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Show II IPT Triangular gar (jun Fighter Wl Coming out of a little sully near the tiver. Miss Hubbard -av. the sun I swimming ins1 above the peaks of j, some distant mountain? She halted i her pony suddenly, pat line its flank j lightly, "her eyes filling With a ?IIghl PPH com Pi n PPPJ "It will he sundown in an hour, PPPJ Ginger, she said nloud. speaking to PPJ ; the little nnltna! who slanted his ears PPJ , j bach as though aware thai this ob- PPJ I nervation had been directed ai him. PPJ , "and we must be fully ten mil from Jj the Lazy L " She looked around regretfully, re-gretfully, reluctant to leave the river I nail on Which she had lingered for PPH the greater part of the afternoon "But we roust he traveling " she continued con-tinued gathering up n,e reins with PPJ sudden derision. "Daddy will he She spoke sharply to the pony and I he. responded with a rush that took I them both to the creel of the slope I at the head of the cully and nut upon j a dead, flat expanse of unfeauired plain StlU reluctant to do.-ert the river, j with Its painted buttCB iiJ weird. giant rocks and spires, ii vegetation. I its tinkling waters, for the dead hot I sand of the plains HJsi Hubbard ! held her pony to the trail that led j along the fringe of trees above the j! bed of the stream The trail over the 1 plains was shorter by several miles, for the river swung around In the j, shape of a uiant horseshoe toward ii tho cluster of buildings belonging 10 the Lazy L ranch nut Miss Hub bard preferred to ride near the fringe j of trees, where the matted ruesqniie ii rustled under the whipping tread of 1 her pony's hoof, and the r.hadc made I' travel more romfortable. I ghe had been riding half an hour ! when she fell fiinget's left shoulder I suddenly sink. He eame to one knee, pitching forward with liis muzzle Ii deep into the grass, and she slipped j out of the saddle and eame around to ; his head, her eyes wide with a snd- II den fear Ginger struggled and 1 snorted, tugging desperately at ills j left foreleg, which presently eame out j of a pralrie-doe hole, twisted into a j horribly queer shape Miss Hubbard's face went white. 1 "Oh!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands over her eyes with a shudder j of pity. And thpn again, in tones f that were eloquent with pity: "O Ginger!" Still resung his weight upon one I knee, the pony turnpd his head and j looked at her, with an appeal in his j eyes that brought a sudden moisture I into her own. He struggled again to rise tailed and then sank prone on the grass, with a groan so nearly human hu-man In Its despair th2' Miss Hub-I Hub-I bard again covered ber face with her j hands and sobbed aloud j Five minutes late;, as she kneeled I In the grass, pal ting and smoothing ! Ginger's sleek neck, a pony loped i around a sharp bend in Hie trail and j ame sudden).' to a halt near her Then a tall man swung down from ihe saddle and advanced with swift strides In the swift. Heeling glimpse that shp had got of him from tho in-piant in-piant she had first seen him until he was standing over her, she had not J sucieeded In getting an impression of his appearance She knew only that I he was big, muscular, and active, and that he had come at a time when she j had been ver near yielding to the flood of emotion that had threatened j her since Ginger's fall. When she J looked up at he man he was stand ij Ing near her. his arms crossed over i his cheat, one hand caressing his j chin. He even smiled sllghth as his I gaze met here. P Well " ho said, drawling a little, i go little that she was sure it was un- I affected. It ain't so much of a pic nic, ie It?" I 'P-plc nle" ' shp returned, her lips quivering suspiciously, even In her sudden slight resentment over what ehe considered was unwarranted lev-ii, lev-ii, v on his part. 