The Washington times., 1938-04-23

Because Jne klnuly Olu "CoI
erner had liked the quick, eff
Gent way Rita did things, she
was now in charge Of the little
office at the Juniper Buttes Dude
Ranch.
In two short months Rita had
fallen in love with wyoming
and with Dave Hunter. the blond,
Six.foot dude wrangler with the
deep, musical voice and laughing
blue eyes. But Rita had never
acknowledged her love to Dave
Hunter.
Spur rowels tinkled musically
In the doorway of the little office
where Rita was finishing h er
days work. She turned, saw Dave
standing there smiling.
About time you were pitching
a black tent over that typewriter
for today" he said. Let's eat
supper, Rita gal. I'm hungry.
Had to pilot a bunch of saddle
Founders clear up to Wolf Lake
today and" ,
And you're tired" interrupted
Rita. And I'm tired of seeing
A LOT o PROSPECTS
you wrangle dudes, Dave. I wish
you d saddle that Sorrel horse Oh
yours, ride ten miles due west
until you come to your I'm C le
Waldos ranch-and then stay
there. And work. He's offered
you a partnership"
"Aw. gosh. hazel eyes. Does a
weary man have to go all through
that argument again? AS I've
told you before, Uncle Waldo's
all right-in his way. But I can't
stand living around him"
You're his only relative. Dave
Some day you'll inherit what he
owns"
Hes too nickel-pinching for
me, Rita. Let's eat. Then you
can drive your old whoopie down
to Sageville this evening. There's
a dance going on. want to waltz
with you in my arms"
With gay, improvident Dave
Hunter at her side, Rita couldn't
help enjoying that sixmile drive
to Sageville.
The first waltz was still unfin-
lshed when an excited ranchman
broke through a group of specta-
tors and caught Dave by the ell
bow.
Hello, Sam" said Rita's com
panion. Whats up? You look all
sxcited."
Your uncle, Waldo Hunter, has
been murdered, Dave"
Rita gasped, felt Dawes sudden
rigidity as he turned away and
said: "Who-who could've"
Don't know" replied the ranch
man. The sheriff's out at your
mcle's place now, Dave. Well,
often told Waldo he shouldn't keep
so dang much money cached in
that old house. That's the reason
this thing"
DAVE GONE TWO WEEKS
Can you get back to Juniper
ButteS all right. Rita?" Dave asked
soberly. I'll go with Sam here
If"
Run along, Dave dear" Rita
was trembling. Don't worry about
me-"
1t was two weeks before Rita
saw Dave Hunter again. She had
gone to SageVille after the ranch
mail, and had stopped in at the
Bison Cafe for some cold butter
milk. There she found Dave sitting
at the bar. Dave, a whiskey glass
in his hand, was engroSsed in loud
conversation with Bruce Corrick,
a slim, dark man who spent his
summers at the Juniper Buttes
ranch-for the sole purpose, Rita
had suspected, of poker-playing
privileges with rich guests at
tracted to the place.
That sorrel horse of mine can
outrun your bay, Corrick!" Dave
was loudly proclaiming. And you
know it,"
mo I don't know it," replied
Bruce Corrick smoothly.
Suppose we have a little bet,
and a race, them"
Il wouldn't exert my bay for
the chicken feed a dude wrangler
could put up" There was a sheer
In Corrick'S tone.
I'm not a dude wrangler any
more" Dave retorted loudly. 81
own ranch and some cattle, the
outfit my uncle left me-"
That's right" said Corrick. "Id
forgotten about that. Hunter
Hmm! I suppose you're broken
hearted then-about your uncles
sudden demiSe?"
Never mind that" Dave coun
tered. DO you want to make q