Show lel ot Sic THE S START TART RY fROM oM Cat Doctor Carpy ll II freighting tI n g boss Bartoe's Bartoes In P SC in which John rg r den In defense of or p Jj gambler gamb partner Da Dave vp 81 skill I allows afterward Sel- Sel A year re rth's S L OW olf steep Sleepy Cat comes III hose se liftS has helps hP get gel 11 il cree rK He SS En I lo I after er picking clear I. I shOe hoe and gd seeing and by lh the c su supposed If In Fyler's Flers the wagon O on Moses wc- wc C 1 youth th Is robbed of or orI itei a Sleepy Cat Cal gambling b I i CHAPTER CHAPT IH III 3 3 Gentleman John was YOung when Mc- Mc hV eppedi 1 Into tlc the gam- gam nm- nm Tn It was wag Veil welt well lighted by byr bracketed kerosene r the eside si slUe e rails nils and by ebb dab I n h- h 1 O The center Sg lamps a n particularlY lP br V wide of the janitor r broken cowboy Wilt who III au- ul- ul h h. h 8 thi particular pai tamp lamp ito ie be pink of good order oruel on tnt V f familiar with his labs sur- sur walked directly middle of the long room nod- nod to an acquainted acquaint acquaint- tIe fee RD there ed ad Dd directed hi his steps to the liand corner In which from roan the tables ad a n d dc desk db k faced i Behind the desk stood a n on a n wall wail shelf shelt bebe be- be ft be chair there reposed a Vh crudely framed of a man of a n Union soldier but bot more conspicuous IRr larger er stood a 0 glass class r the Ibe kind used to cover mantel clocks Under this to Ittre reposed already In place clock which had to make place for It a grader bender ender hl hIgh h shoe evidently of at a 8 girl of eighteen or t. t i sears It showed but hut little 1 the evening enin attract attract- M Mention and elicited many Set t But beyond the va vague ue oat t that It was there for good Vo to any anyone one was as forthcoming from rt fi fi the play pIny a few fewa a Is sith lIh the lue sir of one that had fed Sfa from that form of enter enter- railed IDd sauntered hack back toward door There his active eye Ih I man an of medium stature r r sj l mo wits In nis nas hands namis in an ins his TO s. s leaning against the door looking nut into the street I i ed tI d ID is his hie copper colored face I p-of p of ot en ma Indian Bob Scott rj V of cf Chippewa blood and cart car car- 4 t I Stout Slow captive tar far far from the pounds grounds of or his fathers was i retainer of John Sel Selwood's woods J ambled u uj up to him like an old f wee which In fact tact he was for the boss Bob Rob he f b some Importance In his only d drew rev ew his hinds hands Ii g to place them beback be- be back o on the Jamb he was as agans and smiled In friend friend- oca D. D he Y t ent nt up the river i. i d he be ought to be back b by ouid h he be going up the rr as asked ed with e a 8 man to i man an no would d John Selwood L te up river I canalled i ned enigmatically May Mav Mayi Ia the padre one that trav tray Way al J 4 sometimes It with the t he let HI Big nH go o othis this said McAlpin hal rava for Lie Be was In the thc fast fust tile the hou house e. e I only held his up Inger and Cr crook crooke d It dt CC Out he want ant to see th the theold old d Banded McAlpin r o St t Impatience kIng t liver shout shout- Street I made a nl L Th There re rom comes romes Sot Sol rat hT 7 you lie hI added tu n asi lc h I In I rJ I fi genuine Ie re re- hoss d as ns he lie sonic some somes Si d and ond I with qUirks nil all his I 1 o alty Was In n the Id to lie He ga gave gae e aDd toi i II he sold Rold n had things s g sn le his Ills mostly He Be Q 1 Wheelie li IHl Pl Perfectly I e e aa hG a hoss boss find and how ep a-ep IJ to say timings s and I r dl PUt f dUrd v lo io lon r. r l Just h n td si hiatt alf a deferential huh lol p ih ini as th tue two nM Ic S hall toward ward e n I t e Rot ot to ha have haC C 1 here Or r P push sh some 19 III fhe la r The Thc L. that liar liar- 1 crowded ro It v OU u f liI I t In ha It wIthout i nh I al 1 11 tl pace I tables tables- h i W with I th listening 1 hiJ hIs lIne eyes es keen Ri Jb III kin In If the hue J 15 slender La II ii evenly f wilts very ery light light- I 1 I I the springy I Two spots snots o oz ot By Byr F FRANK H. H SPEARMAN r N by 1 Charles Son color In his cheeks weakness revealed the on that hOd hIm to the mountain weakness now flow so won well at seven seen checked t that he OiSh looked fresh rin and among who Iy older In though hard hard- felt to have more injure II tile the hardships frontier lIfe There of about his nothing rug rug- hits his hut gray e eyes es his mimi mimi-mci- when his face was In repose repose and he was known n to was waste but JUt few tev words In s reaching n a conclusion lon and and- none in pursuing a vain dl dispute lIe He heard beard patiently Plaints McAlpIn's l comPlaints corn com as fiS to the crowded of the barn and condition only that reminded him the coming of the railroad would tl e frel freight anti and at there thele cutting off oft of ot much would soon b be more room at the tie barn baa than business And he added dont lose lose- losea a chance to let go any mules mules' you mules you ou can cnn sell to advantage n a d e. e So sa saying ln Selwood tossed his hat on the desk and sat down McAlpin hurrIed through the preliminaries of his Ills Story With v el t u v. v nervousness ss twirling twilling his cap at In In-i In ter over his imis fingers and hesitatIng hesitatIng Ing lag at ut thUes for a word or phrase to estimate the effect on his hearer who was vas looking as he lie- listened over oyer a n hatch batch of r reports ts Leten Lefever Lefever- r the wagon boss had left on his desk But try as he would McAlpin could coul gain no clue to the Impression impi he was nuking making It was only after Selwood looked up at the time close chose of the recital that hat McAlpin could even en guess guess- what ho he 10 might expect then Selwood shook his l head ead as If anno annoyed ed and his and his first words dashed 1 hopes Why bring lag lint kind of a story to tome tome tome me he hue asked rio lie spoke without feeling eeling but as asIf It his time were being Imposed on They rob people down there all the time That's their business business busi busi- ness he continued fixing his c eyes es again on the tIme papers paper before him Go back to your den and und forget tea yourself John pleaded low and softly but I want to tell you ou this hula Is Is' Isu n u hard case a blamed hard lard case Its It's Bunty Bartoes Bartoe's work work lies lie's he's hes the biggest round all thief In Sleepy Sleep Cat Starbuck's got on tin Interest Interest Inter Inter- est In that place Half the mone money money- I I Im I'm sa saying half John goes John goes straight st Into nto Starbuck's pocket Its It's a crime exclaimed McAlpin In whispered half de desperation the time wu way that man Starbuck Starbuck Star- Star buck Is picking up money It would have needed a full knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge of or th the local situation to realize I McAlpin's craft in his last appeal S Selwood elwood he be knew liked le less ess ss than he did any man In Sleepy Sleep Cat nt at With but hut a slight acquaintance b between the two there was on either si side de no regard lost And McAlpin k knew new that If if It worried Selwood elwood as ns m much uch as It did him him to see such men p picking icking up money easily lie could ouid bEstIrred be bestirred stirred st by the reminder of ot It Yet Vet all nih he could ur urge e on this score le left eft ft Selwood cold And perceiving t that hat no Impression was made b t r ather that Selwood's eyes were wandering wan wan- an- an dering ering d over o the room added t that Lefever Lefe hind had come In with a new hew s saddle addle pony that afternoon and per per- i laps haps Selwood oll would like to step down downto t to o the barn a minute to to- look hook It over This news mews had quite a different effect e ori on the time headed hard gambler T The he pon pony a present from Ben nen Wentworth