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Show I ' 0 ' . , -- ' - "" , '" THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING. JUNE MUDS TEE . TU ROT. xatb doc bled at 12, 1921. SkFMNKH. SPEARMAN mmH , it hM the tar to Tint her lather, SAAB DOCBLEDAT, who deaertad har aaothar Wn Mora, and whom tho rirl kn nevw dm. Thia Kmin lather aha tsdi tmxad in certaia daMaaa ' aatarpriaa which ha doaa noi mo fit to axplala. tut ha ahewa a turtle aSacMae tar and aaaak-liahr- a htr hi a cottaaa at Biaepy Cat f uactioo with BELLS SHOCKLEY, a woman ot tha aatrhborhood whom ha baa aafaaad ta nut bia aline hoaia la tawa. Kata haara myatitytae raioraaoaa ta har tathor aSalra from habit TAM BOSK, a daahino eatUamaa. whom aha iikot aad TOX OTOMg toraataa at PaahladoT'a raaoh. wham ha data aot hka at ail. Alia aha haara much taut , ! aaa UK LASAMIX. about whaaa character thww to ha thara dtSaraaea at epralaa. Laraaua. aha saltan. it a Krurw ot aomo imaactaaco ta a war wk,.'h la Wine waead Wlwma oattlo thlOToa aad tha bif ranch owner at tha oouatry. Oaa dap at tho atinc hoooa. maattwf a atraaccr whom aha hollow ea to W a marahai with paper ta aorra oa bar tathor. Kata luraa him away into tha plain oa tha protest at takinf a rtda with har, oalp ta And ta bar ehaerta that tho aaaa la not a marahai at ail but Jim Lara-mi- o hiawaif. Oubaaquantly aba laaraa that tha rant marahai la a man named JOHN LET EVES, a Ukabl character wha haa Waa matntainiae an Impartial attituda la tha cattl warn. Boob attar Kata'a Brat encounter with Laramie. Doubled? doaa hi aaUnr boiw at Sleepy Cat June tion and tha (Irl eoaa to bar tathor' ranch. She tne to avoid Laramie, bat meat him oa aeveral oocealent and, in aptta ot heraeit, baflna to W Inter-antein him. Meanwhile Laraml haa bean approached by men from tho Doubloday outSt with a propotal that ha Una np with them In tha tend that era under way. Thia he bluntly nfuae to do. ahd tout b ha no bar in n raid that la Of routed preeenlly by Doubleday and othar under Tan Morn' laaderahlp with tha avowed purpoee at daanln eut " tha cattle ruatlor la tha ralllar Wall counacalnat try Tho retd la directed chiefly " bed men and ABB HAWK, known both an cc n friend ol Laramie'a. end three of hie eeeodntee -- 4Uteh Henry. Stormy Gorman, and Yankee Robur-ao- a. The reidor Brat lay Mac to Dutch Hrarya cabin, aad la tbe flehtuy that follow Dutch Henry. Gorman, and oaa ot Tan Horn' aaaa ar kilted. Aba Hnwk ha been in the oabin with tha o there, but , -eecapee after aattlnc tha aback aflra, and maka hi way. wounded and daaperate. ta Leraaalea heaae. found are the Lefevar. man tw marshal, by Hera tbe who acroee te cw out aad hold 9 tha raider while Laraml help Hawk cat away. Doubled er sad Taa Horn Inal at on roinr to Laraml' cabin, but Lafovar delay them- considerably with his talk, aad whea ace Laraml ridinc la tha diatanca Hawk Anally they ha diasppearad. W thM i . - N ' EIGHTH INSTALLMENT. Hawks Hiding Place. waved his hat at tha distant LEFEVER who alto rod with a rlfl tha pommel and carried his tinea high in hi left hand. Tha horseman continued for some momenta toward tha creek, then looking, seemingly by accident, toward the houae he aaw the signaling,, stopped hie pony, paused and, reining him around, headed at an easy pace for the group before the cabin. It waa, aa Lefever had said, Laramie. . trotted his horse A' tew minutes later-Ji- e across the field and flowed him np In (rent of Van Horn and Doubloday. His greeting to his visitor was dry; their own was somewhat strained, but Lefever took the initiative. Jim," he kaid bluntly, we're looking . for Abe Hawk." Laramie'a response wee merely to the point. " Hee not hero." Has he been here?" demanded Van Horn. "Tea, answered Laramie. Lefever at intervals looked virtuously from questioner to questioned. , How long ago, Jim?" continued Van Horn. , Laramie regarded him steadily. " Several times in the last two or three days. "Was ha here yesterday?" asked Van Horg suddenly. " I was on the Reservation yesterday." " Has he been here this morning?" "Tea." " Jim, were cleaning up the rustlers, said Van Horn. Things have got so bad it had to be dons. We want Hawk. We've got Gorman and Henry. Now, if ta a fair question, is Abe here? Hes not." Not in your ehack? " . "NO." n r "Are you willing we should search. itt" " Search hell! What do you mean? " askod Laramie curtly. ' " Isnt my word good as to whos in my sftaek? " "Jim!" Lefevar held up a peacemakers hand. . " Wa thought maybe he might have , come In since you rode away. u Laramie cooled somewhat, " if (tU do you any good 111 look Inside my- Well" self." Van Horn sarcastically demurred: " Dont take the trouble, dont take the trouble, Jim." " Still be might be there, urged Lefever, " In the way I say he might 0 walked in since you went Into the hills what? No objection te my looking in there, is there iri Jt .