A THE STORY \ Garrett O'Hara, young lawyer, mn his way to practice at Concho, wild western town, Is shot at from ambush by Shep Sanderson, who mistakes him tor Judge Warner, whom certain cattle interests wish to prevent holding court, Barbara Steelman, who thought the shot was di- rected at her, warns Garrett not to go to Concho because of the big cattle war. In town San- derson picks a fight with Garrett and is getting the worst of (it when Ingram, cattle baron, In- terrupts. Steve Worrall tells Garrett about the cattle war be- tween Ingram and Steelman, fa- ther of Barbara. Garrett tells Ingram he desires to remain neutral, but the latter declares there can be no neutrality. Bob Quantrell, young killer for In- gram, saves Garrett and an Eng- lishman, Smith-Beresford, from being shot by Sanderson. The three become friends Garrett accidentally witnesses a meeting between jarbara and Ingram They are lovers, Garrett and the Englishman buy a ranch with Steelman as silent partner, Fitch, Steelman man, kills an In- gram follower A posse starts in pursuit and Fitch stops at the “tenderfoot ranch.” The posse, including Quantrell and Sander. son, capture and hang Fitch, Sanderson starts a fight at the ranch and Garrett and the Eng- lishman are wounded Ingram and Barbara appear and put an end to the ight. Quantrell changes siges and joins with the two “tenderfeet.”™ CHAPTER V—Continued ls With a giance of careless contempt Ingram’s eyes swept the room, “Weil, I told you what would happen If you staved in country,” he suid to O'Hara. “Did you tell him what would hap pen four of your killers when they tried to murder him?” Bar bara her flashing nation, Ingram pressioniess girl? “Yes, I'm in it. friends. Your them for no cause. this to three or asked, eves indig- with an ex you in this, her “Are looked at face. They're my father's hired bad men shot ** She stood straight and slender, quivering with indigua- tion at the mau whom held re sponsible, with sympathy for the two victims of the outrage. “Tried to obstruct a posse in per formance of its duty, If they got burt, don’t blame me. They carried arms in defense of a criminal wanted by the law.” “I don't beleve f(t—and more you don’t, either, Dave Ingram. Would two young tenderfoots attack a dozen armed ruffians? It's not rea- sonable. That scalawag Shep Sander son an’ his friends started it.” “They got excited when these scoun drelg here «hot up three-four of them. Who wouldn't? Why, It's common re port that both these men here have been practicin’ with guns ever since they came into the country. They were spoilin® for a fight. Dangerous killers like they are ought not to he allowed loose on a decent community ™ Barbara read the faintest fronic mirth in Ingram's ‘eyes. “Yon don’t word of what youre sayin” she flung hotly at him. “I'm aot going to argue with you. What de you want here? Why have you come? I've got to get help to look after these wounded men. But I can't leave them like this.” “I've sent to town for both doctors. One of 'em can come here, Even crim: inals are entitled to medical atten tion. I'll look after them till he comes. ring me fresh water from the spring.” Ingram rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and washed his hands before he approached Smith-Beresford, With his pocket knife he cut the shirt and undershirt frown around the wound, then bathed it, using the cold water Jarbara had brought from the spring. “I'm afraid he's awfly sick.” Bar bara murmured, her troubled eyes on the delirious patient, Ingram turned to Garrett. “How about you, young fellow? Get yore coat off an’ let's see where we're at.” larbara helped the lawyer remove the coat, The cattle man amined the wound, “Pain much?" “I'm noticing it. “Thought so. inlet hit the hone likely. You're lucky it's no worse From what the boys tell me a lot of good lead was wasted, If anyone had told me that Quanirell an’ Deever an’ Sanderson an’ a whole passle more of willin' lads would have eut down on you with their hoglegs with nothing to show for It but one ornery I'l flesh wound I'd "a’ sald It was a story that Hstened fine an’ for some one to tell a better one.” “They nearly murdered my friend if not quite,” O'Hara sald bitterly, in a lew voice. “lsn’t that enough to give you a little satisfaction? “Young feliow, If you know what's goggl, for you don’t insinuate that they die by my orders,” Ingram answered hly. Then, curtly, “Fix me up a pad for this, Barbara. We'll not mon- key with the lead pill till Doe comes.” A shadow from the doorway fell across the sunlit floor, Ingram looked up quickly and as he did so hig hand slid toward his right hip and rested there. Eob Quantrell leaned negli gently against the jamb, “Come to see how yore