te PA | i CHAPTER XI—Continued Jee “Of course there is. He's ten miles from the border and he can't possibly get there with thirty thousand sheep under two days; when he gets to the river he'll find sixty of my men be tween him and the farther shore. How- ever, it will entail some loss en route and far heavier losses getting the sheep back on the range again. Bobby, I've got to stop that procession at the first water-hole, scatter Dingle and his men and put my own brave boys in charge. Meanwhile, we'll ride down to that dust cloud and make a recon naisance.” They did, keeping to the backbone of the western fringe of foothills. An hour of hard riding brought them to the crest of the slate-colored hills. Be- low them a plain sloped gently into the bluish haze; faintly to them came the continuous bleating of sheep: a dirty gray blur indicated the flock. At Its rear and on the flanks, little black dots, that were herders and sheep dogs, urged the weary animals along. Don Jaime counted the largest dots. “Twenty herders,” Roberta heard him remark, half to himself. “Hum m-m! It doesn't iook as if it would be quite safe to give Bill Dingle his walk- ing papers tdday. He is not in a mood to accept them.” He eased his binocu- lars, whirled his horse and, without even a look at the girl beside him, started back the way they had come. “What are you going to do, Jimmy?" she asked anxiously, spurring up along- side of him, “We're going back to the motor- ear, Bobby. I'm going to send Aurelio back to Valle Verde for reinforce ments.” “Will there be a fight? “I think so, Bobby. Dingle has twenty herders. Six, with the dogs, should be ample to maneuver those sheep. So it looks as if he had pre- pared for trouble, and when men pre pare for trouble it's a pretty good sign they will not avoid It.” “I don’t want a fight,” the girl cried passionately. “You and some of your men may get hurt-—killed.” “Quite likely. 1 have no intention of making this anything but a slaugh ter.” “Oh, Jimmy, please listen to me. This is not your fight. It's mine and I'd rather every head of those awful sheep than have anybody killed defending them. Send to Los Alg dones for the sheriff and a posse head Dingle off. This is the sherifl” business, not yours.’ “A good plan for weaklings plied curt! “Yo even members of a expendable. Bobby, open season on thieves zen, catching a thie help himself to the s; of his desires and his ammuni always been the en try for men to pre from thieves ™ “I forbid you to 1 in the protection of my. 1 can anything happen never forgive myself” He smiled across at her “And If I ever fell so low as lose * he re 1 See stom in this coun should benignly. to let a “Twenty Herders,” Roberta Heard Him Remark, Hall to Himself, hief escape In daylight I'd never for. ve myself, Bobby. I'd lose caste in my own country.” ’ “But those sheep are mine,” she ed desperately, “The affair Is none pf your business, Jimmy--please lis. en to me.” He glared at her. “I'm ashamed of wou. I thought you had courage. You haven't—s0 now It seems 1 must tell ou something, Those sheep are not yours. They're mine! Don Prudencio had an offer for the lot from a man named Blodgett. The price was right and Prudy and I decided you should pill, The court agreed-—and we sold. Yesterday the buyer decided he had made a mistake-—and sold the shéep to ime at a lower price. I didn't intend p tell you about this, of course, but recumstances compel me. What 1 1 keep—and I'll always fight for own, Now Is your conscience ed?” "” Roberta commenced to sob, “Oh, Jimmy, I'm afraid-—terribly afraid! I have a presentiment you'll be killed.” “Would that matter so very much to you? His hand closed over her arm. “Look at me, Roberta. Would it matter so very much?’ She nodded an affirmative, unable to trust herself to speak. He said something in Spanish. Ro- berta suspected it was an oath! “I'm the picture of bad luck,” he com- plained. “I don't want this fight, but I just can't afford to let Dingle get away Into Mexico with a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of my property. The loss might put me into the hands of a recelver—so, much as I would like to oblige you, Bobby, I must inform you that about sunset h—I's going to pop over yonder.” The tears coursed down her cheeks. She was beyond words now. “Don't feel bad, Bobby,” he urged. “We'll open the fight at long range. Ken and I are absolutely deadly up to a thou- sand yards. Those herders are mostly Mexlcans—riff-raff—and at ranges be yond three hundred yards their shoot- ing Is sloppy. 