Evening star., 1935-02-21

@Zx = 4 kAeiD.FIRE RoMANcE q. EVAN cvHNs

said the foreman. "what about old
Montana? I'm asking"
Many other things were going on at
the same time about the big Lavery
house. There was Ruth Lavery in her
room being draped in films Of white
She smiled q good deal until the girl
who was the best Of her friends said
to her suddenly, whispering: Ruth
are you smiling because you're happy
or Just to please me?"
"rm happy. Of course" answered
Something is going to happen!"
And In front Of that house Richard
Lavery senior was walking restlessly
up and down, up and down, scanning
the horizon from time to time a
though he expected sign Of changing
weather to roll darkly up on the edge
Of the world.
He turned almost expectantly to.
ward sudden rattle Of hoofs that
beat on the lower trail and then re.
vealed rider on a sweating mus
tang. It was a young fellow with q
look Of anxiety, as though wild In
dians might be behind him. He threw
himself out of the saddle and ran tc
Lavery.
"D'you know what's happened?" he
gasped. Jack Lascar-that yaller-
faced feller called Lascar that showed
up in town the other day-he's gone
and nailed a notice on the bulletin
board in front Of the post Office. I've
copied it down."
He pulled out piece Of paper and
read aloud. Half the words were a
gasping whisper and half were almost
shouted:
Everybody notice that wants to:
"Me, that is Jack Lascar, Is going to
stand out in the middle Of the street
in front of Hi Bailey's blacksmith shop
at 1890 this same morning and wait
for the low, yaller hound by the name
Of Montana Kid.
"If he don't show up then and there
you all know what kind Of skunk he
is. JACK LASCAR."
"Wait a moment" exclaimed Law
cry. where's the sheriff? What does
he mean by permitting open chal-
lengeS in a place like Bentonville?"
"The sheriff's out of town." said the
messenger. Some of the boys have
sent for him. He ought to be back by
about 1890. But thought that you
might want to know"
Get of the ranchl" cried Lavery
Don't let Montana see you. II he
should find out"
He found that the rounded eyes OF
the messenger were peering straight
past him and, turning. Richard Law
cry saw Montana standing in the open
door of the house. Above the white Of
Of the stif collar his face looked
browner and younger than ever. Mon
tana was rolling q cigarette, letting
his fingers see their own way. while
he said:
"You ride back and tell Jack Lascar
that it's little late for me to get his
message. but I'm coming down there
as fast as good horse will take me
Tell him I'll finish the job left halt
done a while back"
He scratched the match, touched
the flame to the crimped end Of the
wheat-straw paper and took in good,
deep breath Of the smoke. His eyes
had an absent look, as though he were
considering further answer. But the
messenger jerked his head in under
standing and ran back to his pony
1t was something worth remembering
during a life to be the connecting link
between q Jack Lascar and Q Mon
tana.
When Montana got into the saddle
and logged around the corner of the
barn he saw that he would have tc
face all the music in one great burst
For on the veranda stood the as.
sembled family, down to the one
legged cook. with simmer of white
for Ruth Lavery in the center Of the
group, and her father, tall and
straight and forbidding, beside her.
Montana rode straight up to them
and pulled of his hat.
Montana rides, tomorrow, to meet
Z; ;e oh