- Jim?" man can search my oabin," snapped "No Laramie "Hava you got a warrant for Da vs Hawk? " Ha threw the question sharply at Lefever. disclaimer Doubleday inWith Lefever terposed a aavaga rejoinder: "A ropell fit Abes neck better than a warrant" Laramie eyed the old cattleman unmoved: " And you're here to get me te help you slip the noose, are you?" "We're here te clean eut these cattle thieves," stormed Doubloday, profanely. There ere po cattle thieves here," retorted Laramie undisturbed. "Tou're wasting the time you'll need on your job. Move on!1 Ean Van Horn was taken abaci at the Aint rudeness; ha pulled his horse around: - Look here, Jim; let me talk te you a minute alone. Laramie, guiding his, horse with his heels, followed Van Horn twenty feet end listened: Jim, Im beading this bunch, and whatever troubles youve ha & with Barb and his friends, nows the time to. fix em up. They'll give you the best of it. If youve got any line on where Hawk Is say so and It puts you with us; say nothing, and youre agsdnst us." Laramie eyed him without a quiver: " Im Jagainst you, Harry. , Van Horn did not give up. He talked again and talked hard. It was useless. Doubleday rode over to. where Van Horn held Laramie In deadly earnest confab. Van Horn, ready to quit, gladly let the older man take over the caaa But Doubleday made no bet- - . " Hold an, Doubloday,' You cant put yaur Laraml laid bluntly. abuse all ever me tint and than run away with it." Ur success,- - Larsmla could not be moved. If coaxed, bo was obstinate; if threatened. Impatient contemptuous. Doubleday, when Laramie coldly refused even to answer his questions concerning Hawk, boiled over. He backed hie horse a step and opened hie viala of wrath: " Laramie, youve turned down the last chance decent folks on the rangell ever try to hand you the last chance youll ever see to pull away from thess Falling Wall thieves. Now," he exclaimed, raising his right hand and arm with a bitter imprecation, " well show you whos going to run the Sleepy Cat range, m drive you out of this country if it takes every cowboy I can hire aad every dollar Ive sot. The country wont hold you and me after today. Dye hear?" he shouted, almost bonding with hie huge frame over Laramie and beside himself with rage. Then, spurring his horse, he wheeled it around to rejoin Van Horn. At that Laramie waa too quick for him. Almost in the very instant ha jumped his own pony after tho angry man and, gaining the heed of Doubledays horse, caught tha bridle and jerked the beast almost to its haunches. It was a ticklish instant Van Horn, with his hand on his revolver, attempted to spur te Deubledaye assistance. Lefever Interposed with a sharp move that put him plumpty in front ot Van Horn: "Not till them two are through, Harry. We stay right here till them twos done." The very impudence of Lefevers move had taken Doubloday by surprise and Laramie was hurting angry words athim before Lefevar had Intervaned: "Hold on. Doubleday," Laramie said bluntly, "you cant put your abuse all ever me first and then run away with it. Youll hear what Ive got to say. I rode this range before you Over saw it; IH rids this range when you're gene. I waa born hare, Doubleday; my father lived here before me. Tbe air I breathe, this sky ever my basd, this ground under my feat are mine, end L stick hre in spite of you and your cattle crooks. If men run off your cattle its your sheriff business you own him. And fts your business te run em down not mine. Teu come her without a warrant, without a definite complaint, end ask me te turn an eld man ever to a bunch ef lynchers! Net on your life. Net today or any other day." Doubleday Interrupted and cursed, but he waa forced to 'listen: "Tdu talk about thieves," Laramie ypoke fast and remorselessly, "and you belong to the bunch thate tried to steal every foot of lanttI own In tho Falling Wall. After you and your lawyers and land office tools have stole thousands of acres from tho government, you talk aa If you were an angel out of heaven about tho men that brand your damned mavericks. Hell! Id rather stand by