SYNOPSIS Jim Wall, young cowpuncher from Wyoming, seeks a new fleld in Utah. He meets Hank Hays, who tells him he is working for an Englishman, Her- rick. Hays and others are plotting to steal their employer's cattle and money. With Hays, Jim Wall goes to Her- rick’'s ranch, Hays and his lieutenants drive off a bunch of cattle. Heeseman is Hays’ rival among the cattle rustlers, Jim is sent to meet Miss Herrick. Hays betrays unusual interest In the girl's coming. Wall finds himself falling in love with Helen, and he fears Hays has designs on the girl. Jim coaches her in riding western style, and final- ly kisses her. She is angry and dis- misses him, but relents and asks him not to leave the ranch. Hays’ men re- turn from the drive, having sold the cattle and brought back the money. A quick getaway Is imperative, Hays tells them to go on ahead, that he will Join them. He comes, with Helen Herrick—a captive. Hays explains that he stole Helen for ransom, Realizing that Helen will be worse off if she falls into Heeseman's clutches, Jim Wall does nothing. Heeseman's riders come in pursuit, Hays leads the gang into a canyon retreat—The Robbers’ Roost. Latimer, one of Hays gang. wounded with Heeseman, tells Jim that Hays has held out some of the money he stole from Herrick. In the “roost” Jim keeps a watchful eye on Helen. Heeseman's riders are seen approach ing and the desperadoes prepare to fight, CHAPTER IX—Continued el Bae “I should shiver she did. Struek Hays’ halr-trigger gun—cocked-—right into my belly, an’ says: ‘Will you tie this villain—an’ swear by your honor not to release him or allow any of these other men to do so—or will you have me shoot you?” “How'd she get that gun?” “Wal, she snatched It quicker'n lightpin’, that's how. An’ when she cocked It with both hands It went off bang! The bullet went between Hank's legs. Tickled him. Youn ean see the hole In his pants, Scared? My Gawd, you never see a man so scared, Thet gurl, cool as a cucumber, cocked the gun again, an’ held Hays up—then all of us. “We was sittin® at the table. made us all stand, hands high, an then she performed thet little trick with Hank's gun agin my gizzard. Jim, I hope to die If I didn’t go cold an’ stiff. But I promised on my word of honor—as a robber—thet I'd tie Hank up, an’ make the other fellers play square. It was so funny, thet 1 near bust. Hays, soon as he was helpless, got over his stare, an’ then was he mad! 1 reckon no one on this earth saw a madder man. He cussed so terrible thet she made me gag him.” “Well, I'll be—blowed I" gasped Jim. *No wonder, We was wuss, We'd had breakfast, an’ Hank was tryin’ to face us fellers. I'll say he eame clean, Jim. He divided all the money he got from Herrick an’ his sister, an’ the gold things an’ diamonds. ‘Fel lers,’ he said, ‘1 could lie an’ say | meant to give this to you later. But I'm not built thet way, crossed you all—first time In my life. I meant to keep It all, an’ the ransom, fer the girl. But now there won't be no ransom, for I'm not goin’ to give her up. She's mine, an’ [ can do as 1 want, an’ if any of you don't like it you can make your kick now.’ Wal, we was so plumb flabbergasted thet we didn't see the gurl, who came close on the sun side of Happy's shel ter. She heard the whole d-—n' show. + + « Jim, I wish you could have seen her when she stepped up to Hank. 1 don't know what did It—mebbé her eyes—but he shore wilted. It was then she snatched his gun.” “So that's the deal!” ejaculated Jim, *What are you going to do?” “Don’t ask me. I gave my word an’ I'll keep it. For thet matter the rest of our outfit air fer the gurl, ransom or no ransom.” Suddenly Jim awoke out of his stupefaction to remember the approach of Heeseman. “Smoky, I know what you're all go- ing to do, and that's fight,” he flashed, eurtly. “Heeseman's outfit is coming I sighted them perhaps three miles, Traveling slow, but sure. We've no time to pack an’ get away. We've got to find the best place to stand an’ fight, an’ pack our stuff into ft pronto.” “Heeseman!