'Of course It Isn't a pirnic. Why," she continued, her eyes flashing at him through the moisture in iliem, "can't you see that (iincrer's leg is h-broken0" Well,'' he u(d, lookluc down at her quizzically, but speaking more vrravely, "l expect it Is An that certainly cer-tainly aln'l no picnic Hut It ain't half so bad as It might have been ' I don t see how It could bc-be any worse." she said, not looking at him because She was trying hard to control con-trol her voice to keep the tears out I expect It could be a whole lot worse." he returned, moving toward the pony "You might have ot your neck broke when ho tumbled That would sure have made me fp I pretty bad to run across a woman with her neck broke " "1 don't think you would have been excited even over that' she declared, de-clared, experiencing a sensa'lon of irritation ir-ritation over the serene calm that radiated from him. But he was down in the grass he- 1 1 side Ginger, and he Ignored her sar- i caara "So his name's 'Ginger'?" he j jald. as he patted the animal's neck I and ran a light hand down the In- ji Jured foreleg. "That s a nlc name j for a horse I expect you think a heap of him?" j He had suddenly turned to her. I and she saw his eyes, blue and steady, looking Into her with a grave expression. His voice followed. V also grave i "Of course you like him." he said, j "or you wouldn't be cry in '." He .1 placed both hands on his hips and re- I garded her with narrowing eyes "You live anywheres around here?" HI I he questioned .iaJi The movement of hi hands had '"J brought her gaze to his bips, where jjm she saw the butts of two heavy pis tols with fhf bottoms of ihelr hols ters suggestively tied down She shuddered In VOltihtaVlly hpr checks paling hrltb a sudden dread. Three months before a man had come to the lazy L wearing two guns. He had taken his plap anions Ihe men of the outfit, apparently engaged en-gaged as an ordinary puncher Bill two months later a ncster named Har vey Toban had been shot lo death, and before an investigation could be Started ihe man had mj steriously disappeared dis-appeared Af'pr ),!, disappearance a vague rumor had reached her to the effe.N that the man bad been a cm fighter, and thai i lie lav L company had sem him 'o the ranch" purposely io the nester Her father bad been reiiieiit regarding the incident had even gruffly told her to mind her own business when she had attempted to question him Apparently the in-cideui in-cideui had been forgotten. But she still remembered, and she cringed av.ay from 'hp stranger a little while with furiip giancc"-- --he made a rapid ra-pid searching inspection of him Hi- was nearly thirty, fhe decided, nonnc the level brows and the serene. nea,,v eyes thai glinted with a slight humor as she made her rapid analysis analy-sis And good looking Her cheet i redd-ned a little as this fact was ro-corded. ro-corded. Apparent ly he was not dlsturle1 over bcr searching glances He spilled. You live anywheres around here'" he repeated, My falber Is manager of the Laz Ij," she returned "How far do you reckon the Lazy L i from here1''' he questioned. Six or seven miles, she returned, her gaze going again to tho injured pony. He went over lo where his own pon was graing. catching the bridle rein and leading the animal close to her before replying That'd be a rfght long walk for a lady. " be said then. "You hop onto my horse an' get along 111 hr roinlti later.' She objected, but Ik persisted, smiling. smil-ing. ' You hadn't ought to refuse a nejghlxir,' he said finally "You say your father is runnln" the Lazy L. I've heard thai ihe l a v L Is right close to the Triangular Bar where 1 m goin to hang out hereafter" She ga' e an exclamation of sin-prise sin-prise and relief Then he uas not a gun fighter after all She could not conceal the satisfaction that shone in her eyes Are you going to work over at the Triangular Bar?" she asked. lie laughed, surveying her with pleased eyes I expeel I'll work over there-, he returned. 'Yon sec I'm the new owner of the Triangular Bar. I've got a little ranch down in Texa, but sln.