1 know, Bobby, [I've been through a dozen with them.” “Oh, Jimmy! Please—please, my sake” He pulled up his horse and glow- ered at her. “My dear girl,” he erled sharply, “you're trying to make a quit- ter out of me. When a man permits a woman to rob him of his strength he might as well get killed and have his shame over with, Is that under- stood ™ Roberta nodded miserably, What argument of hers could prevall above this logic? And yet, beneath her cold fear there burned a wild pride that he had made his decision so, and deep down In her rebellious, belligerent heart she knew that, what might, she would not have It otherwise now. CHAPTER XII Cantering where brushes for come the ground per mitted, moving at a fast running walk where It did not, Roberta and Don Jalme reached the waiting truck and motorcar In thirty minutes. out the journey (following announcement of his inflexible purpose to fight Bill Dingle wy his herders before sunset) no word had passed be- tween the two, Don ahead, occasionally looki 100K ® that all was well with Through- her host's Jaime rode back to girl: for con have dispensed At least hts. nor subse. Qo the seemingly, in his flict, he would gladly with her society if he conld Roberta thus read his ras she far wrong, as his first CAZOTHORS thorne juent words proved “Bobby, this job Al arelio your horse into it you will be good enough to take the motorcar and drive it home for me I debtor™ “No,” answered horse and the motors here. 1 might need gome wounded Los Algodones or so the morgue. When tiled I'll know what to do bay e to be told” “The objection you ralse is a logleal one. Have It your own way." He gave Aurelio his orders in Spanish and when the latter had departed with the truck, Don Jaime gat down on the run. ning board of the motorcar and mo tioned to Roberta to dismount and sit beside him. “Drop your reins. Your horse will tie to the breeze,” he sug. gested. “Let's have 1 smoke. Sooth- ing to the nerves” “It probably would be-<if you had any,” she retorted, and climbed down beside him. “I cannot Imagine any man enjoying a roughhouse more than yon.” “You're a poor judge of human na. ture.” His tones were dry. “Nobody likes a roughhouse where lethal wen. pons are used. I'm always very much afraid I'll get killed, and I don't want to die—now. In fact, I never did care very much about dying. Life's fairly sweet and, as you remarked recently, I have a lot of unfinished business to clean up. Mind where you throw your butt, my dear. This range Is dry— and I don’t want a fire. Yes, 1 could do with a whole lot of letting alone, Jobby.” “Well, I've suggested the sheriff. It's Bis business to apprehend horse thieves” He did not answer this. He was thoughtful, blowing smoke rings. “I'll 11 be your she ar should remain ie car to carry » the doctor in ¢ dead men to this issue is set- and I'll not tt) men f« gang a lesson,” he resumed casually. “They must learn to stay at home. I'm four men shy on a fifty-fifty break in my ruckuses with those animals four good men. One of them was Julio's father—and Julio shall have his chance at reprisal this day. This matter Is personal, Bobby, and I'm go- ing to get every mother's son of those renegades If 1 have to follow them to Mexico City” “You have no right to risk the lives of your poor, ignorant men to save your property,” she flared at him, “I haven't? Why haven't 1? They're my men, aren't they? Didn't 1 inherit them? do I not employ them and house them and feed them and make them happy? Doesn't the doctor come out twice a week from Los Algodones to look over the alling ones? Didn't my fathet and grandfather and great. grandfather accept them and their troubles? I'm loyal to them, am I not? They know I'd fight to the death for them, and lose every dollar I have in the world before turning them off to face that world—the gringo world they do not understand! Why shouldn't they be loyal to me? In fighting to defend my rights they fight for their own—and besides, we've all been raised together that way and there are some habits we do not care to break. ‘Whose salt I eat, his 1 sing.” A slogan, and a ancient one In this country.” The girl was sensible of a vague un ensiness as he looked her over sternly She had not pleased him and he did not disdain to make her aware of the fact, “y I'm song good very not a lawyer,” he shot out at her suddenly. “What would your friend, Mr, Hackett, do if he were the owner of these sheep?™ “1 imagine he'd have sort of theft Insurance on them, so he wouldn't worry If Dingle stole them, lied leave the worry and the salvage and the prosecution to the Insurar pany.” “Everything for cent for tribute, Bobby, point of view. Well, that you're out of the Bobby, you'll be going back to Ferry in a day or two.” “Well, of course, I would stay over for your funeral, Jimmy.” She tried to appear jocular, but her raved her real feelings, His brown hand caressed her shonl der. “That's the girl. Act spunky, even If you're not. Nine times out of ten one can fool the with a good bluff.” “You are g¢ Aurelio returns horses? How sent for? “Twenty. C the Siding boss, will pick the best. That will be five trucks with four horses and their rid ers to each truck. Don't talk to me now, Roberta. I have to formulate a battle plan.” He took and commenced said abruptly, ¥ some ice Com- but not a It's all In the 1 suppose, now y business, Dobbs defense sheep quavering volee het enemy wait here mare men men have ing to with many araveo, out a notebook and pencil writing. “Here,” he when he had finished, “please hand this to Ken