Evening star., 1934-08-12

I'm awfuliy sorry. Er-you see Rufe works
for dad and those balky horses weren't Rufes
at all. Dad must have sent him down to your
place TO-"
ITO get his 5000 check backl" snort.
"Never mind" the girl says to Dan "I'll buy
those worthless horses back-and with dads
money"
mo, thanks" Dan objects "If got stung.
that's my fault Your perspicacious papas one
up on me. But you can tell him that some day
I'll collect that pasture bill-and with plenty Of
interest"
I'm glad you take that attitude, Dan." Miss
June says, studying his handsome. If somewhat
set. face. And I'm wishing you luck in break
ing dad of his business methods"
AS the days pass a three-cornered romance
sprouts amid the sage-covered sweep of the
Powderhorn foothills, and Dams cash reserve,
like Camel Springs, ebbs lower and lower. June
McClain's playing the feminine lead, while the
count and Dan are rufied rivals. At first don't
think Dams got any more chance than a
wounded duck on the Painted Desert But even
II the count keeps his ritzy roadster working
overtime to cart June around, the girl finds
time to ride horseback quite often over to Dams
inherited pSeudo-rancho.
One evening Dan and I coax the spluttering
fivver into town. We're just pulling out of the
one-street metropolis when along comes Chic
Sales double, old Depot.
Hey, you fellers" he calls Long as you
live so close to the McClain ranch I'm goin' TO
let you deliver this telegram to him" And he
waves yellow envelope. TITS mighty i'm
portant. The Arrowhead Basin Sheep Co went
busted, and the feller in charge wants McClain
to buy 10000 head Of sheep at big bargain,
bein' Macs the only feller that's got enough
money to handle the deal But this telegram's
got to be answered tonight. Tell Mac I'll keep
open till he gets here. This deal means thou
sands of dollars to him, you betcha!"
Dan hesitates. Then he says, "AIl right,
Depot Give 1t here. Wen deliver it."
Away We zip, slowing down only once, and
that's when we dip into Roam Horse Gulch,
where a narrow road has been chiseled through
steep, sandrock Drinks.
Don't slow down here" I caution Dan, "or
we'll never get this piSton-slapping perambu-
lator up the other side"
Dan only smiles little. But when we've
gone another half mile he doesn't pick that
fork Of the road leading to the. McClain place.
He serenely swerves the fiivver toward Camel
Springs, which by this time are running about
as much water leaky radiator. This act
and that peculiar smile on his face intrigue me.
"You-you're not going to deliver McClain's
teiegram?" gulp, feeling nervous as the fat
woman stepping into revolving door.
I'm not, but you are" he says. Then bring
ing the vibrating vehicle to a stop in front of
our barn door, he hops out and further explains:
I'm getting off here, Willie. You drive on over
to McClains rancho sheepo and deliver the good
news-remembering, Of course. that you're not
supposed to know the contents of that yellow
envelope And take at least As minutes to make
the trip"
But what the" begin
Never mind-now." he says. starting into
the barn.
Bewildered as a tourist who couldn't see q
single signboard on the horizon, I slide under
the steering wheel and start for Crystal Creek.
keeping an eye on my watch crystal, too, all the
while I'm meandering along through the mel
low moonlight.
EXACTLY As minutes after leaving Camel
l. Springs I arrive at the McClain home,
where find the hazel-eyed June and her father
sitting on the breeze kissed veranda Leaping
sprightiy from the fivver, call:
Telegram for Mr.. McClainl"
Then explain the reason for my bringing it.
that it was Depots idea.
McClain tears 1t open and holds 1T up TO the
light shining from the parior window. Then
he smiles craftily. the little boy tptoeing into
the pantry.
Good news9" asks June.
"a Pine newsis her father answers, beauning