™ cried Smoky, coolly, “80 it's come. I reckoned on thet Git busy, men” Jim strode under the shelter to face Bliss Herrick, 8he had heard, for she wis white, “We're all but surprised by Heese. man's outfit,” he sald, abruptly, “We must fight. You will be worse off If sou fall into thelr hands. I'm sorry I must release Hays, We need him.” “Too Inte!” she exclaimed, “Pack your things quickly and hurry over to the cave on this side.” Then Jim picked up Hays’ gun from the table and ran out. First he removed the gag, then In terse terms he stated the situation. Next he released the * She ton, robber from his painful fix and handed him the gun. “Heeseman, huh! Wal, so be It!" Hays sald, facing Jim with an air of finality that intimated relief, “How far are they away?” asked. “Two mlles.” “We've got half an hour—mebbe, Did you think to look fer the hosses?" “Eight horses in the—valley. Others not In sight” “Fine scout you alr. How come you didn't spy them soon enough fer us to rustle out of hyar?” “I couldn't have seen them half a mile sooner,” snapped Jim, “They came out from behind a bank” “Hell's fire! Tell thet to me? You was sleepin” “You're a lar” flashed Jim, leap: ing clear of the others. “Open your trap to me again like that!” “Say, it's you who'll shet his trap,” replied Hays, stridently. “Or you'll git a dose of the medicine I gave Brad Lincoln.” “Not from you—you yellow dog of a woman thief!" Smoky Slocum ran out in time to get in front »f Jim. “Hyar! Hyar!"” he called, plercing- ly. “Is this a time fer us to fight each other? Cool down, Jim. Make allow ances fer Hays, He's wuss'n drunk.” “l don’t care a d-—n If there's ten outfits on our trail. He can’t talk to me that way. And, Smoky, 1 reckon you're presuming on friend ship.” “Shore I am,” returned Slocum, hur- riedly. “I'll not do It again, Jim, Hays is what you called him, But leave your dispute till we settle with Heeseman.” “All right. You're talking sense,” re. plied Jim. He had bgen quick to grasp the opening made by Hays, “There must be tep riders in Heeseman's out. fit.” “Wal, thet suits me” robber, harshly. “Now think fast,” snapped Smoky. Hays pulled himself together. “Mae, you an’ Jeff run to fetch what hosses you can find quick. , . . Jack, you an’ he rejoined the Jim's Rifle, Already Raised, Swerved a Trifle—Cracked. The Hat Went Flying. Smoky an’ Wall hustle the grub, cook kit, packs an’ beds into thet cave across the wash. I'll git up high an’ watch, When I yell, dig fer cover.” “You aimin’ to fight or run?’ quer fed Smoky. “We might git packed light, If some thin’ holds them up. But we can't leave the way we come In. Dirty Devil too high. Heeseman has stumbled on the next best way. If we had plenty of time. . . . But rustle, everybody.” Mac and Jeff were already In lum bering flight up the oval. And Happy Jack, not concerned enough to stop his whistling, was sacking his utensils Hays made for the notch In the bhiuff west of the cabin. Jim sprang into action, while Smoky dashed off toward the cottonwood grove, Upon Jim's first return trip from the cave he encountered the girl bur. dened with her effects, “Helen, I'll carry We've no time to lose™ At the back of the cave there was a crack deep enough to protect Helen, He directed her to hide Inside and await developments, Jim ran on toward the camp, re. solving to withhold a shell in his rifle and to keep a sharp watch on Hays, The next quarter of an hour was filled with strenuous and unceasing ae- tion. Their united efforts collected all the supplies, utensils, saddles and packs, and several of the beds in the threecornered cave back and to one side of the shack, A huge slab of stone lay across the top of this triangular notch in the cliff, The wall had been hollowed by the action of water. A small stream flowed out from the base of the wall it was the best place for defense In the oval, and Jim believed Hays’ outfit could hold it indefinitely, though they couldn't save the horses. If it came to a siege they could be re leased, that. Hurry. CHAPTER X Smoky eame panting In with Haye pack, and started off again, “That's enough, Smoky,” called Jim, Slocum returned, “Nothin' left ‘cept Hank's bed” he panted, “l- couldn’t—locate thet.” “Listen!” “What do you hear? “Hosses.” “Jim, keep your eye peeled on the cliff,” sald Smoky, and stole forwurd under cover of the brush, Presently 8 white puff of smoke | showed abowe the ragged rim. Spang! | The fight was on. One of Hays' men -Bridges—let out a hoarse bawl and | swayed over, almost losing his bal- | ance, Jim looked no more at him, but concentrated his gaze on the rim. An- | other puff of white! Something dark-— | a