a thief that calla himself a thief than a thief that steals under a lawyer. Send your hired men after me; give em plenty of ammunition. Theyll find mo right hero. Barb right hero where I live," When Bawdy rode into Sleepy Cat it was known that ho ha if come from tha Reservation and ho waa besieged for news from tho Falling Wall. At Kitch-- on'o, where ho put up his horse, on bia way up street to hlo room over McAlpins pool hall, he was assailed with questions. Pretty accurate reports of the two exciting day In the North country had already trickled into Sleepy Cat, To theee Bawdy listened with stolid attention, but ho managed to add to them very little. Ho possessed to a "degree the faculty of talking freely, eententtously without contributing anything strictly pertinent to a subject. Not until he had bathed, slept, shaved, and set himself down, near nightfall af Belle Shockley's did he tell any considerable part of hlo story. Bu all that prudence could permit ho told, or, rather. Belle demanded and received at his hands. When the heart ia involved the strongest men are at times helpless. L ran Into the bunch on my wty down, right at Laramies cabin, Bawdy said to Belle. " Laramie and Doubleday were having the hottest kind of a row when I redo up. I made sure wed bo shooting the next couple of minutes. But John Lefever waa watchlny them pretty close and holding down Van Horn. Barb cooled down whenI he saw three of us on deck. I told him on the side tho Governor had telephoned Pear-eo- n and tha Colonel was going to send a troop of cavalry down after them and theyd better scatter. It was a bluff, but for a few mlnutjs I had him and Van Horn guessing. They said they'd go homo when they got Hawk. Lefever is staying up there for a day or two. ' Will they ever find Hawk? Did you ever And a noodle In a haystack? " I never looked for one. "Them fellows are looking for the stack. They've got to find tho needle after they locate the hay. 81lp mo that Worcestershire sauce. Belle. Tours truly. No more potatoes. This is a good piece of bam. Belle. It ought to bo; it coot enouxh," returned Bello Shockley, tersely. , " I wish to God you'd servo a glass of beer with a man's supper." "You can get all tho supper and alt the beer you want at the hotel," flared Bello. " This is no blind pig " Then its the only place In Main Street even,- - that aint. And it never dignantly. will be," averred Belle, in- ,' Como up to tho hotel with mo right nojr," returned Sawdy coldly, " and Ill buy ybu a bottle of beer. Bet you ton dollars you daosent do ft who tho devil Sawdy almost choked as tho two hoard a knock at tho door "who tho devil Is that? bo repeated. Tho door opened and Jim Laramie walked in. Ho sent hlo hat sailing toward a side table, stepped forward and, catching at a chair on the way, greeted Bello and her guest and sat down before a plats cover opposite Sawdy. Ha pointed to what remained of Bawdys supper and with knifa and fork started in: "Theres enough for mo right hero, Bello," ho said. Bawdy raised his chin: " Not this time, Jim. Not on your life. Thata tho way you ' g -- always oat my supper." "You oat too much, Henry it will kill you, some time, observed Laramie, losing no time In hlo initiative. Ho ignored Bawdys stare and tho big man, disgusted, oat dumb. "Dont surrender. Bawdy, mis. Keep going. Sawdy paused with hia knife and fork firmly clutched in hlo hands but pointing helplessly in tho air. Bring tho other end ef that ham, Bello," ho said, aa one whoso hopes have been dashed. "This ia tha flrat aquaro meal Ive had for two days. " First Ive had for ten days," returned t Laramie, keeping up hlo paoe. "What are they doing up there, Jim? aaked Sawdy peremptorily, " Killing their horsea." "They wont And him, Sawdy predicted in words Inaudible tlx feet away. " I hope not. i Howo he holding out? " " Hard hit, Henry y' , "Will ho maka it? "You cant kill a cat " Well" 6awdy resumed bio supper, lta your game, Jim, not mine; hut Id think twice before Id got that range bunch after mo on any mans account." Laramies eyes Aaahed; then ho was under control again, and ho spoke quietly: "I couldnt aeo Abe killed like a rattlesnake." "What are you down for? Ive got to have a coupla of needles, a little catgut, and some gauxo. Whore are you going to got them? " " Going to steal them over at Doe Carpya , "Nervy." " You can do It for me, Henry." Me? give you tho key to his cabinet. Wherod you get that? " "Met him on my way in. He was going up to Pettigrews