sick friends are gettin® along, Boh?" the owner of tha Diamond Teil brand asked fron. ically, his steady eyes on those of the she what's believe a washed and ex- WNU young desperado. “lI suppose, In a way of speakin’, you might call them yore patients” “No, sir. I reckon not. The hand began to play before I got here, Credit Shep with the Job. Does he get an- other notch on his gun?” “Too early to tell yet. The only notch up to date goes to innocent Mr. O'Hara.” Quantrell laughed, slowly and in- solently. “Ie sure tamed a bunch of wild wolves so's they was willin' to eat out of his hand. My hat off to you, Mr. O'Hara, You're a sure enough wolf tamer.” “You ought to be gratified, O'Hara. This is praise from an expert,” In- gram sald grimly, “What do you want here? Barbara demanded. “Why have you come?" Quantrell swept the sombrero from his head. “Don't you worry, miss. I'm through with that bunch of wolves, I'll throw in with yore paw if he needs a top hand.” “Why? You fought these men. Half an hour ago you were tryin’ to kill them." “All in the way of business. Fact is, I like the way they called the turn on Sheps crowd. They've got sand in their eraws, these two birds, A man can swap bosses, can't he?” Ingram made comment. “I'll be glad to write to yore father, Barbara, rec ommendin® Quantrell’'s faithful serv. he said. young killer's the the spirit of ices” The rested on hinge mun. He under the remark though pale eyes cattle stood it was not obviously ironical, in particular, Mr gently, not afrald of “Meanin' anything Ingram?" The older man him. Ingram’'s courage had been tried and never wanting, It took nerve to lawless bunch of leader But, on the other hand, he could see no profit in a duel with this cold machine-like vehi. cle of death. It would not be an even mwitch, since he considered his life far than that of Quan- he asked, very was found rule the which he was more valuable trell, He Boh his boss smiled. “Let it ride as It lays, a man can change ngainst that, Since make ourselves I've for a Till he shows up I'm subbin' for him. Take a look ut yore patient's shoulder here. Nice clean flesh wound, wouldn't you say? Ought to heal In no time” Quantrell looked ast the wound “Seems like It ought. Not my patient, Ingram. Shep gets the credit, like | done told you." “So you did. I forgot. Well, the main thing is that he'll be rollin’ his tail high ns ever right seon™ “Shep ain't what I'd call a top hand at his trade,” Quantrell drawled. “That's twice now he hasn't cut it He don’t live up to his rep. | can't see reads his title clear to eall himself a bad man from the 'an- handle, If | was his boss I'd read him the riot act” “I'll tnke yore advice,” Ingram said. “That bandage pad ready yet, Bar. bara? They wounded The of horses’ hoofs came drumming down the wind jarbara stepped to the door, She spoke quietly, as though what she was mentioning had no special significance. “Father's here.” Neither Ingram nor Quantrell made any comment, They were tying a J me : ~ Like you say No law here better we're we nseful, sent doe, how he busied themselves over the man, sound “I'm Not Going to Argue With You.” strip of linen around O'fara’s shoulder to hold the bandage In place and they continued to work on this. But both of them shifted positions In such a way as to face the door. The galloping horses pulled up, A voice nsked sharply, “The boys hurt, Barb? Barbara spoke quickly. gram is lookin' after them." Wesley Steelman pushed past her and stood in the doorway. He glanced at Ingram and In a voice hoarse with anger demanded, “Who did that? His finger was pointing toward the body swaying in the wind, Hard-eyed, Ingram met his forious gaze. ‘1 wasn't here myself, A sheriff's posse, I'm told” “Mr, Ine “Hired killers,” Steelman corrected. “By G—d, some one will pay for this.” His eyes swept the room and rested first on Smith-Beresford then on O'Hara. Of the latter he asked a ques- tion: “Both of you shot?" “Both of us,” Garrett answered, a gleam of wintry humor in his eyes. “I'm a botched job, but poor Lyulph Is hit in the chest, Afraid he'll have a hard time of it.” “Who did it?" “Sanderson and his friends. After we had been shot we hacked into the house and stood them off.” Job Quantrell laughed. “Not the way I noticed it, You picked the belted earl up an’ carvied him In. You stood us off by yore lone, Never saw the beat of it. One tenderfoot, some shot up at that. A dozen gunmen on the prod, An’ by cripes! he stood us off two-three hours. He's sure the most eat-'em-alive pilgrim ever drifted into the San Marcos.” “I notice you're not worried about the health of any of the Steel man,” the leader of the other faction Jeered. “But just so you'll get the record straight I'll tell you