man's slouch hat—bobbed up. Jim's | rifle, already ralsed, swerved a trifle— | cracked. The hat went flying. i The horses came over the bench, frightened, but not stampeding, and Mac drove them into the corral. This | was around the corner from the range of the sharpshooter of the rim, | Bridges, reeling on the horse, followed Mae, who ran out of the corral to catch him as he fell. Then, as they came along close to the wall, Hays arrived from the other direction, “Heeseman-—~with his outfit—nine In all,” he heaved. “They're scatterin’ to surround the roost, , , , But they can't cross—below us—an’ across there it's —out of range. . . . We're all right.” A bullet thudded into the wall, fol- lowed by the report of a rifle. “Duck back! That was from some where else,” shouted Hays, They dove twenty feet farther back. Here they were apparently safe, ex- cept from the grassy ridge of the oval in front, which It was unlikely any sharpshooters could reach In daylight, After a careful study Jim crept into the brush, stirred by a renewal of firing from the west rim, Wisps of white cloud, thinning on the light wind, located the positions of the shooters. First Jim peered through the growth of brush directly In front Almost at once he caught a move ment of a dark object through a crev- ice In the rim. The distance was great for accurate shooting at so small a target. But with a rest he drew a coarse, steady aim and fired once. The object flopped over. A shrill cry, unmistakable to any man used to gunplay, rent the air. Jim knew he had reached one of the Heeseman gang, to disable him, If no more. Nest instant a raking fire swept the brush on both sides of Jim. He dropped down into the cave. Smoky stood there, climbing. “They near got me,” rang out Jim. “1 hit one of them way over where they shot at Bridges. There's a bunch of them hid on that cliff to the right of the outlet, you know, where Jeff went up to scout™ “Jim, they got us located,” Slocum, gravely, “Sure. But so long as they can't line on us in here" “They can move all around. An’ pretty soon Heeseman will figger thet men behind the high center in front can shoot straight in hyar™ “They're below the ridge now, Look sharp, Smoky, or they might get a couple of shots In first” “Wal, If they do | hépe both bullets lodge in Hank's gizzard ™ “My sentiments exactly I saw something shine, Tip of a rifle. Right-—to the right. . .. AK!" “Take the first feller, Jim , —two—three” The rifles cracked In unison. Jim's mark sprang convulsively up, and plunged down to roll and weave out of sight. The man Smoky had shot st sank flat and lay still. Next moment a volley banged from the cliff and a storm of bullets swept hissing and spanging uncomfortably close, Jim slid and leaped to the floor of the cave below, Smoky, by lying down, lowered the rifles to him, ano then came scrambling after, Hays had slouched back to them. followed by Happy. “Jack, gimme Jeff's gun an’ belt™ Hays sald, and receiving them. be buckled them over his own. Next he opened his pack to take out a box of rifle shells, which he broke open to drop the contents In his coat pocket on the left side. After that he opened his shirt to strip off a broad, black money beit. This was what had made him bulge so and give the Impression of stoutness, when In fact he was lean. He hung this belt over a project. ing point of wall, “In case I don’t git back,” he added. “An' there's a bundle of chicken-feed change In my pack.” There was something gloomy and splendid about him then, Fear of God, or wan, or death was not In him, Rifle in hand he crept to the corner on the left and boldly exposed him self, drawing a volley of shots from two quarters, Then he disappeared, “What's Hays' Idea?’ asked Jim. “He must know a way to sneak around on them.” A metallic, spanging sound accom panied rather than followed by » shot, then a sodden thud right at hand choked further speech. Happy Jack had been cut short in one of his low whistles. He swayed a second upright, | then uttering an awful groan, he fell. Smoky leaped to him, bent over, “Dead! Hit in the temple. Where'd thet bullet come from?” “It glanced from a rock. I know the sound.” “Jim, the only safe place from thet -i8 hyar, huggin’ this corner,” de clared Smoky. “An' there ain't room enough fer the two of us” “Keep it, Smoky. I'm not going to | get hit. This is my day. 1 feel some | thing In my bones, but it's not death.” | “Huh. I feel somethin’ too-—clear to my marrow-—an’ it's sickish an’ cold ++. Jim, I'll sneak out an’ crawl back of them. Thet's my idee, I don't have wrong Idees at this stage of a fight.” That was the last he spoke to Jim, Muttering to himself he lald a huge roll of bills under the belt Hays had deposited on the little shelf of rock. Then he vanished. TO BE CONTINUED, First Fraternity Started 1750 The first American college fraternity was organized at Willlam and Mary in the act of replied « One N AYBE you will and maybe you + won't have time to crochet one or the other of the cunning garments here pictured before Christmas, but where there is a will to do and dare why not “get busy” and find a way? Really, can you think of anything to hang on the Christinas tree that will bring greater joy to the heart of a child than either of these cunning hand-crochet frocks or the gay coaiee with it's jaunty matching beret? Anyway what If you do not see your way clear to finish before the holl- days, a gift as adorable as this will be hailed with delight any day on the calender. DPeing done in sturdy mer cerized crochet cotton, apparel like this is sn all-yearround proposition so far as timely wearabhleness is con cerned, Either little dress will be charming to wear to parties this win- ter, made in a dark or a pastel color, and being washable they will emerge from their tubbing all ready to wear when spring and summer comes, To “brighten the corner where rou are” Is no task for a little girl dressed for a party in the hand-crochet dress of bright yeliow pearl cotton (centered in the group). The skirt Is a series of crochet-lace ruffies done In shell mesh stitch, matching the round collar and slightly puff sleeves. Each ruffle, and about the neck and sleeves is tipped with white, There Is no wear out to a dress of this mercerized cot- ton. The simple little silp of a frock on the lovable child seated is easier to make and takes less time to complete than the one just described. Any lit. tle girl would be proud of this Sunday- goto-meeting dress of mercerized crochet cotton, There will never be any trouble in persuading a young lady to hurry and get dressed If she Make it In any color you choose, for mercerized crochet cotton comes In dozens and dozens of delectable tones and tints from dark to light. Perhaps you think a gift of jacket. sweater with matching beret would be more apropos for the youngster you have in mind. The two-plece en- semble In the picture Is easily made of knitting and crochet cotton, It is a question whether It is more effective in navy, brown or winered. The em- broidery which adds so vastly to its at. tractiveness is done in a lazy daisy stitch—the easiest, quickest decora- tive stitch known In needle arteraft Don't forget the cluster of lazy-daisies which tops the crown of the beret There We have told you tle folks but have you seen the stunning triangle scarfs crocheted or knitted of mercerized cot- ton In the color you like best, which make such acceptable gifts for grown- ups? They are bordered on two sides with band-tled fringe just as are the silk fabric or velvet ones which are making such a hit in neckwear dis plays this year. © Western Newspaper Unlon now ! BIAS-CUT CLOTHES There is much more give and take in our new clothes judging from the numbers of things brought out on the hing, Sleeves are set into shoulders blasly, or very often sleeves and yoke, coming down In a design back and front, ap- pear on short Jackets as well as three quarter and full-length coats, and on dresses themselves Another 1934 winter notion is the use of solid color in two and three piece suits with the splash of color coming in a short scarf about one yard the ends are sometimes tucked In or else they are tucked through tabs that button or fasten on the back of the lapels of the jacket or coat, * Long Slender Tunics in Latest Afternoon Models Elaborate afternoon models this sea. son show long, slender tunics, almost following In style the three-quarter or seven-eighth coat. These tunics are always in contrasting material and tone. They are noted in faconne rayon crepe, lame and rayon, ottoman and fallle, to seccompany dull velvet cos tumes. Marcel Rochas shows elaborate tunics in lame, chenille