-e raj brother died I've go; to take core of the Triangular Bar loo. I expect takin' care of the two might be called work The constraint that had marked her manr.er toward him suddenly n.elted Into genuine pleasure She extended a hand smiling frankly. "Then you are Dave To! an' she said "I met your brother many times before be-fore -before he was shoi I am glad to be the first to welcome vou here.' For a moment her hand lay in his and then she drew it away and allowed al-lowed It to fa'l to her side, suddenly aware of a hard glint that had come into his eyes. "1 reckon you didn't hear who it was shot him" he questioned, with a pronounced drnwl. "Nobody knows," she returned "A man rami' here anil joined the o-.it fit 1(p worked here two months. Then he disappeared and won! came to us that HarVej Toban had been shot. We haven t heard of the man since ." He smiled dryly "Well" he said evenly still drawling. "J reckon Har-ve Har-ve ought to have took care of him Self ' With Ihese words he seemed to have dismissed the sublet I from his mind He smiled, pulling his pony closer to her. "You'll take my horse now," he said "knowln" that we're goin' to be neighbors " Ho placed one hand on his knee. Hip palm upward, as an Invitation lo her. She quickly placed one foot in it and was swung lightly into the saddle From the pony s hack she smiled gratefully down at him. her gaze lin-g lin-g i ing just an Instant longer than was necessary. Then she urged the pony forward, leaving him standing beside. Ginger, who raised his head and whinnied whin-nied despairingly as she departed. Five minutes later when she wbs well on her way over ihe plains toward the ranch house she heard a dull report re-port and then another She shuddered shud-dered and co-ered her face with her bands Another five minutes passed, and then, reaching the crest of a rise, she looked back The new Trlangu lar Bar ownr was coming toward her with long swinging strides, bearing her saddle on hie shoulder 11 Dusk had fallen when the man who had called himself Dave Toban reached the ranh house, and after ,e positing MIhp Hubbard's saddle on the porch turned and walked to the door of the manacer's office, halting when he stood on the threshold Miss Hubbard had arrived something some-thing over an hour before, bad turned the stranger's pony into the horse r0r ral told her father or her adventure, end informed him of the coming of the stranger. Then, going Into the ranch-house, she bad flitted hack and forth from the kitchen to the window In front of the house, from which she watched the approach 0f the stran"er Now, as the latter stood In the door of the oflb e -li" oerth watched bim through a crei ice in ihe door thai led from the kitchen lo the office Hubbard had llsrhied the kerosene lamp, and its flickering rays showed him the tall stranger on the threshold thresh-old showed him the mans sirongly lined face, his steady eyes, ihe level brows, the impassive expre-sion. the lithe muscular figure, and 'he two gun with 'heir holsters lied forbid-diugly forbid-diugly down "WELL l .UN I BXAl Ti 1 A BOX-HBADt ,i II THAT'S WIIA1 STOO MEAN" Hubbard knew Ihls kind of man. That other one whi'-h Devlin, ihe owner of the Lazy L had sent to put Toban out of ihe way. had been ibis kind of man. He gazed at the stranger stran-ger for a full minute, his narrowed eyes taking In all the details of his appearam e Then he drew a deep breath and leaned a little forward In his chair "Well,"' he said slowly "1 didn i ex peel you so soon. The strangers eyes glittered "Meb-be "Meb-be not," he said, drawling his words. "Bui I'm here " Hubbard's eyes glinted with reluctant reluct-ant admiration. "You sure are. he returned. Bui you're here a month loo soon. Dave Toban ain't due to arrive until then. Devlin tell you anything0 any-thing0 ' "No." The stranyer drew out a leather tobacco penh and some rice paper, and carefull began rolling a cigarette. He look a long lime at this, and Hubbard watched him. following bis slow and sure movements with fascinated fas-cinated gaze Finally the cigarette was made and the stranger placed it carelessly between his lips, lighted it and puffed slowly. Pinching out ihe blazing match he looked suddenly at Hubbard "Well?" he Interrogated, "you saym' anvthin Hubbard started. "Why, yes." he returned "I reckon if Devlin didn't tell you anything it's up to me to do it. Do you know who you're goin to be when you get over to the 1 1 ian-gulnr ian-gulnr Bar''" The strange smiled with straight, lips. "Yes be said. I sure do. I'm goin' to be Dave Toban " Hubbard .