that yore young pardner here killed Brad Sow- ers, shot up Pankey so bad he won't live, probably, an’ wounded two other members of the posse, All this whilst he was resistin’ arrest, you under stand.” “Resistin® arrest what for? “For aidin’ an’ abetlin’ posse, the escape of a murderer wanted by the law.” “That's the way you wrop It np Different here. Tom Fitch mur dered in cold blood As (Hara I'm with him till the caws come home If he did all best fightin® mu oO an' I'll be proud to alongside of him." Wis for here, you claim he he's the Marcos river “Here, “Bob is thinkin' of for a boss, Steelman,” Ingram drawled “Glad to give him a recommend.” “1 can speak for Ingram"™ the boy said. “Far as goes | don't reckon yore recommend would help me much with Mr, Steelman.’ “Not none.” Steelman spoke with emphasis. “An' comin mendations, ngram, I'll right now. Get out Hit trail Or my boys might follow the example you've set an’ do some hangin’ selves ™ ride the too,” chimed in Quantrell, takin' You on myself, that down to recom make one the heir own Coolly Ingram looked around Worrall had room, and At his heels were Texas Jim and young Curt Steelman. Worral spoke up. “Mr. Steelman does not mean quite that, Dave. Still an’ all, that's good medicine about takin' the road while it's open” come into the "Good of you to have my interests at heart, Steve,” the cattle man jeered “I'l go when I'm ready to go an’ theres won't be any hangin’, either.” “Not while I can fan a gun,” Quantrel added, “We've come to different forks of the road, me an’ Mr. Ingram. But | gon’t reckon anyone better get on the prod not about today's rookus He wasn't here during the trouble an’ when he came he stayed to fix up these boys.” yet, “Well, he's fixed ‘em up.” Steelman replied roughly. “After his hired men shot ‘em. Nothin' more to stay for. I'm part owner here, an’ | say he goes.” Jurbara spoke In a low volee to Ingram. “I think you'd better go.” Ingram smiled hardily at her. “I'm comin’ to that same notion myself. Looks like I'm being handed my hat. Adios, Miss Steelman. So long, Wes. See you later™ The boss of the Diamond Tall saun- tered to the door, spurs jingling as he moved. He passed through the group of cowboys as though they had not heen there, superbly indifferent fo them. When he reached his horse he swung to the saddle and rode leis urely away beside the man he had left with the two animals. A hundred yards up the trail he met Doctor Holloway. “Did Doc Manley go to my ranch? Ingram asked. “Yes, sir. 1 understand some one has been hurt here, too.” “Two wounded men, one of ‘em shot up pretty badly.” The doctor looked down and saw some men carrying a body on a door, “That one of them?" he asked. “Not that one.” Ingram's sardonic smile flickered for a moment. “You can't do a thing for him. There was a necktie party, an’ that fellow was the hangee, as you might say.” Doctor Holloway was a fat, jolly little man with a red face. He looked quickly at the cattle man, started to speak, and thought better of it. “Expect I'd better be gettin’ along to my patients,” he sald. “Who are they 7" “Couple of pardners of Wes Steel. man--the belted earl an’ that pligrim O'Hara” Holloway was a born gossip. He ftched to know Just what had taken place, but Dave Ingram was not the man upon whom to push home his curiosity. “Well, 1 guess I'd befter drift on down” he said, “Do,” the eattle man agreed. “An’ when you're through ride over to the ranch, Doe Manley may need some help. We've got quite a hospital there, too.” As the doctor descended toward the cabin his mind ranged over the situa. tlon. This wag only the beginning the first battle of a war, There would be lively times on the San Marcos, CHAPTER VI A Trip to Town After the battie at the Cress ranch there was a lull in the Jefferson Coun- ty war, as the conflict the Ingram and the Steelman forces come to be called in later days. It though both sides were walling to got their breath again, The less danger ously wounded men were afoot within a week, Pankey and Smith-Beresford hung for a few days between life and death, then very slowly began to mend, edging away from the gulf into which they had almost been plunged, Meanwhile talk swept side as a fire does a dry prairie. There were some amazing aspects about the Cress. ranch battle, Old-timers found the facts hard to reconcile That O'Hara had stood up to the blazing guns of Sanderson, Sowers, Deever, and others, had driven these notorious gunmen back out of range, and had fought off the posse hours could be miracle, but a mude by the coolness, the courage, fire of the where COUrse, between Wis us the country Inter for only us a eltire classed miracle possible und tenderfoot In a the accurate community gumeness