Hobart when he reports here, If nobody returns by twilight, drive the car back to the ranch. You know the " He stood up, hitched his belt out his hand " Wi ere way reach yranding corral at water-hole l I'm ong to dig In there an gang off.” “Surely “Oe you're not going alone? “Julio will follow at four o'clock He's dependable. Goodby, Bobby—in case I do not see you again. It's been wonderful to have known you When you get back to Dobbs kindly Higgins, if cemetery, and send him picture postcard if sheep an occasions he's not. Your money is In the local bank. Trust old Prudy He looks like a dusky Idol but he's cuter than any fox -and honest. Good-by, my very dear.” He took her hand. It trembled In his, *“Jimmy™ she sald In a very small voice, “the other night you told ne you loved me. Was that a state ment of fact or just—ah-—hooey 7" “It was a statement of fact, I'll love you as long as [ live. Some day, if I live, 1 suppose I'll marry some. body else, but in the cool of the eve ning, darling, when the day's work is done and the Higuenes boy and his thoughts are alone together—well, I'll do some thinking. And if Mrs. Hig venes should say, ‘James, what are you thinking of? 1 shall tell her a harmless lle” : “I shall go home tomorrow, Jimmy ~provided you come back to Valle Verde. If not" “They'll plant me In a hurry and you can go the day after, Bobby.” He took her fresh, lovely face in his palms. “Bobby,” he sald very serious ly, “remember me as the man who never made love for fun” And he kissed her on the lips and let her go. Dully, she watched him swing into his saddle and ride away; when he had topped the ridge he pulled up, looked back and waved his hand. Then he went over the sky-line, About three-thirty Ken Hobart and Julio returned and found Roberta face downward in the grass, sobbing as if her heart must break. When she raised her head at Hobart's touch it occurred to the general manager that it would require more than a little rouge and powder to repair the dam. nage done by those tears, “Where is the Big Boss? he de manded in the matter-of-fact tone of one who beholds nothing unusual, Roberta held out a couple of leaves of paper— Don Jaimc's battle plan. Ho bart read It. "The boy has some sense after all” he decided. “Who says this Is a dull country? He spoke to Julio, “81, senor” murmured Jullo, and rode away on Don Jaime's trail! Ken Hobart, left alone with Roberta, lit a cigarette, smoked it through in silence, lit another, and waited, Then: “Crying over the old man?" Roberta nodded, and added defen- sively: “I'm sure anybody would. Don Jaime's so young and go fine, and if he should get killed— “Quite s0,” murmured Mr. “However, we have He'll have a lot way up! Well hombre gets his, Hobart. consolation, the colored one of company on if that saddle about all any of us can do is to sing “By-by, Blackbird! I Imagine he'll get killed " “In heaven's name, why? “Well,” said Mr. Hobart perating deliberation, madly in love with you, Migs Antrim, but he realizes that's all the good it's going to do him. He realizes you'd never dream of marrying the man who killed your uncle—" “My uncle was a scoundrel. He ployed scoundrels.” “Still, he was your uncle know, of course, that with Don breed of cat an uncle is a kinsman, no matter what he does. I've felt like somehow, " with exas “he's em- You Jalme's “Act Spunky, Even if You Are Not ~Nine Times Out of Ten One Can Fool the Enemy With a Good Blufl.” does, sensitive, so retiring Ar. Hobart chok and to cover his strangled rachinnation coughed vio lently ir his cupp mnds, “Ab As sensitiv the peck.’ proud. If he least che A8 A steer on snee of never ask yon to IMArTs sand years™ “Indeedd! Is that possi bart? Then, It on her that her conversation with Ken fiobart hitherto could have been cov ered In five hundred words, appalled, not only at his garrulity but at her own, “Isn't th ronversation getting a trifle—pe org] and delicate Mr. Hobart?” she suggested. “Really, I haven't the slightest Idea why I am discussing such an intimate subject with youn” “Well, I have. 1 want to discuss 11." he replied calmly. “When 1 discover that Don Jaime has ridden away to get killed because life won't mean a thing to him after you're gone—and when 1 find you ruining your peaches. and-cream complexion erying over this greaser—"" “How dare you? He's not a greaser!” “Nobody but a greaser would act the way he does. Well, as I was say. ing, having discovered the lay of the land, 1 felt It my Christian duty to interfere and offer some sound ad vice” “What do you advise, Mr. Hobart?" "Would you marry this Higuenes hombre if he asked you?” Roberta blushed furiously and hung her head, “Come,” Mr. Hobart urged, “this is serious business, There's a question before the house and it merits an an- swer. Would you marry the idiot and chuck all your sheep money into the pot with him and-help extend his irri gation system and buy about a thou sand purebred Hereford breeding cows?" “I would, gladly. If I married him I'd be his partner as well as his wife, I could be a good partner.” “None better,” agreed Mr. Hobart. “Well, If you want him, go get him, He's yours for the asking.” “Mr, Hoburt! How dare you? girl asks a man to marry her!