-traighienpd "Hell"' he exploded "I thought you told me that Devlin hadn't told you anything9 You startin' this here game by ly'm' flr.-t. rack?" The stranger's lips curled with a feline smile. "If I was you," he said slowly i wouldn't gel reckless with my talk Mebbe I know what l m doin . But if 1 don'l I ain't tellin' anything (hat Devlin told me. I m here to listen to what you've got to 6a " Hubbard colored a little "Thai's the way Devlin does business," be sneered. Sends a gun-man over her,, an don'i n il him a damned thing only the name lies goin' to wear But I reckon if you know thai your name's goin' to be Dave Toban. you know that you're lo go ovpt to the Triangular Bar an lake charge." He suddenly laughed "Of course you know that, too.' he continued "Fqr Devlin told me he. i make out the papers for you, provin' that you re Dave Toban. You got em'" "Sure 1 returned 'be stranger He lapped his chesl ' Thev'rc right hero all regular an' straight Again bo smiled felinely. "1 even know Dave Toban's brother. D was Harvey. Devlin is sure fignrin' on doin a complete com-plete job. But he dldn i tell me what I was goin' to do once I cot here I reckon he figured thai you d want a hand In It." Hubbard shifted uneasily "1 ain't carln' a heap about takin' a band In it ' be said But when a man's run din' a ranch for the Lazy L company he's got io do a lot of things that he don i like. I m tellin' you that when you -o ner to Hi-- Triangular Bar you're goin' to play a lone hand I ain't helpln' 0U a damn bit to put Dave Toban out of the way no more'n I helped Rill Daggert to put Harvey Toban out of business " Hubhard leaned forward lense!? "1 d give a man a thousand dollars to poke a hole through his durned hide!" he declared. The stranger tossed the butt of his cigarette away "Daggert workln' for the Ls7v L company when he nut Harvey Har-vey Tolian out of business?" he questioned, ques-tioned, blowing a last whiff of smoke to the celling. "Yes." The stranger smiled grimly "Then likeh he's still in this country," be said. "After I tct throuch with Ibis business with Dave Tobau 1 11 trj to see If I can collect your thousand lie now drew a chair over and dropped into i. "You're tellin mc ihe rest about this deal. ' he said "I know that I'm lo be Pave Toban an' that 1 ve got the papers in my pocket, lu prove It. But that lets mc out. TTov. s the game coin' from now on0 " "There alnt much to it from now on " declared Hubbard, gravely and earnestly "Ail you've got to do Is to go over to the Triangular Bar say yon r Have Toban, show your papers to Hnrvcy Toban's range loss lo prove it nn' take things easy till Dave Toban To-ban conns Thep put him out of bciness if you ean I've heard that he ain't no slouch with B cun bimself. But he ain't due foi a month, Devlin told me thai it'd take that long to get Straightened out down in T :-.as. where he's got a ranch That's about all The Lazy L company's got an Idee that It wants the Triangular Bar ranch an' I reckon It S goin to have It, if it bas to put the whole Toban family out of business But you're playln a lone hand I ain't In on the deal Likely you'll have a good ex i use for shootln' Dave Toban He li be some riled when he comes an' finds out that yon ve been passln' yourself off as 1 im." "Correct." smiled the stranger "I'm bun: in' here to-night To-morrow I'm hl:tin' the breeze to ihe Triangular Bar. to prove that I'm Dave Toban " He i03e and walked to the door "I reckon thai von don't mind tellin' ine what you've cot agin Bill Dag cert '' he nuest ioned Hubbard snarled "My daughter come in from the range one day, tryin'. Told me that Bill Daggert had Insulted ber. on his last day, loo didn't see hiin again. If I ever do " The stranger's eyes glittered. "Ho done that, did be9" he Interrupted colcllv He smiled with stralghi lis ' In that i ase 1 ain't takin' that thousand thou-sand for killin him.' he said Hubbard started, 'Why," he began, "vou're takin' a heap of Interest in " But his last word the stranger did not hear, for he had stepped our of the doorwav and was striding through the dusk toward Ihe bunk-house 111 FOR two days Miss Hubbard was filled with a riotous race against the stranger, stran-ger, and prayed that he might come again so that she could tell him what she thouaht of gun-fighters In general and of himself in particular On the third dav her race had been succeeded by an Ironic coolness In the midst of which she decided that an outward show of anger vould have little effect upon him Therefore she decided to adopt toward him a certain aloofness, which would convince him that he had made a mistake in attempting to deceive de-ceive her by Impersonating Dave To-baD. To-baD. Tho fourth day was spent in manufacturing crushing Invective, Which be had decided o apply lavishly lav-ishly to him But he did not come In the afternoon of the fifth day her anger had burned Itself out and she sat in a rocking chair on the wide porch, thinking of him and wondering what she really would say to him. And he came She not-d Instantly thai be had forsaken for-saken his pony He now rode a big. rangy black horse. Her lips curled scornfully, and she made a pretense ot being busy with some sewing that she had brought out with her, Ignoring him entirely after the first glance Already, she decided, he was pun ing on airs, a- witness the change from the pony to Ihe black horse Ii would not. have been so had If he reallv was Dave Toban. But to masquerade thu-' Khe piled br needle faster and nibbled nib-bled ber lips nervously awaiting bis first word It came short ly "Ma'am," he said quietly. "I have brought von another pony " She had determined not to look at him at all but was surprised Into a swift glan.-e Her gn ze rested upon a ponv that he had been leading which might have been Ginger himseli so nearlv did he match the dead pony In size and appearance. For the second lime she was surprised this time Into dropping her sewing wilh an eii Tarnation. Ta-rnation. Why. ii can't be " she began. But his laugh interrupted her. "No," he naid. his eyes flashing whimsically. "It aln'l Ginger Bui It's s right good pony I'd have been over hen- -lonei. bu' I've spent three gentlin bint so's you could ride bim. An now I m makin' you a presenl of him " She sat with bands folded in hr lap. forcing her eye? to Steadiness as they m. i 'nir How do I know that yon have a right to give this pony to anyone"" she acked evenly A flush slowly mounted above the blue scarf at his throat, creating an odd contrast. "Why." he said, plainly embarrassed, ' I reckon you'd have to take tn word for that." Xow had come the time when Bhe could speak ihe scathing word that bad been in her mind for four das, and ;-he leaned sllfly back, watching hi i face closely. l don'l thlnh Hiat I should care to lake a gun-fighter's word for anything. any-thing. " she said For an instant it seemed the shot bad lob) for the red in his face deepened deep-ened But all traces of embarrassment disappeared Instantly, and bid lips curled into an amused smile. So It was yon who was behind the door that night?" he said, his smile broad--nine I ihoughi i he door acted pretty sirange look 0 mOVtn' BUd-den, BUd-den, w hen it had no call to ': The smile now died out of his face ' An .-.i It was VOU? ' be repeated She nodded, her face reddening gullttlj "An" you beard what was said be-tween be-tween your father an' me?" "Of course. And 1 am glad that I did." He shifted uneasily. "Well, I'm rlghl sorry." he said in a low vo'ce. l wouldn't have had yon hear thai for a gooil bit." "N"o " she returned, pinning him wilh a cold glance. "You would much rather that I were deceived. But I am not." N I reckon a man would have to s'art pretty early to deceive you,' he said admi'ingly "1 detpst flattery," sbo returned Icily. He laughed with an unaccountable humor. "An I reckon you don't like a gunman gun-man a heap either." he said You are very' keen." she returned Ironically "Well " be said, throwing one leg over the pommel of his saddle and flecking the dust off bis l oo top with a forefinger, "I ain't exactly a box-head, box-head, if th-.u's what von mean I've got sense enough to see I hat you ain't exactly pleased with what you've found out I can't say that I'm blamin' you much No woman "h any respect for herself would take B shine to a gun man Generally they're a bad sf I ain't claim in' to be no Sunday-school scholar. Put mebre ain t so bad as you think." Her lips curved scornfully "You an presuming a great deal. ' she said, "In thinking that I would take a 'shine to you. whether you were a gun-flghter or not I really think that I despise you " He laughed "I don't think that you despise me. ' he declared, his eyes flashing with amusement and convl -tion. "1 can see pretty plain, an' I flaw that when vou thought I was Dave Tolian you began to Mice me more'n a little. But me turnin' out to lie a gun man spoiled thai " "How very conceited you are'" sho sneered He laughed again, his eyes glinting wiih some subile emotion. But he spokp earnestly "1 don't think I am conceded." be returned "It s Just that I know a thing when I see It. I'm more than a tot sorry thai things have turned out like they have, for I like vou a hcao I never liked no other girl An' I was figuring that when this deal was over I'd tell yon about it Hut I reckon we've got to shuffle the cards again ' He removed bis leg from the pommel of the saddle and urged his horse marer her. "An' so you ain't even goin' to take Hie pony that I've brought over to you?" he Insinuat.-d After I've gone to Ihe lothor of gentlln him ' "No!" she returned shortly. Ho smiled, his lips stralghlenlnc a little - reckon von wouldn't want to see nave Toban shot?" he said 'No'" she admitted, r'corlly and .-.ir-nestly. H- leaned forward a little, looking at her with cold grave eyes. "I sure had a time breakin' this pony." Ur" said "sos he'd hae sense enough lo take good care of you when (roil ridin' him An' I bate lo lug him back to ihe Triangular Bar fur some fool puncher to spoil. If I thOUJ you'd tal s him sn r,:ie bim I'd prom ISO not to shoot Dave Toban For an instant she sat regarding bim with surprise Then bcr flashed She could not compromise herself by accepting the ponj under ihese terms, and bv acceptl would save Toban's life She looked gravely at him "How do l now Miat rou would keep that promise?" she i ked. "1 wouldn't look at a man v ho vou Id deliberately rhoot another He answered ber look with one equally grave "We'll make worth somethln' for me io keep It ' he re-turaed re-turaed "If I don't shoot Dave Toban. will you agree to treat me like I wasn't a gnu roan? ' She looked sharply at him. "! think I can agree t(. thai." she said He smllod and purred his horse cloer. reaching out a hand so (hat she might clasp the pony's bridle rein. ' Thai's square of you. ma'an: " be said I'll see you again nome day. So-long." Ho bowed io her, smiled, and spurred nis horse away from the-pon the-pon h, loping rapidly out on tbe plains toward the Triangular Bar. For five minutes she sat on the porch, holding the rein he bad given her Then a sudden pang shot through her lie had promised thai he woilld not shoot Dav e Toban But I here w ere other ways of killing a man. IV Fpon the morning of a da t a month later, a man rode up to (he gate of the Lazy Im p(rr?J fcce, di- mo'n-.'