matter of the quality of anyone not a weakling, Gar- rett O'Hara had one who had fought Wis a one essentinl become set apart as his way to fame. The defection of Bob Quantrell from the Ingram faction was another detall that Few knew desner- liked Smith-Deresford received much comment, that the eallous had the first, that young ado from the courage iz part. signed in order to + could ntrell, Eh, Liglishman sald He he sat in the nt of the young des. in front of the of wood ng out d a horse for little Bennie Fo Bennie r I wus the five-year-old son of Mary Joe 3 Ford a young widow who had come to do the cooking at the ranch He was a favorite of Bob Quantrell's and dered the boy-gunmun about with im- ©, plicit confidend Garrett shook his head. “Too much for me. There he sits, gay and good of the milk of human feel he is utterly de him in amount of natured and fu Kindness You and loyal I'd crisis or with any money. | get to thinking of him as nice and then that gory record of his jumps to my mind, cold blooded and killing done without mercy or apparent remorse.” “By you know, sometimes 1 rub my and wonder if it isn't Just a bally dream.’ petndable any trust Just a boy deliberate Jove, eyes “It's real say you know that when you wound, Better not stay out and get tired. I'll trot they're getting enough, I dare feel your old chap. too long slong and see how along with the house.” “Don’t let Matson cut down the size the fireplace, Old Top. His notion is all bally rot, but he's a stubborn mule The Circle 8 O ranch. as the Cress place called, had become a industry, Cattle in bunches had been shifted to the con tiguous and had to be worked. At all hours of the day and night cow: boys drifted to and from the ranch, Just now haif a dozen carpenters, im ported from Aurora, were camped in the pasture, They had been engaged fo bulld a new house. The lodge, as Smith-Beresford called it, was to be a commodious structure, rustic in type. The hewn walls were already up and the roof on. One of the chief features was to be a large open hall with an im- mense stone fireplace at one end. This hall extended to the roof, but a stair way wound to a second-floor gallery Was now hive of jarge range 4 » og which extended around tliree sides of the hall, From this gulier sleeping rooms. Rough slabs and logs had been used instead of sawn inmber wherever possible, In time the Eng lishman expected to decorate the walls with big game heads, trophies of the charge to be brought down by himself and his partner. He had come to the West to enjoy himself, If he could make money at the same time that was all to the good, but he intend to take business too seriously, O'Hara passed the bunk house and stopped a moment. “Did Mr, Steelman sny anything about that BY “Said y opened the cows?" he asked Quuntrell, he'd buy at a whack up If but he wouldn't pay any big price, It's a sorry herd, most of The Old Man said he wouldn't look at ‘em twice If they weren't here already clutterin® up the range, At that, there's some good cows wearin’ the Bar B Y. Kinda scrubs an’ stock mixed. You'd be buyin’ a bone yard to start with, but they'll take on flesh If they're put on a good range.” “More trouble I'd think.” "Maybeso,” Quantrell prominent teeth in a grin, an’ the Old Man. 1 ain't he could cutbacks ‘em, uneven, nice than they're worth, showed his “Up to you pald to do Quantreli’s Eyes Took on a Far Away Reminiscent Look of Satis faction, the buyin’ comes to for forkin top hand with cows ™ “In hour I'm ridin’ Concho. Want to go along? My forty brones an’ er being me an alleged about an ite “Sure do” with The cowhoy got to hls feet one lithe twist of his body. The two men szddled and dropped down out of the hills. As they rode Quantrell unexpectedly began to talk about himself, He blamed the law for starting him on his troublous career. From his in- had fought his own way in His father he never known and he had lost mothes when he was seven. At age of eleven he had been arrested for break. into a store and stealing a gun. with it, when it fancy he the world, had his the ing thing to do anywheres near there But the kid did It sred an’ traded me the gun, The found 1 had it an’ the prose attorney wished the burglary right off. Why not? 1 was kid an’ had no parents who could vote, So he aimed to send me to a reform school. Got me In his office an’ tried to bully me into sayin’ i did it. Grabbed me an’ shook me. | him with my pocketknife an’ lit leavin' him yelpin® for help. “Didn't Wasn't took piace v ' have a who RC on me only a cut out “Two years ago | met that fellow in a saloon in El Paso, an’ 1 went right up to him an’ asked him if he remem Didn't know me, of course, I was only a kid cow- drifted to outa So 1 kinda reminded