™ “That's why we have so many old maids, Miss Antrim. Now, listen to me. If you hop aboard that horse of yours and ride after Julio he'll lead you to that old branding corral where he and Don Jaime are going to dig in and do some fancy shooting. You'll suddenly dawni ng she was No have time to get to the scene. of the festivities before they get going, have your little pow-wow with Don Jalme, and beat It back here before dark.” “Oh, Mr. Hobart, so brazen, “Very Don sure ause he doesn’t live, Of course he'd never let know that, but right here in this he left m See that then I couldn't! I'd feel I'd die of shame.” Jimmy is want to you note well, then, die, to die be whatever in the same You can you care to, iked to her hor “Thank you a wis} YW an’ ra gulped, Og Roberta and mounte« Mr. Hobart,” true friend.” “I'm gl: of luck if me. Hello, trucks, must head him off and him down the road a few miles ther, to save time.” He made a fis leap to his horse ax ay to meet the riding boss Just as the sks I'd be ou wife got Hisure up. the boss’ here sore at. come Caraveo and the send far ing peared Booco ( Hoberta over line he ‘araveo then his five men to swiftly after “D—n it, interested fixing £8 for Do: 1 elean forgot that girl wears pa and a two-gallon hat Some ughnecks may mistake nts, one of her for CHAPTER XIII The Hobart at people's huge satisfaction felt his Inter wins shat Roberta, by Ken ference In other tered now, garbed In shirt and ¥ viel enlionai wned } business as he thought of riding breeches and flannel wearing the cons brimmed and higher country could ve man-—an pending ably be i : a n him, therefore, atch up with to guard reasor wnt upon her hrandis randai her Ad ag he gall y dge he was sicken " ¢ 8 not the ri hat he wy the only begin ’ walter hole and conso He yuntry well and was a hard, After him came, on hot hoofe, his reinforcements-the de voted Julio. Duty was daty to Julio and. ag Don Jaime had stated, that youthful retainer had a personal iIn- terest in the forthcoming activities Hurrying to catch Julio, that he might lead her to the wiaterhole, toberta was pounding along on her fleet hunt. er: and after Roberta came Ken Ho hart, “If anything happens to that girl” he told himself, “I'll just keep right on in the general southerly and never come back" The low range swung to the east and suddenly, in a cup-shaped valley far below, Ken Hobart saw the sheep —gaw that they were being driven, not grazed. the water-hole, and Julio was not in sight. At the foot of the range Ro. berta, stationary, sat her horse and took stock of the situation, She had lost Julio! (TO BE COXTINUED) lidate his position knew the o« fast rider, Killed His Luck One time I saw a temperamental movie director order his crew of workmen to Kill a stray dog who had been hanging around making friends. Never shall I forget the look of be. wilderment that came into the log's eyes as his luncheon pals suddenly furned on him with sticks and blud- geons, Incidentally, the director who ordered that dog killed never made another successful picture and stead: fly and sickeningly dropped to ob livion. 1 knew another man who had a fighting bulldog that he forced to fight for gamblers after one of her forelegs had been chewed off, That brute lost his own leg and finally wound up in state's prison. Sounds like a little Rollo story, but it's true «Harry Carr in the Los Angeles Times, EDDIE, THE AD MAN ARRY BICKENKOOP SEL SINCE HE PUT IN THAT AD ABOUT FRESH LAID FARM EGGS, HIS HENS HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO LAY TWO EGGS PER DAY EACH, TO KEEP ORDERS FILLED] t 4 ild a a heavily- armed figure strode into a Tex: & : a ¥ 3 * ’ : sort, leading a lion on a chain. The is re- stranger shot the other pants of the place icked the lion into a then, seizing a bottle of ging hit off the neck three OCC. corner and drained “Say, stra clerk, *1 tough spot.” “Tonush “111 say it's so bad all of Tit-Bits, Variable Nature are sometimes as different from We ourselves as we Don’t Trifle With Coughs Don't let them get a strangle hold, Fight germs quickly, Creomulsion come ines the 7 best helps known to modern science. Powerful but harmless. Pleasant to take. No narcotics. Your druggist will refund your money if any co ugh or cold no matter how long standing is not re- lieved by Creomulsion. (adv.) are from others, Irregularities Are you bothered with blad- der irregularities: burning, scanty or too frequent passage and getting up at night? Heed promptly these symptoms. They may warn of some dis- ordered kidney or bladder con. dition. Users everywhere rely on Doan’s Pills. Recommended or 50 years. Sold everywhere. A Diuretic fer the To Le ere? "2 bet HERE Ea flectan uw Ee tS bi Ee Gar? ila ld so“ CM AS MS Handwriting Reveal ? Loar the " Des improve Jout cha shane ih 0, Eas ork. Mie Sraphaioie New York,
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