to look after the wounded. Tho window in the end of the wing opens into tho operating room, where tho supplies, "III are." Id Jook Ano climbing into a window at two hundred and forty pounds. " Its on the ground door," returned La rami. unmoved.' will tha family be doing whflo "What Im burgling? " Mrs. Carpy and the girls are in Medicine Bend. The house la empty. When youre through, leave the key in the head of the skeleton behind the door. Sawdy stared without muoh enthusiasm at the little key that La rami slipped him; then he slipped it, without comment, into hie pocket. The talk, went on in low, leisurely tones until the second portion of ham had been served, when both resumed their supper aa if nothing had been saten or said. Afterward Laramie spent an hour getting together some things he needed at home. He met Sawdy later at Kitchens barn. Sawdy, with abundance of grumbling at hie assignment, had the gauze and the catgut, but he had brought the key back. He could not And the turnons needles. There seemed nothing for it but for Laramie te go to the office said make the search himself. He thought of Belle. She would do it for him, he knew, but he felt it would not be right to mix her up in what might prove a tragic affair. After brief reAectlon he started for Carpys himself. The doctors' house stood back of Main Street, a block and a half from the barn. Laramie walked a mils to reach it, cheesing unlighted ways for the trip. The night waa dark, and by crossing a vacant lot be reached the rear ef the house unobserved. The office, divided into a consulting room and y an operating room, consisted of a wing connecting wttb the residence. The consulting room adjoined the residence, the operating room occupying the end ef the wing. This was the room Laramie sought. The window that Sawdy had already burglariously entered opened easily, and Laramie, standing alone in the dark room, felt In hia pocket tor a match. He had been In the office more than once before end knew about where the oablnet containing the surgical instruments stood. A connecting doer led from the room he had entered to the office proper. He tried this It was unlocked and he left it dosed. The curtains of the windows were drawn and took a match from his pocket, lighted looked around. The flyst thing he sdw waa the articulated skeleton suspended near the door from the ceiling. Jt wedid have been a shock had he not seenit before end been familiar with the label fistened to the breastbone redting that this was Flat Noes George, an early'"' day desperado of the high one-etor- country- - y Turning from the relic, Laramie set about his jrdrk, disdaining to inspect various grue-specimens in alcohol ranged along a shelf. Aided by an occasional (natch whlch he lighted and shielded In his left hand, he found the cabinet and with hia key opened the door. The Aame of his match, toe carefully guafded, dickered in hts Angers, failed, and went out. He thrust It hastily into one pocket, drew a fresh match from another, e and was about to scratch it across hjs leather wristlet when he heard a door open. The next moment he saw under the door leading from his room to the consulting room a Aash of tight Awkward as It was te be interrupted, he faced the surprise with such composure as hs could muster. Who could it be, he asked himself? The family was accounted for; the house locked. He scratched the match again. Aa It Aared Up he looked into the cabinet, found the packet of needles, tor a card of them In two, slipped them Into a waistcoat pocket, and closed the cabinet door. He turned to listen to the office intruder. Laramie hoped that nothing would bring the unwelcome visitor into the operating room, but aa he stood awaiting devji- opments the unlocked door was thrown open and a tiny AaahUght.wae thrown into the room in which he atood. Fortunately Laramie, outside the circle of light, was left tn the dark. The intruder was a woman. Hs shrank back and aha turned her light from him, but only to encounter, as she stepped forward. Flat Nose George, aa forbidding how as he had ever been In life. The woman with the light started beck in horror, and a sharp llttla exclamation betrayed her identity. Laramie waa at once aware that be waa facing Kate Doubleday. Nothing could have pleased him less. In so small a room it was impossible to escape detection. He could almost hear her breath and would have reveled in her presence but that tha apprehension ef frights nSg her terribly weighed on