Evening star., 1934-01-07
illustrated By ETHEL HAXS

politely. Once. however, when he was gentling
a very devil of horse in the corral, he heard
a cry of fright from the house shed where .
window opened upon the yards.
So! She vas spyingl Well, he'd give her
an eyeful. And there followed for her benefit
every trick known to distinguishing, sum
fishing changing ends, with at last That
meanest of all-the beast throwing himself
back In an attempt to crush his rider AS ne
crashed down in the split second when Holly
stepped easily from the stirrups he heard
scream that was a scream Milksop was he?
Well, welly
One day, some time later. Wink remarked
with a worried air, You know, Holly don't
hold with the schoolmaam ridin alone ike
she does She didn't git home t'other night TIL
dark, an I'm tellin' you she'd been ridin!
Then come Sat'd'y. she packs lunch an Is
gone all day, an I seen her headin' toward
the mountains. 'Taint safe. Them fellers up
there might spy her an come down tc meet
her, an they amt decent hair on tner
heads"
Holly received Wink's remarks in silence.
He had not been blind to those things himself.
On the following Saturday small incident fed
a growing suspicion to almost certainty.
He was saddling Lynns horse when she
came into the corral She looked like boy
except for the willful, red-lipped face under
the rakish wide -brimmed hat. Perhaps he dis
concerted her; at any rate she dropped her
package of lunch and out of it dropped an odd
article for a demure schoolma am to he carry
ing. She snatched it up and replaced it, and
Holly calmly handed her the reins.
1902" he meditated as she rode OF, Meboe
you go up in the hills to smoke a package
of Jims cigarettes all by yourself-an mebbe
you don't. But II that's your taste. help your
self"
However, as time passed he found his mind
not on his work. When one Of the broncs gave
rx<sn hn uWA
shes a DANCED little fool" he growled IS
he threw his saddle upon q steadier mount.
"She's partly fooled by that handsome face
an that smooth tongue. but mostly she thinks
she's gittin' back at me somehow. But she's
got to be warned. anyhow"
S HE loped along he yainiy scanned the
n landscape for q sight Of the flying figure.
His anxiety increased, also his wrath. Grimly
he headed for the Sink Finally he dismomted
to creep to the gap that gave on the trail.
Then he heard Lynn's voice: Let me go, you
beast! I thought you never mistreated women"
Good business my dear" Chess Bates suave
tones replied $50 can always find one to
coddle me-even bring me cigarettes"
Holly removed his hat and peered below.
Chess still something Of the dandy. was hold
ing the struggling Lynn and laughing: "One
kiss darling. There isn't any boob waddle to
embarrass you today"
"You-you DEVIL II he were here YOU
wouldn't dare!'
THAT yellow drug store cowboy?"
He isn't! He'll kill you for this!'
mo, he won't. I'm putting you on that horse
with your feet and hands tied-and after .
week with me in the Sink you'n be as tame as
q kitten"
Over the edge went Holly. launching himself
on Chess Bates like eatamount. At the edge
of the precipice they grappled
Both of Chess hands were at Holly's throat
Choked almost senseless Holly slowly relaxed.
Chess let 60 to reach for his gun and finish
him, and Holly's cropping hand found a rock.
brought it hard up against the others skull.
Chess fell unconscious
Holly got up. Lynn ran to his side.
Lynn slipped her arms around his waist. the
second time in her life Then, In no time at
al, she was so close that her lips were not
visible.
This time he rode up to the corral gate astride
the horse, one arm boldly circling her waist,
r the other leading two horses. upon one Of
sat the very groggy Mr.. Bates.
Here's your horse and here's your bandit"
he said to Wink, who came to meet them. 1T
was Lynn's quick wits that captured him."
"Darling" Lynn whispered at the lie that
covered forever her foolishness.