Went Went- Tw w worth orth the active owner of ot the w wealthy wealth freighting company of or which S Selwood was a n division superintendent n Sd dent d ent had hind been heen ell eagerly erl awaited a 11 w week for eek-for for for Selwood loved a hor horse e and und t the he record of his early years year In the S saddle adlie entitled him to Judge one The sl sight ht of the pony imY groomed to a an n. n actual polish did gratify Selwood If If her action Is up to h tier her r brag she's a all ll right he lie sad as os sWIm t 1 he lantern awn away from the time ho box stall Ill Ill I'll f y ii-y tr her tier out oui Inter this evening her hor craftily Mc- Mc I Alpin A sl si hi imi ho boss s into halo the rae w where Mrs s. ken Orm and Moses MOe S sat at In sol sIlence Selwood pa payIng pay pay- i In Ing uig no attention t to 0 them drew a I roll oil rollof ll o of f hills bills I rl on one Oneto to At A t that moment thanking ln l him atin 1 his Is h head ad toward to Zu Mrs Mi l to hid bid her bier rise He III h hurriedly mt Introduced tie IWI t to Selwood m und and pm ilia I ad to tu M Zi l es tI ii rim Ill miami I ica I ly lys as a s victim I Moses ISeR StOOl stood lII up UI mat hut despite de dl s spite l i McAlpin's A I III Us U's nt nodding the v woman appeared unable to rise Slit She t trIed tiled to h hut but t could t not Selwood cast casl casla t a cold e eye e on her tier h bade hertell tier her tt t tell eli her story Fortunately Fortunately- for time tile un tan not n mm lo 1 j Juck woman sue she he could that t hat t telling It II so times ti males In iii so f few ew hours had hall Ic left heft fl her tier too ton exhausted she looked the time even en to speak nut Hut tory story i- i out of her tier lI mournful e eyes ps The They stirred something In Selwood f tint that not have words voi-ds would perhaps reached This Is the man atari inn m that can get et you vou bade your ur money laid said Mc-AU Mc Pointing Uc ny to Selwood If be tie wants to f 1 1 bawled starting for or the h he lie him to I door NOU ou from time the 1 n left heft Selwood at the mercy woman pf if time the dumb appeal The rime life by 1 McAlpin's Mc Mc- c sort of galvanized Into iamb u a Alpin's words started rose i sank Jck f into and und managed to ask one sheriff sr sir the question Are Arc yOU rou A faint grin overspread s 's answer features It his only onty she yen yen- sir Or th m marshal epy Cat M she hall killed outside decided H lIe could every chance of or help not ee see felt a Selwood's face hut heavy sil silence en e Is tills utter after er a pause Your JOUr mother heard question asic the of boys boy's boys boy's a nn the boy answer answer and li heald d the lie What kind of specimen are you you- MCAlpIn gel get at away vf hUrried down the time bar barn to from m Ul time thc ton he lie knew ue lashing that was to for follow-for Was S Selwood credited n a vocabulary lar lary not alone also forcible hut but extremely bitIng The barn the boss was t hucl o scene by a S f sharp p call Sal Sel- who bade him 4 after the he woman S In time the and to h f she had bind fainted Raid mid fallen allen into Selwood's arms aims pm When l III ham had taken her hel hand as n a wIdower how bow t l to hold he lie knew a n baby Selwood or a a n woman woman- spoke sharply to Moses l and anti told him to come with him He had said no word WOld as to his In In- In but tint McAlpin knew w exactly e what they were Pushing the ho boy hoy Im lam- patiently ahead Selwood stepped Into the street and slammed shammed the door behind be be- hind him Bartoe's Bartoes place In the River t tel ter er bes besides es those periodically victim victIm- Il I zed within it H had a regular followIng follow follow- l Ing ug of the thc characters that thuit haunt the time i line border between ir honest men an and r rogues rogues always a considerable one on t the he frontier frontier and and a n sympathetic tlc fol- fol I i I I II I I 4 Le mim r. r He Ho Walked Straight Toward