.cd from bis ponv. and strode to the door of Hubbard's office. The manager had been occupied wiih some accounts, and he had not seen the newcomer ride up. But al the noise of his entrance en-trance Hubbard raised bia bead His Hpi straightened a little and his face w bltened. "Bill Daggert!" be said hoarsely He raised himself half ou: of his chair, and one hand drooped suddenly lo his holster The newcomer moved slichtly, and a heavy six shorter gleamed in ono hand He smiled evilly. Your eves ain't half Wad Hubbard he said "i. ut you ain't Improved none Blingln' your gun out." He now sneered "You go; anything to argr-r with me or was you just surprised Into makin' that fool move for your gun?" Hubbard sagged back into his chair. At sight of Dagger! bis thoughts had gone Instantly to his daughter and to a reeollert ion of the insult Daggert bad offered her. And m the impulse 01 l be moment, he had intended using bis gun But now. looking into the muzzle of Daggert s slx-.shootcr. ho vas compelled to admit that he had no clian e. So he smiled weald) "Why. I was sure some surprised, seeln' you turn up sudden that-a-way " Dagzerl smiled ' I'd all that sufficient," suf-ficient," he said. But Instead of returning re-turning the weapon lo Its holster he tucked it lightly between his shirt and the waistband of bis trousers in front And his eyes showed that be was not exactly convinced that Hubbard's Hub-bard's intent ions w ere peaceable But he carelessly drew p chair over near the door and dropped into It. his thin lips wreathing in'o a drooping smile. He leaned lack folding hb; arms over his chest, his attitude one of unstudied ease. Vnything doin""' he asked. I woiildn t say that things is hum-niin'. hum-niin'. " returned Hubbard coldls Xo o" drawled Hubbard, bis lips twin hing No!" flared Hubba i d "Any strangers around?" Hubbard's eyes glittered vengefully. 'There ain't anv strangers around." he snid smiling grimly "P,ut there s gdln' to be. I hear that Harve Toban s brother is due to strike this country pretty soon I rerkon he'd be some tickled to get a chance to talk some to you " Daggert laughed harshly "Mebbe he would he sneered, freeing one arm and pull ing; at bis bin with bis fin-gerr.. fin-gerr.. "An' mebt-e you'd like to tell him that it was me who pir bis brother broth-er out of business?" There was a threat in his voice aod he leaned si ill further back in his chair, his eyes chilling Hubbard drew a deep breath. He sensed Ihe danger of this interview w ith the former Lazy L gun man But he answered quit "I ain't tellin' Have Toban anything.' any-thing.' he said. But if bo's cumin' to this country, hell find out soon enough that it was you who shot his brother. Daggert grinned. "An" so Dave Toban To-ban s comln'? " he sneered. "Only ho ain't got here yet." He grinned atain. sardonically. y heard icll thai he's here already, that he's been over Tlx Dry Bottom, lookin for me" p HK rOISCD THK WEAPON BOOOWlVLY Hubbard omiled. "Mebbe he h " ho relurned. his voice hetraylog satisfaction. satisfac-tion. "But if he is he's keepln' pretty quiet He ain't been around her"" Daggert snarled "You'ro a M-r!" he snapped, his yes i old and alert. He's been around here an' you've told bitn about mo puttin' bis brother I out or business. He's been over te-.nE Dry Bottom - j' " ' n.e An' ' there wasn't anyone ;- nee . a - -v iue in" his bi o in r 1 ou an Der-'.f' 1 i. An H. . 'in -i j;v in' .hing like that a way " Hubbard leaned forward In bis chajH hi- eyes (lashing with a sudden StH plciohi ' r ," jLT;ert ' he ;- ioned UotvIt, l' in you Btlll '.orkiu' for the Lazy L I company?" Daggert nodded. ' ' n' Devlin sent vou over here to i' kill Dave Tobin?" "I red. on -ou (3n guess some," f sneered Daggert. il Hubbard drew a full breath His t lips slow 1 v .''V.ilened and be nai rlsld'1 r 'The Lazy L inmpanv ain't goi. no two gunmen orl in' for It right. $ no?. J" he quest ioned "I rockon no1." returned Daggert. Irp ' In I hat case," raid Hubbard a grlni:: W. smile reach In.; bis fare ou've beem P hearin' things prett near correct. I expect. Dave ro'i.nn's here." Hi I laughed, sltilng erei and looking at. I Daggert wiih mocking -r. I recll I on that s a joke." he said "A man " ceiree here one nighr about a month! I ago an' 1 took him for