Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
ROBBERS Roosr
BY ZANE GREY

dangerous for me to ride about alone, !
will take you with me. Not, however.
that I'd be afraid to go alone. Then !
would Dc perfectly safe, would not?"
Wall ficked the reins.
Look, Miss Herrick. We're on top
at last. There's your country. The
black snow-capped mountains are the
Henrys. We go through that gap--a
paste Star Ranch. That purple SPACE
to the left-with the lines and streaks-
that's the desert
"Ah-h-hl" she had cried out, breath
lessly.
Jim halted the horses and gazed him
self. trying to see with this strangers
eyes. He had mora feeling that 1t
would not be long until the open waste
land claimed him again. For him the
bursting of one Of the Henry peaks into
volcanic eruption would be no more
startling than what would accrue from
the advent Of this white faced, golden
haired woman.
Jim drove down the hill. and again
put the blacks to a keen gait on level
road, this time a straight, white line
across longer valley Jim Calculated
that he would beat the time he had de-
clared, and reach Star Ranch before
shutdown
When he drove past Heeseman's Camp
all that worthys outfit were at supper.
The road passed within so feet of their
chuck wagon.
What ruffanIy crew." murmured
Miss Herrick. Who, pray, are these
men?"
Part of the outfit your brother hired
to pro4ect his cattle from rustlers." re-
piled Jim. Funny thing about that Is
they are rustlers themselves"
"Deliciously funny, though hardly SO
Tor Bernie. DeS he know it?"
Not to my knowledge. Heeseman-
the leader Of that gang-came on his
own recommendation and got the Job"
III have the fun Of feline Ber-
ME. Oh, what's that?
What an enormous barn! All yellow.
And new one going up. Logs and
want to stop" VIZ '
NO, Miss Herrick." he replied grimly
III drive you home safely or die In the
man we're coming to-
which," she asked, laughingly.
The one standing fartest out" re-
piled Jim. Hes got on a black SOM
brero. Don't look at him. That's
Hank Hays. 81. Mss Herrick, drop
your veil'
She obeyed, unobtrusively, though
her silvery laugh pealed out. You are
teasing, of course. But must reward
your effort to entertain me-"
Jim drove by Hays, who stood apart
from group of cowboys. If he noticed
Jim at all, it was totally oblivious to
jim. But Walls glance, never SO
strained, pierced the shadow under
Hays dark sombrero rim to the strange
eyes below. They were not pale now.
Jim's hand clenched tight on the retns.
He became preoccupied with the nucleus
Of the first deadly thought toward Hays.
Hank Hays. Who Is he?" Miss Her
rick was saying.
Another of your brothers vigilantes."
"Ughl How he staredl But 1t wasn't
that which struck me most. In India
I've seen cobTas rise and poise, ready to
strike. And you, Mr.. Hays, looked for
all the world like giant cobra with a
black sombrero on its head. Wasn't
that silly of me?"
mot silly. An instinct. Self-preser-
yation,'' returned Jim, sternly.
She passed that by, but only perhaps
because she caught sight of the ranch
house up the slope. Here her enthusi
asm was unbounded. Herrick stood on
the porch steps with his dogs. He wore
high boots and red coat. He waved.
Presently Jim refined in the sweating
horses before the steps. He was most
curious to see the meeting between
brother and sister. She stood up.
Bernie, old top, here am" she said,
gayIy; -. -, -. r,.,ar. >. 70
piled. and stepped out to help her
alight. did you have nice trip?'
''Ripping-from Grand Junction on"
They did not embrace or even shake
hands jim, coming to himself, leaped
out and began removing the bags.
Barnes, whom he had totally forgotten,
ilirnped oIIt IN the other side.
Barnes, carry the bags m. jim,
hurry the blacks down. They're not.
You must have pushed them"
yes, sir. Stage was late. but we MADE
up for It."
Helen. where's that Wells-Fargo
package?" queried Herrick.
Here in my satchel On, Bernie, us
"Come IN and take OF that veil. he
said, and with his arm in hers led her
up on the porch.
Jim LET Barnes take the team, while
he crossed the bench and made his way
down the Steep rocky declivity TO Hays
cabin. Happy Jack was whistling about
the fire. knocking pans and otherwise
indicating the proximity OF supper.
"Howdy, Jack What's tricks for to-
day?" as,,ed Jim.
"Glad you're back. jim" declared the
cook. cordially. "Anyone'd have thunk
you was goin' to dish the outfit-judgin'
from Hays. Hes been like hound On
a leash. Smoky rode In today full OF
ginger, new, an a roll Of long green
that'd have choked COW. But even
tibet didn't ease the boss"
what allied him, Jack?" inquired
Jim, not without Impotence.
"Dinged If know. It had to do with
your goin' to Grand, darned sight more
than Smokys."
Heavy footballs outside attested to the
return of Hays. Without more COM
ment Jim stood up and away from the
table, to face the door. Hays entered.
He was not the genial Hays Of other
DAYS, yet it was hard to define the
change in him, unless It consisted In
gloomy, restless force behind his stride.
Smoky followed him in. agreeable b.
contrast.
(To Be Continued)