 To h.
Barnes led the onslaught of ranch
hands upon Helen, and the welcome
she received could not have been any,
thing but gratifying.
| Jim got on the horse Barnes saddled
Tor him and followed Helen, who to
his surprise. took the road back up to
the ranch house. Perhaps she had for
gotten something. But when he turned
the bend she was mounting the trail
that led up the ridge. If there had been
giants on huge SteedS pulling Jim back,
he still would have kept on. When they
got up to the level, among the pines,
he trotted to catch up with her. But
she kept little ahead
Jim's thoughts locked around one as
founding fact-this was the trail they
had ridden down, after that encounter
when he had kissed her. Sight and
hearing, his sense of all around him,
SEEMED strangely u1GenSlIleQ. Inc pines
whispered, the rocks had secret voice,
the sky burned blue, the white clouds
sailed, the black Henrys doomed above
and the purple-gray valley deepened its
colors below.
Helen halted her horse under the very
pine where they had stopped to listen
| to the hounds and cowboys racing up
the ridge after the deer.
my sense of direction seems to be
all right" said Helen.
| Helen. fear it's better than your
sense-of kindness, let me say.
Why did you bring me here?"
please look at my cinch," she re-
| piled, coolly.
| linn fiiSrnoalnted more insure of him .