him like e mountain. Hardly daring te breaths he cursed the erratic doctors skeleton pet hung, of all places, where every little while he was cutting people open. The skeleton had already set the girls nerves on edge. What would happen If she discovered a live man as well as the ghastly remains of a dead one not to mention alcoholic clippings from other subnormal notables of the mountains? With the flashlight she waa evidently searching for something and Laramie surmised it must be the electric light switch. " I think." he suggested In as steady a ton as posslbla, "youll find the light button to the right of the door behind you." He was prepared for a scream or a ewoen, Insaad, tha flashlight was turned directly on him. "Who are you?" cam sharply and quickly from behind it. "I might ask ths same question. You ean see Im Jim Laramie. I can gueaa you are Kate Doubleday." . I am, and Ive come here for dressings for wounded men at Pettigrew's, What ar you doing here?" she demanded, peremptorily, His lips were eealed for mere reasons than one. Least of all would It do for him ta expose Doctor Carpys friendliness and embroil him in a fsud which Laramie knew he ought to face alone. Kate held the light excitedly on him. It was an Instant before he had hia answer in hand: "Ive lied to a good many people at different times about different thlnga." he said, deliberately. " Ive still got my first lie to tell to you, Kate. And I certainly wont tell It tonight Don't ask me what I'm doing here. Turn on the light by tbe door, er let me do it so I can eeS you. You here alone?" " No, there are plenty of men outside, with me, the exclaimed abruptly, " I shouldnt have asked that question," he continued, in the same tone. " I know you're alone. You sey men ' because youre afraid of me" "Im not the least afraid ef you. And dont deceive yourself. There ar men here. "But they ere mostly in bottles, Kate and in pieces. Live men don't ride up to a place like this without making a note. Flat Nose George te the only man here besides me, outside the alcohol, and X can claim him as well as you ean." " Im euro you would feel perfectly at home with Flat Nose George," she retorted swiftly. If the words stung Laramie kept hif temper. " Probably there's a good deal I deserve that you havent heard about me, be said, But from the way you talk youve slowly. heard a few things maybe I dont deserve. Nobodys got any right to class me with Flat Nose George er anybody alee tn Carpy's museum." "Youve classed yourself with him,' ah exclaimed, vehemently. "Defending i .ttier thieves and harboring them! Everybno knows that." " I did talk rough to your fathevthls mornthe tame, ing. I was pretty angry, dont believe averything jou hyar about me. At present, its just pg two. What do you want to do, surrender te me?" No! she snapped the word eut furiously. I won't, opt If you kill me." t I surrender to Suppose you? What do you,xant me te do stick up my hands? Bo r, they havent been up if I remember right. But I expect I'll have te learn some time how te surrender". I want no surrender, no parley with you. Tbe doctor told me hie house was empty and directed me here for the dressing. When I come, I Andjyou. Ill get away at once. Before I " No, 111 go. But let me turn on the light. He stepped te the door and pressed the button. "I wanted, he continued, as a light flooded the queer room, "to have just one look at you before I go. She stood before him quite unafraid. Her eyea flashed aa were actually mlstresa ef the situation Instead of really helpless In the presence of her fathers moot resourceful enemy. ' Laramie half smiled at her eerenity. Why dont you go? the exclaimed. Still regarding her. he shifted bis position a little, and replied with entire good nature; 1 only live along, from one tight te another of you. I'm just filling up, like a man , at a spring till I reach the next water hole in the desert. Ton dont object to my only looking at you for a minute? I object to being delayed and annoyed," the declared In a blaze. " Ive come her for . dressings needed for wounded " WeD, so have I, if you must have it." " I was sent here by Dr, Carpy for thing he wanta tonight; you have no more right her helping yourself te hte property thaa you have taking other people'." " Don't say I take other people property!" ' Laraml spoke fiercely, "Don't call me a thief.'