Evening star., 1931-05-22
ROBBERS RoOsT
BY ZANE GREY
INSTALLMENT XIV.
tContinued }

Jim tied his horse in the shade Of a
cedar and climbed a tumble OF rocks
so he could command a better view. Al
most at once he sighted riders coming
down a wash about a mile away, and
he had opened his mouth to shout the
good tidings when something checked
him.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again.
Three riders! Assuming that two of
them were Hays and Latimer, who
could the third be? They disappeared
behind a corner of bank Jim sank
down in a cold sweat. Perhaps these
men we're Indians or strangers from
Hankville, or prospectorS But he had
not seen any pack animals
After a long anxious watch he saw
the three reappear In the wash, con-
sidsrably closer. The one in the mid
die rode gray horse and otherwise
contrasted sharply with the dark mounts
and dark clothes of the other two. A
second time the trio disappeared
Smoky was peering about in desul-
tory manner, but he was too low down
to sight the riders. Jim was now shak-
ing. An awful premonition attacked
him He had met 1t and almost over
come it as another unaccountable at
tack of nerves when the foremost horse
man emerged from behind bank He
recognized the stalwaft figure, the wide,
black sombrero, the poise in the saddle.
That man was Hank Hays.
Jim scarcely dared shift his gaze back
to the second rider, but he was ire
sistibly forced to. A Slight figure in
tan. dropping in the saddlel
80 help mel" he whispered, and
sank down on the stone. That center
rider was Helen Herrick. For mo-
ment a hell rioted in Jim Walls breast.
How he cursed himself for vacillating
idiot! His intuition had been right.
He had seen through this robber lead
er's behavior at Star Ranch But like
fool he had not trusted himself. jim
grew cold to his very marrow. Yet his
intelligence did not wholly succumb to
his fury. He strove to think. This
hound had gotten Helen. Just how, it
was useless to conjecture. But to kill
him then. right on the spot? That gave
Jim Wall pause. Hays men would
roar at this deal, involving them in the
abduction of a woman, still they would
| hardly go so far as to resist him with
arms Jim crushed down his deadly
impulse. He would wait.
Well, indeed had it been for jim to
espy this trio long before they reached
him. He had time to recover, to think
what was best. If Hank Hays had come
upon Jim suddenly it would have been
his doom.
One of the pack animals neighed
shrilly and then all the horses stuck
up their ears.
"Say, I heerd hoss-sfloe ring on a
stone" called Mac, who had ears as
keen as a horse.
Whats that?" queried Smoky, sharp
ly. He leapsd up.
Look! Riders comin'l' exclaimed
Brad Lincoln.
Cant he nobody but Hank"
Jim leaped OF the rock, crashing
down behind the watching men, star
Ting them. Smoky, it's Hays. / saw
him a mile Off"
why didn't you say somethin' then?"
retorted Slocum grufly
II was too flabbergasted, replied
Jim, coolly, as he joined them.
IT'S Hank all right" said Mac
'Shore, I see him now. Thet's Hank"
Jim, what fiabbergasted you?" de-
manded Slocum.
Three riders!' flashed jim.
"WalF !. So I see. What you make
Of thet?" calculated Slocuh.
The three emerged clearly from be-
hind the cedars A blank silence en-
under control. His thoughts were whirl-
ing.
"Humph. Little rider in between, >
commented Lincoln
"Thet's Sparrowhawk behind"
who's the third party?"
Hank shore is a queer duck. takin'
up with strangers like he does"
Somebody with a mask ont"
AN long slicker."
"Fellers," rasped out Slocum, tibet s
a woman with a veil"
Jim thought the moment had come.
"Men, Hank has double-crossed us.
Hes stolen Herrick's sister,"