The Washington times., 1938-01-24

VI IOCk dIlGdu dL1U Il6 was JklCICs
A great wide shelf seemed to be
scooped level out of the mountain,
while beyond it, and no higher
than five hundred feet, was the
pointed top Of the peak. On this
tight triangular shelf, which could
be measured in spare dozens Of
square yards, there were five tar
papered shacks.
All this POGO saw in a brief
glance while his sorrel whinnied.
Then he pulled his gaze down to
the cluster Of silent people facing
him and he noticed that more
than one shotgun was leveled Of
him. -,
OF all these people POGO. had
eyes for only one man, and when
his gaze hauled up he felt a QUICK
clawing of excitement in his
spine. For there, standing a half
head taller than any man In the
crowd. an amused half smile on
his lean face, stood Espey Car
dowan, killer gunman, exiled
Texan, shrewdest and most merct.
less Of all those bounded men
whose pictures were in every
sheriffs office in the West.
He was wearing a mackinaw
which hid the twin guns sagging
at his hips, and he had his hands
rammed deep into the pockets. e
POGO looked at him a long
moment, and then his face broke ,
into a careless smile. Hello,
Herb" he said quietly, and then
he watched Cardowan. =
"Howdy, jake" Cardowan.
drawled in soft and gentle voice.
His face went mostly to thin Jaw
so that it gave him a look Of
keenness which was not false. In
his gray.blue eyes little flecks Of
brown played, and his smile was
full, slow, pleasant, because his
fine teeth flashed sharply against
the dusky smoky tan Of his face.
But under the pleasant shell Of
the man there was an alertneSS,
a rapaciousness that lurked in his
eyes, his mouth sometimes. He
turned now to the man beside
him and said: There's my part
ner, Shayne. Jake Finger"
Shayne handed his shotgun to
the man next him, saying: IT'S,
all right, boys" and stepped over
to POGO, holding out his hand in
welcome. He was not a tall man,
neither burly nor slight, and hiA
face was rugged aud yet sensitive.
almost intellectual. His gray hair
was close cut, his eyes keen and
friendly, and his speech had. q
warmth in it.
welcome. Finger. We were
getting a little worried. Have
any trouble?"
POGO took the hand and said
carelessly: Ran into a lot Of
rain in the Mogollons. Held me
up a couple Of days"
shayne smiled briefly. shelton
told me / might be surprised by
his partner, but he wouldn't say
why. think I am"
POGO looked up at Cardowan
with a glance that paid him o
measure Of shreWd tribute, and he
smiled narrowly. He said: Herb
still can't understand that q good
little man is better than a good
big man."
Shayne laughed along with
Cardowan. Then Shayne turned
to a group who still Jagged, listen
ing to the conversation.
Finger" he said, taking Poco'S
arm, II want you to meet my
daughter Kate"
KATE'S A BEAUTY
From out of the group Of men
booted and mackinawed girl
stepped. She was dressed so like
the men that POGO had missed her.
And now, looking at her, he won
dered how he had, for she was hat
less and her hair was ash white.
blonde beyond blonde. and was
thick and windblown and so fine
spun that it seemed unreal. POGO
first saw this, and then his glance
Shuttled to her face while he auto
matically took off his hat and
accepted the hand she held out.
He thought, looking at her face,
that he had never seen one so
clean and untroubled. 1t held
that serenity which is more than
beauty, though her lips were full
and wide and her eyes Of the same
haunting blue as her fathers.
But there was an eagerneSS IN
them, part. humor, part friendli-
ness, that made POGO feel soiled
and humble as he touched her
hand. The rough-worn mems
clothes she was wearing could not
hide the erect grace Of her body,
slim and full and 1.-THE. Her skin
was a smooth gold, a little darker
than her hair.
Hello" was all she said to him,
but the one word spoken in q low,
almost husky voice, carried more
than q speech of welcome.
tn IA Continuadl