The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-03-07
SUNSET PASS
 bH ZaMe GzeH

But. Sol, good Heavensl What
 forPs
 If you can get Dahb an Lincoln
 to sympathize with you an Thiry,
 thet'n be synpathizin' with Pres
 ton. Ten years ago there was a case somethin' like this. Wal, his friends got him to make good what i he'd stole an saved him from jail, if no worse. Preston's case ain't so lad, thet is, yet. If you've got the nerve an the wit you can keep Preston from ruin, an Thiry from broken heart. "
 Rock leaped up inspired, sud- denly on fire with the vision Win ter's sagacity had conjured up. He pushed aside table and chair and lllgged his startled friend.
 "Oldtimer, I've sure got the nerve
 and you've supplied the wit"
 Rock presented himself at Dabb's office the next morning. Hello, Rockl9 replied Dabb in answer to ahis greting. Have a chair and a cigar. I've been hopin' iyou'd run into town" Dabb appeared cordial.
 Flows Afny?" queried Rock.
 "she was fit as a lilly when I saw her last. She went to Denver to visit. Expect her home next week 3
 John, I told you I was in love with Thiry We'll, that wasn't so bad. But now she's in love with me. And the situation is he'll Man, you've only yourself to blame. You were advised not to go. I told you not to stay"
 II loved the girl replied Rock, f simply,
 aumpn!" said Dabb, chewing at ~ his cigar. Rock, some of us cat : tlemen know you haven't looked :. for anything shady about Preston. 7 How do you know?" asked Rock well that question came up the 7 other night at our Association meeting. Hesbitt gave you a hard rub. Over this Preston scandal Tom Lincoln an an one or two : others took exception to Hesbitt We claimed you not only weren't in with Preston on anythin' crook
 ed, but you hadn't trailed around lookin' for it. The reason, of course
 was you was sweet on Thiry Pres
 ton"
 eJohn, that was most damnat :, good of you" returned Rock warmly. You an Lincoln figured that if I had looked for shady ' work I'd have found it.
 Sure. We knew that. No out : fit could fool you" Well, what them"
 Not so easy. But personally believe you'd have come to me fol " advice an help"
 "I don't know that I'd have pre- sumed so far" went on Rock. Whats worrin' you, now, RockP'
 oHesbitt's outfits are after Pres o' ton,9 replied Rock, and he gav
 Daloh at detailed account of Dunne' is maneuver at the Notch camp an ' what had come of it. '' You dared that foreman Dunn ' to throw his gum" exclaimed Dapt ,s gravely.
 T sure did
 :, Rock, that was bold move ar u wise one. I'm darn glad you tol me this. Reckon 1t didn't seem i'm portant to you-that new-fo you'd have told it quick. But It W important"
 How soqn asked Rock, curiousl, :. ewell, in the first place it vindi ~ cates Lincoln an me in our stan V for you. An it will stump Hesbitt ie stAhuhi Then this new rancho
 is dead set against Preston2" F. ~Is he? We'll, guess. An q :, has his outfits r'arin Noy =, Rock, the strange thing is Hesbi' ~ has been losin' a good deal of stoc . most Half Moon brand--an' h sA men can't locate them. Hide nc
 hairl :. But other men have" ~ '.Dabb, what're you tellin' me- ', shouted Rock, fiercely Rock, now listen. You once roc uS for Jem Slagle Preston ruined Sls " " gle. An Slagle has hung arour ls, out there to get even, Reckon he " in fair way to do it. For he hs eu tracked the Preston's down. ''0 "Aw, this is awful!'' groans
 Rock. "Jem Slagle. '. An eS has tracked Preston down Wh ' '. to, John?Y
 Dabb offers a solution to
 Rocks problem, in tomorrow's in - - stallment. But there are compli ttS cations for Rock.