bered me. Didn't want to. who had barranca. boy town the him.” Quantreil's eyes took on a faraway reminiscent look of satisfaction, He relapsed into silence, (TO BE CONTINUED.) The British museum has acquired a fine relic of the days when England was garrisoned by the Romans—a dis- charge certificate issued to a Roman auxiliary soldier--over 1,800 years ago. This man, Gemellus the Pannonian, was serving in this country in A. D, 122-the year in which Emperor Ha- drian crossed the channel to inspect the great wall which bears his name, Only about 100 of these diplomas of discharge are known to exist, and sev- en alone have been found relating to soldiers who were stationed in Britain, This new acquisition, in a wonderful state of preservation despite its 1.800 years of existence, is far finer than the few others in the Bloomsbury col lection, It was found at Oszony (the Roman Brigetti), in Hungary, Gemellus having Forest's Place in Nature It would seem that eventually the world must come back to a second and permanent age of wood for fuel, almost all construction materials, and many other uses, The forest is the only resource that may be consumed extensively yet not exhausted and it Is the ouly material that can take the place of coal, oll and iron. Exchange. been one of the Pannonian (or Hun garian) auxiliaries who were sent to Britain in accordance with the Roman principle that a conquered country should be garrisoned with troops raised in other lands of the empire, The diploma will be exhibited in the room of the museum devoted (o relics of Greek and Roman life, where there are already three other specimens, none of them anything like so well preserved as this one. Two of a Kind Thomas Hardy was once dining with Gen. Kir Redvers Buller of Boer war memory, when the subject arose of social blunders, Buller described what he called a “double-barreled” one of his own, says Mrs. Florence Emily Hardy In “The Later Years of Thomas Hardy." He inquired of a lady next him at dinner who a cer tain gentleman was, “like a hippo. potamus.” sitting opposite them. He wns the lady's hosband, Buller was so depressed hy the die aster that had befallen him that he could not get It off his mind. Hence aut a dioner the next evening he songht the condolences of an elderly lady. te whom he related his misfortune. And remembered when he had told the story that his listener was the gen tieman's mother! Two faces were close together, the man’s grim, tense; the other face was nad white, with two slender hands pressed tightly against it. It man's horrified gaze. “Heavens!” he sald, still staring: was hopeless, stark other face was the his watch, and those little hands told hin that he had missed the last train home. —Tit-Bits, IN JAIL ON ACCOUNT volce for that his rd were in jall again, account.” *“l hear you “Yep, got thirty days on “On account of what?" “On gecount of not being able to r than the cop.” The Gam ¢ Ti ee yiayer's arm “Beg pardon!” Never Figured It Out Mrs Nexdore—How much a week do you pay your maid? Mrs. Hiram Offun—HReally, 1 can't say. I always pay them by the hour. They a week. never stay A Wise Guy “Why don’t you and Bilkins go into partnership ¥ “He was engaged to my wife before I married her. You don’t suppose | would take a smarter man than | am for a partner, do you?” He Had Lost a Meal Peggar (with show eof emotion) — How would you like to hear your lit- tie ones howling for bread? Harassed Parent (sighing) —It would be heavenly! At present they do pothing but how! for chocolates. Proof teal Estate Agent—You can hear a pin drop in this apartment. Prospective Tenant — What's that noise? Real Estate bowling alley Agen®-Oh, there's a on the first floor. Miss Stork--1 think I'l go In for the bare-legged style. Just think what I can save on stockings Be It Ever Soe Humble Of home he had Brown wWeary-—so He traveled East and traveled West: Then traveled North and traveled Bouthe he's back home's best But now and swears The Doctor Plays Safe Doctor—You are siigitly morbid, my dear lady. You should look about you and marry again. Widow—Oh, doctor, is this a pro posal? Doctor—Allow me to remind sou, madam, that a doctor prescribes med- icine, but he doesn’t take It On White or Rye? Ernest—Didn’t you enjoy the obellsks in Egypt? Dora—M-m, delicious! Divided Authority "Who is really the boss in your house?" inquired the friend, “Well, of course, Maggie assumes command of the children, the servants, the dog, the cat and the canary. But 1 can say pretty much what [ please to the goldfish.” sn. Proof Enough “Do you love me?” “Do you think I'd eat coffee and sinkers for lunch all week to have money to date with you If 1 didary”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers