The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-10-09

she would have felt she had reverted to
an impossible subject.
LADY" retorted her companion, IF !
told you. you wouldn't believe 1t. But I
don't say I'm sore at everybody. And
I'm not sore at you. I'm glad there's
one decent person now at Gunlock-"
Jane bridled again. Zone decent per
son! I like that!"
| Hang 1t. didn't mean to make an
other break. Please excuse, and I'll
hog-tie my troublesome tongue
| is 1t very much fartherr asked
Jane. alarmed now by approaching
darkness.
Not whole lot. But maybe you'd
better mount Off and rest n little II
you need to. It's rough going from here
on Tor I'm trying to take a short cut"
You're not lost, are your" she de-
manded susplciously.
Not yet"
But you might get lost?'
Not tonight. And II you'n stick to
the saddle little ways farther, You
can have drink at a spring to fresh
en- you up"
| How can you find it,"
III you'd drunk from II as many
times rs l have. you could find 1t In q
sandstorm. blindfOlded-so could these
horses. either of EN-
| The two were silent for a while.
Presently DenisOn checked his horse.
Here's your spring, lady. Arc you
thirsty?"
'Choked. II you hadn't been SO mean,
I'd have asked you for drink at your
house-if it is your house."
Its mine so far. but there's a hang.
over lawsuit Of Van Tambers on It.
Can you get down, lady?"
| Il don't know whether can or not.
I've been In this saddle so long"
Her companion eased her to the
ground. Jane refused to drink without
a cup till he told her to cup her handR.
Then she would not drink until she
could see there were no snakes in the
water.
Nothing gets into that water; II
would freeze a snake to death. But ]
can strike light so you can see the
water in your hands,"
He folded piece Of newspaper
taken from one of his saddle pockets
lighted a match thinking his com.
panion rather fussy. and when Jane
had drunk, he drank and gave the
horses a drink.
I'D have offered you a drink at my
house If I'd thought Of It," he said
helping her to remOunt. II didn't ain
to be mean. You kind of took me By
surprise. I'll admit I'm sore at Gun
lock-"
There were lights everywhere wher
Jane knocked. very late, at the ranch
house door. Kindly old Bull Page, on,
Of the ranch hands, greeted her in tn,
kitchen.
The girl was jaded to death. where
everybody, BuIl?" she asked, drOppin,
into a chair.
"Why. Miss Jane, they're all on
lookin' for you"
Looking for mew exclaimed Jan,
scornfully. "Well, they must be loaf
Ing on the job. Where's Quong?"
"Quong's gone to bed, but I'll ge
some bacon and fried potatoes for 70,
in no time" declared Bull. Golfer"
"Yes, and strong"
Same as take it. Well, well. howe
you manage to find your way home?
Il didn't find it. / found q man ant
cabin about hundred miles from
nowhere, and he brought me home
That coffee smells grand, Bull" sighe,
Jane. Hurry up with the baconr
AS she said the words, in stake,
the ranch foreman, Dave McCrossen.
AT the sight Of the missing girl h,
struck an attitude of resentful aston
ishment. "Hell's bells, Janein he ex
claimed. Here you are home and
we've been ridin' all over creation fo
you!"
you must have been trying not Z,
find me-" said Jane coldly. Withou
much reason she resented the fac
that she had got lost and not beer
promptly found.
"Where were your" asked the fore
man, sitting down.
ain the hills. You've always bee,
telling me to ride where pleased an,
that there was no danger because you,
PICK me up. l guess your formul,
didn't work"
Il missed this time. There's peye
Oeeh any trouble iocatin' you before
But 1t won't happen again. So 70,
just wandered away and wandere,
home again2"
Il did not wander home. wa
brought home"
"Who brought your"
"Blll Denison."
II cannon cracker had been az
ploded under McCrossen, Il could NO
have been more sensational than he
answer. He caught his breath with ,
gulp. THAT fellow Well, some thing
do beat the deyili Bull" he said. rec
: ollecting himself, "go out and ten I'M
boys Jane is home. Bib DenIson. wa
itT he resumed, looking keeniy =
Jane.
THE name doesn't seem to ait YER,
well with you" observed Jane crustIIv
AcCrossen looked disgruntled.
THAT birds name dooan,k ia -