Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-08-30
CHAPTER TX

phoned to the stables for his horse
when door opened and old Teresa
came toward him, paper in her
hand. Jim looked around impatient
ly.
you'll read this for me, senor?"
The little brown woman thrust the
paper in his hand.
1t was the picture of Sherwin; be-
low it was printed a description Of
the crime. Jim frowned.
"This isn't pleasant reading, Tere-
sa, and it wouldn't interest you'll"
She caught at his sleeve. Read
It, senor!" she begged.
Half annoyed, Jim complied.
'Madre de Dios, it's as he saidl"
she mumbled, her eyes dilated.
Hes got DEVIL"
The old woman caught at his
sleeve, pointing. Through the open
door she could glimpse Stenhart's
disappearing figure, high up the
road.
Hes got devil!" she mumbled,
crossing herself. Then she caught
at his coat and chung to it, keeping
him from the door. "Madre de Dios,
don't let Jane marry heem, senorl"
she begged.
Jim, tried to the limit, shook her
off. "Oh, mind your own business,
Teresa" he growled.
She covered her face with her
shaking hands and he heard her
praying Spanish as he ran down the
slope. He must get to Jane before
Stenhart unleashed the sheriff
gang! He was honestly worried.
Second thought had cooled his rage;
he remembered that he owed some
thing to this fugitive that he was
bounding. Then he saw his sister.
She had just swung herself from the
saddle down by the stables, and as
she turned he saw how pale she was.
Jane had never looked like this!
1.-THE devil take that fellow!" Jim
muttered to himself, wrathful again.
Then he spoke sharply. where
have you been?"
Jane took no notice OF his tone.
She came up, painting.
whats the matter?" she gasped.
perhaps you know better than I
do" he replied ironically.
Jane caught at his arm with shak-
ing hands. "What does it mean? I
saw Stenhart meet the sheriff on the
upper road-ten me quick, quickl"
Jim eyed her coldly. II 'phoned
for Cutler. He's going to take that
jailbird, Sherwin, back to Rhode Is
land, and I'm going to help him,
that's ALL"
James hand dropped from his
arm. She turned deathly white, and
for moment she swayed on her
feet. Jim threw an arm around
her.
my God, Jane, you don't care for
. murderer"
She pushed him away from her
with both hands. HE saved your
life and you've betrayed him-you
Judasl" she cried.
"Jane-" he tried to restrain her
but she broke away, ran back to her
horse and leaped into the saddle.
Jim made an Intellectual snatch for
the reins. where are you going,
you mad woman?" he shouted at
her.
She turned and looked back at
him, haggard and broken. I'm 60
ing to warn him-something dread
full will happen if he meets Stem
hart!"
"Stop-wait, I'm coming!" Jim
cried, but she was gone at gallop.
Her brother turned and shouted
Sor III, horco loco hoI coIIlal IL
and Jim flung himself into the sad
die and was off in an instant. Jane
was well in the lead, riding reck-
lessly, but Tex was tired; Jim's
horse was fresh and the distance be-
tween them grew less and less as
he reached the bridge, crossed it,
and raced on. He could see now, as
he turned the loop, that Stenhart had
met Cutler on the upper road; they
were far ahead. The posse had di-
vided, too, and, as Jim rode on, he
made out their plan; they meant to
cut Sherwin off, pen him on the
hillside, and then beat the bushes.
If Jane reached his hiding-place
first, if she knew of some secret
trail, she would be trapped with
himl The blood rushed to Jim's face
at the thought; he cursed his folly
for giving Stenhart this chance.
Hes mad with jealousy" he
thought, and urged his horse.
But Jane was still ahead and she
had taken an unexpected turn to the
right. Jim remembered that he did
not know where the man was hid
den. But Stenhart did, he had
tracked her, and Stenhart was 60
ing toward the cataract when he
slimpsed him last through the trees.