Evening star., 1940-04-27
CHAPTER v,

When Anne Eliot was q little girl
she had sat before an open fire
and listened to the stories OF her
uncle, Carl Rogers, back to Ohio on
q visit from the country of the high
plains. Her imagination had quick
ened his stories, and in the Goals
she had seen the whole pageant Of
the winning of the West. The
Indian and the buffalo, the trapper.
the pioneer in his covered wagon,
the long dusty cattle trails-they
marched before her in panorama.
AS she grew up the vision must
have fingered in the background
of her mind. She liked the quiet
life of Massillon, but there were
hours when she found it too well
kept and trim. The older people
were too we'll satisfied, the young
men too conventional.
Because she was attractive and
well connected, Anne had plenty of
eligible admirers, but some restless
imp of perverseness made her view
them with q too critical eye More
over, there had been an episode in
her life that barred all men from
her. So when the news came Of
her uncle's death and the inherit
ance of his property in the West.
she knew almost at once that she
was going to see that country for
herself. II she did not want to stay,
there was always Massillon.
And here she was, plunged into
the heart of an adventure far more
desperate than any she had sought.
At breakfast Anne's neighbors
avoided any reference to the diff
ficulty at the Sentinel building.
Anne knew this must be because
they had heard of her part in it.
Since she wanted news of the latest
developments she put . question to
Rufe Jelks.
Hat T Men Leave.
Have you heard anything this
morning about the trouble?"
The Hat T men have left town.
Pulled out late last night, I'll bet
they didn't enjoy saying their little
piece to Russ Mosely."
Nobody laughed at Rufe's jeer.
Nobody made any comment what
ever.
"You think he won't approve Of
what his men did?" Anne said.
The black-haired cowboy laughed.
his reckless gaze travelling around
the table.
He won't like the way they did
it," Jelks explained. "Mr. Mosely
is our leading citizen. He supports
the church and incidentally his
hell-raising riders support the
Jumbo. which Russ owns, lock stock,
and barrel. That makes it nice,
because the wages he pays his hands
out of one pocket comes back into
another. You'll enjoy meeting him,
Miss Eliot. He's as smooth as the
nap Of one Of those stovepipe silk
hats that they wear in the East
Don't you. think you've said
enough. Rufe?s Mrs. Russell asked,
her warning gaze on him.
- Still Talks Too Much.
II reckon 1 have" the cowboy
said, his wide friendly grin on the
woman at the head of the table.
If was living in America I could
say any doggoned thing I pleased,
but here in Roossia with the czar
sitting on his throne up there at the
Hat T"
You're still talking" the board
ing house keeper reproved. Il once
knew a man who lived to be q
hundred minding his own business" !"
That's right" agreed Rufe, help
ing himself to hashed Drowned po-
tatoes. II was reading his epithet
the other day. 1t said: mo friends,
no enemies. Just no account. Not
good enough for heaven, nor bad
enough for hell"
AS far as Anne could see the
atmosphere around the table was not
unfriendly to what the black haired
ranger rider had said. The general
feeling seemed to be that critical
discussion Of Russell Mosely was
dangerous and therefore to be
avoided.
Jim Silcott called for Anne after
breakfast to take her down to the
Office of the Sentinel. He wanted
to go over the books with her be-
fore turning over the plant. Rufe
Jelks Joined them. He had re-
claimed his revolver from the Tivoli
and felt good deal more completely
dressed.
The lock OF the battered door at
the Sentinel building was so badly
sprung that they could not get in
that way. Jim led them around to
the rear, got in by the window, and
opened the back door for them.
Blind Leading the Blind.
Rufe left the others in the little
rear room and with q hammer and
. saw tried to patch up the front
entrance. The editor and the owner
went over the finances of the news
paper together, q subject Of which
Anne quickly tired. She. flung it
aside with a toss Of her curly golden
head.
s"I never did like figures" she ex-
planned. "I'm sure yours are all
right. What I want is to have you
teach me how to be All editor"
ut will be the blind leading the
Hind - ho ror1iod sY,,,a ban,, =