material, tuft- ed fabrics, quilted crepe and in bead. ed or spangled fabrics, to accompany ture of wool and slit cellulose film, Dresses, Tight to Knees, Now Develop Into Train Lucien Lelong shows evening dresses extremely close-fitted In front and at back down to the knees, where, through a clever cut, it develops into a long graceful train. Molyneux obtains train effects by adding at the back of his evening dresses a sort of second hem, which is sewn under the edge of the long skirt and allowed to fall on the ground. Some of these trains in hem effect are entirely covered with plastic sequins, forming a contrasting appear ance po go the dull rayon sating or crepe of the dress SWISH OF TAFFETA By CHERIE NICHOLAS in fashions realm. Especially during the romantic evening hours does the murmuring of its rustle make music in the alr, What's more “they say” that taffeta will be a very important fabric both in winter resort and early spring modes, The dance frock ple: tured is of deep bine celanese taileta, A huge bow of self-taffeta at the neck and a pronounced flare of fullness from the knee carry this lovely and youthful gown to a point of high dis tinction, Snappy Buttons This is a year of snappy buttons as seen in new collections, Some dress makers show no other fastening or bub toning than large plastic clips those contests you are al ways entering? Muriel Wil son queried of her sister Agnes, who was home for the holidays, as they sat “Not yet,” Agnes laughed. “But by the law of averages 1 should win sometimes.” “Soon, I'd say,” Muriel sald grimly. kind and another ever since we were infants and mother entered you in a prettiest baby contest.” *“Lhat's where I began my losing. If I'd won then I'd probably have kept on winning like these people we read about who live on what they make “Phooey I” Muriel scoffed. “What makes you do it, anyway? “Just my love of adventure. I'm really a born gambler--in a discreet way, of course. That's why 1 write for my living, just to see if my brain children will find a place or come back home to me.” “Was It your love of adventure, or gambling spirit, or whatever you call it, that made you turn down Harold Ryan three years ago when he came home from college with his cousin Fred to spend the holidays? Now, why did you do that, Agnes? He was every- thing anyohe would want in a husband ~jooks, family, money, and aren't we always told that marriage is the great edventure?” “Maybe it is an adventure but what sort of a gamble is it to marry a man Harold Decided to Deliver the Prize in Person, who siready has everything. No. | preferred to gamble with my own career,” “And now that you've made a suc- cess where is the gamble In Rt? Muriel carefully stuck a sprig of holly in the knot of ber red tissue ribbon. When Agnes replied it was In a more serious manner: “Since you ask me so pointedly, Muriel dear, 1 think, perhaps, If Har old lost his money during the depres sion, as so many did, and if be were to present himself pow as a man win. ning his way through his own efforts, I might trust myself to adventure along with him. But, I fancy, it is too late. He's probably found some less adventurous soul ere this" “Most likely,” Muriel answered, as she rose to answer the door bell which had been persistently ringing. “Guess we're home alone.” She hurried down the stairs Five minutes later she was back, trying vainly to refrain from any show “Some one on business for you, Agnes. He's the persistent kind, in. sisted he had to see you right now.” *Oh, well, all right. I'll go down and get It over with” Agnes took off her smock and departed. Muriel heard Agnes’ surprised ejac she was summoned to join the two In the living room below. “Muriel is just dying to congraty- late me” Agnes gayly greeted her younger sister. “Behold, sister mine, I've actually won in a contest. You see, Harold is managing editor now of the paper that was running this par ticular contest. When the judges were sort of stuck as to which of three peo- ple had won second prize they referred the matter to him and, recognizing your honorable sister's name among the “But 1 thought it was for another “There is,” Harold answered prompt. ly. “I let Agnes speak first. But the reason I had for bringing Agnes the prize in person was to see if 1 could
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