a l.arv L gun- ! li man P.ni I reckon If was Da-.e To-1 baan. An' i told him " Daggert snarled. You told him that h was mc w ho 1 ilb d his brother!'i t be snapped vn' tha' ain t no .ioke!" t His hand fell swif.iy to the pistol at ll bis waist. "You damned !" he bM ll gan. The door leading to t'nc r?.n h houses had opened Buddcnh and Miss ilub-F bard stood in the opening, a heavyMj six-shooter gleaming somberly in her riibt band, its muzzle menacing DagH gerL The latters hand dropped away L, from his pistol. Both men were silent 'B while Miss Hubbard spoke. gj "Bill Daggert." she said slowly. "I (, have been listening You may be clev- v er e nough with a gun to shoot Dave I Toban but I doubt it But vou are , not going to shoot anyone here. Dedal dy is running the Lazy L, and I amj I running thines right now You've gofer Just len seconds to get out of this of- T flee and away from tbe Lazy L. I P don't care which way you go But fJ imagine that, if you run Into Dave I Toban you'll never go back to t'imar- ron to collect your money foi killing 1 him " She poised tbe weapon sugges- I tivelv ' You can go now '' she said I Hacgt-rf rose to his feet sneering I "Why," he said. "I reckon that I'll ha goin' An' I'm certain (hat Toban sfi been here He i'n- kind that foolW girls take a shin" to ' Miss Hubbard's lips closed giiralyJM and the slx-shoo'er grew steadier IBM her hand. But Daggert had stepped toj the doorway His Jeering laugbak reached Miss Hubbard and ber fathensj in the office. L Five minutes later Miss HubhardBjj siood at the south window, watehinsJa with troubled eyes the dus? cloud! made by Daggerf's pony as It dlsap-r peared mm the thirty miles of plaS that lay between the Lazy L and tbSj Triangular Bar. L The following mornlntr Due TobliCj dropped from his pony lust outsldo thjE Lazy L ranch house and n rode quicM. ly to the office door Mirfs Hubbajfl Rnd ber father vero within halted just outside and peered in sfl-. (hem his face wreathed 'n a hfOsM grin Miss Hubbard started frwr'57 her face paling I Why why " she be?an. "DBt, you see " Tol an's grin grew ' man cSBm? over to the Triangular Bar yesterdaEB he said He hesitated, and .Miss HajHJf bard stiffened. "Well?" she Inquired He looke.i gravely at her "I tjBIr pe-t you thinl I in go!n' to say thatji s! o i him. ma'am be returned a ' ha ' d gi in' oieinL- ..!- !- eye I , ' I'ut I didn'' I couldn't do that, f al U'i vou iciiin me thai vou 'oul6HD look at a man who would shoot 1 I other plum coin Per 1 .ion'' roiad j llin' vou that I had io do a heapt thinl. in' abon' you v. tile I wk3 tlljlW v to him " ''.i -b "f j'-n n !!. i ' liphtld 5 M--S H -.1 bl.i.i . r ,-y. s .-'he . a-rejl i bands tightly, her face suddenly H ?(ih' -b,- . . . -Ho Ctl Jfellj I ever thank you enough?" ' I j& "Why." be said, advancing LT Uuning his v.-.-i. ; : . a i t'ie ifit ?H jamb. I reckon that's plum easjuVl ti looked fail I.'- m ln-i lb- nerenc CPi "H bad gon- from his eyes, in i hcni SO iqjyj i : , a-: i., n 1 n ' i'd ,r '-ti 1 1 " on wOitJ !-r.' ' .f r.i -'in: ' he SMW, i. -' ...' ' ' 1 1 - v jf "r73g thanklu mc. ou see" he '''wjknt aware ..r the ,,,i, ,. ttat isam iv i.. r til. I : I aget for voer sake He as a plum aBIBfc an' be s 1 1 o ' - - w e 1 1 he smm.d TWr 'JC i 'I: I a . i of :a n a! o... hllll r It te Dm mebbe vou won't '''tjBgV objections to goiu' rluin" w I'll "T OOf when I tell vou T.kJ knov. who you are" she . lu-pea l"?.Jjj a low voice "nd 1 inngine 1 tflk be v b..-d It me--' r. for f4 P!ll to aaerlflce your re-. ..nee " Her Kfi , now drooped aw av from bis 'BB I mil'--: teM -,.i thi. -he , ,.,u: nued.-W fffy ? fi'ii- w Pii I ' a 'it 'JJUju, 'I Hint you ilbju'. shoot 0tHL, He -ear' - Then he "' 'in'j8jSlf embarrassment. So vou ve WJ till ' h- said ' I tra-i think'n' roJtlb' nrlse vou. But I'm glad rim' n iv- IjBShi. I d'dn'i shoot Dave Tni " h - LTt "I've alwav-i tbourhi r H it T''' ( vas a pretty awl " it would lu..- b. e -v '.!' fc'l '" shoot htm, jusi wiien be ' .i'rlfc know a certau s'rl i e 1 1 'ii ' |