Atkins lowing of the parasites moving In and out of Sk Sleepy py Cat men who who like the of Bartoes Bartoe's lived wholly by their wits It lt was ten o'clock at night when Selwood walked d Into this place with Moses McCracken In tow Bartoe Bartoe spoken soft en and with all nIl the words needed for tor a colloquy but few to waste on compliments met Selwood with the doubtful grin of a man that cant can't figure out exactly what Is com corn ing lag With his eyes roving apologetically apologetic apologetic- ally from Selwood's words word to Moses Moses- solemn face Bartoe listened attentively attentively atten atten- to nil that was said Moses meantime following hi earlier r explicit directions dIrections was looking carefully at atthe atthe atthe the few men standing In the room As Selwood finished Bartoe resting his eyes eyes on Moses Ios s spoke mildly n I never meyer saw this fellow before that I r know of We Ve aint seen six hundred ed dollars dollars dol dol- lars tars at once here In a month This fel fellows fellow's fellows fellow's fel- fel I lows low's picked the wrong place that's all Selwood gave no credence whatever whatever what what- ever to 0 the expected d denial but Moses Joses saved him the trouble of say jn ing ing so so by pointing suddenly to a man luau mall sitting alone at nt a 0 card table across oss the time room poring over an old and well thumbed ill illustrated newspaper Theres time tile nina man that ought brought me In In here lucre here and this hie he he looked Bartoe In the eye eye eye- is ee is the man that was dealIng deal deal- Ing tag the time three cards Bartoe only laughed Moses he Insisted quite unruffled un un- un- un ruffled was mistaken mistaken mistaken-a n a thing timing that might happen to any man I r make mi-ike mistakes m myself self he said pleasantly to Moses whose stubbornness In repeating re re- re his accusation gave Bartoe no offense But S Selwood showed Immediate Interest In In In- terest In fn the man with the newspaper Ho lie was wag a n liveryman who traded In stolen horses when he lie safely could cm and In stolen goods using goods using his barn lea for leaa a fence Selwood ad had already suffered at his hands hands or or his employ employ- ers em-a Russell and Wentworth had lund lund- and und this seemed n a time hue to round him up proper n a as Jim Jm McAlpin would have ha expressed It It S Selwood l raised his voice olce Atkins I he ime s said ld Look here herc a minute Atkins glanced stUl over o at th the three wimp stood with their e eyes on I him Come Conic over oyer here Atkins said sall Selwood again The expression of A Atkins' Atkins face I promised d a poor response to the time curt request I guess uess Its It's about as ns far from me o over or r to you Jou as It Is from you over mer to me he lIe suggested making to move mo to rise Selwood wasted no notime time lie walked straight ht toward d At At- kins I who ho started started up In alarm as ns Sel Sei Selwood Selwood wood briskly approached It mn may riot not be any nn farther one than way time the theother other retorted Selwood but but youve you've pl picked the expensive way I was willIng willIng will will- Ing Ing t to let you OU keep part of your of-your your steal steal- Ings now you now you and Bartoe artoe hand Imand out the six l hundred undred dollars you robbed this lad bad of ut at monte Men Ien crowded up Selwood knew every ery one of them lIe He knew about what what each each represented in the way war of I danger But nut he lie abated nothing whatever whatever what what- ever eyer of ot his aggressive gressle Insistence A Atkins At At- t. t kins sullen and evasive den denying and onel threatening by turns was as for standIng standing stand stand- Ing pat as he had often done before na Bartoe toe with wIlh better judgment realized the man anna an they had to deal with Selwood Selwood Sel Set wood gave little heed laced to the war of words kindled by his arbitrary attitude atti atti- tude the |