The Washington times., 1938-02-02

buttoned awry, appeared and sa-
luted.
"That's st. vrian," the major
said simply. Take a detail OF
20 men and chase him until you
get him. Are they still firing?"
Eyes, sir"
The major cursed wordlessly.
"Some of these outlaws" he said
quietly, will find it mistake to
shoot at the flag. Get on, Cooper"
When the lieutenant had disap-
peared, the major said to Two
Way, What was he chasing you
for?"
Were a couple of prospectors.
sir. Last week, up in the noun
tains, we struck it rich. St. Vrain
was working the country, and I
guess he saw us and guessed we
had gold We were travelling at
night with the dust, but that
didn't matter much. He set out
after us. We knew about the fort,
and reckoned you'd give us some
help"
The major contemplated the two
before him. Two-Way unshaven,
his mustache ragged, his face
sweat-Stained and dirty, his hands
black, his clothes little betetr than
tatters. Cardowan was a cool,
lanky, unwashed and unshaven
man, who kept a respectful silence.
TWO.WAY RESTLESS
They seemed to need help, and
that was what the army was for
in this country. The majors face
relaxed.
"Glad to help. Did they get
your gold?"
"No sir. it's outside on our pack
horses"
Pack horses?" the major
echoed, emphasizing the plural.
You must have a lot"
about 500 pounds" Two-Way
said calmly.
"Of gold?"
Eyes, dust"
The majo. smiled now. well,
congratulations on your good luck.
You're rich men"
A man came in at this moment
and reported. st. Vrain'S men,
sensing what was in store, had
ceased fire, banded together and
ridden off. Lieutenant Cooper had
just left with the detail. The
major nodded and dismissed him.
"Well, l reckon we better ride
on" Two,Way said in an excellent
imitation of the homely speech OF
a mountain man.
Ride where?" the major said.
TwoWay grinned pleasantly. Il
dunno. Anywhere out Of this
country. Anywhere where we can
get to a Wells Fargo stage. We
wouldn't be no trouble, major"
Two-Way said diffidently. you've
given us a lift already and we're
mighty obliged"
POGO HORSED AGAIN
Nonsense" the major said.
we'll put you up here tonight
and send a guard along with you
tomorrow. Why, good Lord, man,
you can't ride the country with
fortune rolling around loose in
your packs. You'd be robbed be-
fore you got a mile from here
robbed and killed"
Two-Way looked at Cardowan,
Reckon that's right, Curt"
Reckon it is," Cardowan
drawled.
IT won't hear Of your going"
the major insisted.
1--WE wouldn't want to be no
trouble" Two-Way said humbly.
The major laughed in spite Of
himself, and called to the guard
outside.
Take these men over to the
barracks and see they get beds
and whatever else they need. And
bring the packs from those two
horses in here"
The major bid them goodnight,
refused their thanks, and dis
missed them.
It was dark before Kate and
POGO hit the boulder fields. but
they went on. Kate shifted the
pack from her horse to her saddle
horse, so that POGO might have
a mount.
He accepted reluctantly, thank.
ing her briefly. 1t would have
been impossible for him to reach
timberline afoot, for he was so
exhausted he was gray around the
mouth. He mounted and led oft.
Just at timberline, he swung
off the trail to a creek he remem.
bered. and surprised a horse that
was watering there. The horse
was hobbled, and it SHE'D away at
the approach of their horses.
POGO went after it, and had no
trouble getting it.
Kate was waiting when he re.
turned, and she said. Whose
is it?"
! (To Be Contlnued)