. His words burned with anger. "My hands may not be as whit as yours they Just ss clean! What would you think if X called you a thief with no mere ground than you call me one? God! ha exclaimed, catching at a chair beside him, " haa it com te this, that tbe daughter of Barb Doubleday . calls me a thief?" men" Btunned a ahe might well have bees at. the outburst, Kate atood her ground. "Did Doctor Carpy give you permission to coma ' here tonight?" jShe shot the words at lor-- , ami without giving him time to breathe. Laramie checked the food ef anger he bad loosed, " I dont need permission from Doe, for Carpy to com har night or day. Ask him if you want to," he aald, with a scornful disgust He sank down on tho chair at hte tide in complete resentment ef the whole sib uatlon and leaning forward wttb a hand ' spread over one knee and on fist clenched on the other, he ntared net at Kate's eyas, but at tha floor, with only her trim boot in his field of vision. What the uae?" ha exclaimed, drawing ' the words up seemingly all the way from hte own disorderly and foot cover, lngs. " Whats the use?" he repeated, in ' stronger and more savage ton. " ! treat-- . ed her from the first instant I aaw har, and every Instant since, aa I thought A woman ougnt to he treated would like to be treated. Now I get my reward. She calls me a thtef and niy God! I taka it. I dont rid eut and kill her father, who taught her to do it, quick as I can reach Mm; X Just taka It!" he exalkali-staina- d claimed. He hesitated a moment. Then he flung question at har tike a thunderbolt: "What do yoq want her? She was frightened. HI rag was plain aneugh; who could tail tha lengths to which it might carry him? She kept her dignity, but she answered and without quibbling: " X want setae gauze and eem cotton aad some medicines. He strode to the cabinet and, concealing tha movement aa he unlocked it with Carpy key, he threw open the glass door: "Youd be all night finding tha stuff," he said, curtly, taking the supplies from various cluttered pUe on different shelves "You say he wanta this tonight, he added, when her packet waa complete: "Hew are yen going to get it to Mm? " "Cany it te him." At Pettigrew's? What do you neaa? It would take an expert need horeemaa all night to rid around by Black Creak." " Tm going over the peas He could not oonoeal hte angort "Sees your father knew that? " "He aald X might try H." Laraml flamed again: "A fine fkthart to tend a tenderfoot girl on a Bight rid Into a country like that! " She waa defiant: " X can rid anywhere a "Let me tell you," he faced r aad hte eyes flashed, "If you try riding anywhere toe often, some night your father's daughter will fall to get home!" Ignoring the doer. Its stopped to the open window by which be had entered gal, springing through it, was gens. Laramie, disdaining any further attempt at concealment, rod angrily over to KUoh-en- s barn; anyone that wanted a dispute with him could have had it, and promptly. Ho Alpln get up hte her, and, anttlng short the barn boas attempt te talk, Laramie headed ter home The studded with a glory of stars He rod fast, hte fever ef anger acting as s aprnv in hte anxiety to get back te dram llrvu wka wounds. Hte thoughts racsd with ths hoofs bores. Nothing could have galled and at hte humfl-iate- d him more thaa te realize how Kate Doubleday regarded him. Plainly she looked on him as no better thaa the ordinary roe- tiers of th Falling Wall country. This was distressingly clear. He knew tn Ms own heart that here was the only eptnlma among her people that he cared anything about Furious waves of resentment alternated with y go" e the realization that such a thing was Inevitable how could it he otherwise? She heard the loos talk of tho men about her Stone, alone, to reckon no ether, could he depended on te lie freely about him. Yen Hon he was as eura would blacken an enemy; and added te Laramies discomfiture was the reflection that this man, whose attentions te Kate he most dreaded, held her ear against Mm and could, if need he, poteen th wells To theee could be added her own father as his Implacable enemy. This last affair had cut off every hope of getting on with th men for whom he had no respect and who for on reason or another hated him a heartily as ha bated them. Under such a load of entanglement lay th thought of Kata What downright fbolteh-nes- s even to think of her as he let himself thjnk and hope! Clattering along, he told himself nothing could ever come of It hut bitterness, and he cast tha thought and hope ot knowing her better and better until he Continued on following page. V . ' . X |
