L ROARING HORSE j
BY ERNEST MAYCOX
- • v ;
Daugherty scratched his
{to bring back the details. ■
l, is was a plumb dark
* Musta been four fellas
lin’ that winda. We boys
’n nowise get near it. So,
, one of us clumb the
3f a house farther down,
a' a couple ropes along,
while before, we’d tied
opes with other ropes till
length was blamed near
lundred feet long. Fella
j from one roof acrost to
jof of the jail, two stories
it was. Pays these ropes
quiet like until they
drung right in front of the
rlnda. Gent in the jug grabs
B*e, makes a tie around a
buple of the bars and gives
k tug to let us know he’d went
knd done it. We boys gits back
Si the roof to where the
party was awatln’ in the
yonder of the jail winda
distance. Dallies the free
’o each rope around a
and pulls like hell. She
she shore did come free
a loose tout!.. Afore we
ed the play we put couple
e fellows off acrost from
:ty yards to break a little
and sorter attract the
Is." There the old man
>ed, eyes glistening with
.neient scene.
* "Well,” grunted Mack, “did
£ work?”
| "Worked swell,’’ said Daugh
ity. ‘‘Jes’ worked slick. We
>t him out. They wasn’t but
ie hangup in the whole pro
ledin’s. The gent cleared the
11 .when the bars went bust
it he didn’t duck low enough,
et' a bullet, which we never
d know if it*w*as ono of ours
■ the guards’. But we got him
it of the Jail, anyhow, even if
i was killed before we could
thim away.’’
, Aatlfled groan rose from the
^toteners
i "Ain’t that a cheerful idee?
Operation shore was successful
feat the damn’ fool patient
feed.*
L “it won’t work.”
Ik Mack checked the talk. “It’s
k good idea, boys. They ain’t
any other plan that we can
fay a finger to. I believe by
jum, we’ll just set our loops In
ghat direction. The big point
Sto get word to Jim somehow
hat he’s to do. We got to let
him know we’ll be danglin’ a
rope down from the building’
|op after dark.”
1 “It ain’t so easy,” owbjected
Kother. “Yuh can’t git within
•ty yards of that dump.”
1 "Got to.” was Mack’s
yuccinct answer. “We’ll figger
% way.”
t. “Ahuh. Who is goin’ to be
fke gent that skins across the
jjBlldln* tops and lowers the
fppes?”
*' Mack ducked his head at
|bc veteran, “Gil Daugherty.
Pe did it before. He can do
again. Yeah, that’s a good
Idea. Now, Gil, you just amble
juround the back end of town
paid have a good look at the
Kax 'Bide of the rcourthouse.
ne up the cell window with
liic top of the roof so’s you’ll
know where to climb when it’s
jdark. Meanwhile, I want Rube
and Chitty and Tex to split
and sa’nter about the joint.
Bee can you pass the word to
Him. I’ll be dopin’ out some
other scheme to get a message
do him likewise. Fluke, you
Hake what’s left of the bunch
and mosey tords the front
idoor *o the courthouse. Don’t
dt&rt anything, but look like
yuh meant to go plumb
through the place. That’ll
draw some o’ them guards
away from the back. Va
moose.”
The bulk of the crew ambled
Into the street, drawing inw
mediate attention by the com
pactness of their ranks, as
well as by the reputation that
hovered over them. Stirrup S
always had ^been a fighting
outfit, a young and reckless
IT
exuberant outfit. This late
afternoon they made a strik
ing ^picture as they slowly
split into small r groups and
drifted casually onward—tall,
rangy fellows fer the most
part, with the air of compe- |
tence about them; a lazy-mov- j
I ing, slim-hipped clan looking !
somberly to the front as if |
nothing existed save the far j
horizon on which they seemed 1
to be speculating. Even Mack
Moran, dropping back, was ,
proud of them.
There could be no mistake
as to the meaning of their
presence. A current seemed to
sweep outward and run along
through the bystanders and
back through the stores and
houses. Folks came to the
front and watched them pass,
and retreated into the depths
again, feeling the impact of
the threat. Roaring Horse once
had been a town entirely sym
pathetic to Stirrup S. And
Roaring Horse knew every
man of the group. Yet times
had changed and there were
many on the street who stood
aside, tight lipped and un
friendly. These were the stran
gers who had arrived out of
the desert and seemed to be
waiting only far a signal.
Mack Moran cruise I Idly
from one saloon to another,
and from one store to another.
He talked little, but he listened
carefully, and presently he
found himself abreast the
Gusher, scowling at the
westering sun.
“It looks dubious,” he mur
mured. “I dunno where all
them gents come from, but
they’s shore a raft of un
branded critters floatin’
around. It don’t look prosper
ous a-tall. Even the counter
jumpers In this layout are
crawlin’ Into their shells.
Scared stiff. Ain’t I seen some
o’ Theodorik Perrine’s gang
among those present? Yeah.”
He was, all of a sudden,
knocked back. A young woman
with rosebud cheeks and alert
eyes had collided with him.
She stepped aside, half con
fused, half laughing. "I beg
your pardon, Mi'. Moran.”
His hat came off instantly,
and he suffered the agonies •
of embarrassment. ‘‘Why, say,
I’d ought to be shot fer block
in’ the way. Ma’am, you’ll
excuse me."
‘‘Really,’’ said the young
lady, still smiling, “ it was my
fault.” And, looking straight
into his eyes, she added a low
and swift command. ‘‘Come up
to my room, eighteen, right
away.” With that Gay
Thatcher passed into the
hotel.
Mack Moran replaced his
hat and surveyed the land
scape with a bland, indifferent
air. He rolled a cigarette,
stopped a passing acquain
tance, and talked a few mo
ments. He rocked on his heels,
looked at his watch, and
rubbed the face of it with a
scrupulous concern. Then,
having sufficiently established
an apparent idleness, he
ambled down the street.
Abreast the bar’s entrance to
the Gusher, he paused and
admirably portrayed the state
of mind of a gentleman de
bating over the desirability of
going in for a drink. Tempta
tion, resistance, and surrender
passed plainly across his
shrewd, fighter’s face. He
w.ilked in, lifted a symbolic
finger to the barkeep, and im
bioed. Paying for the potion,
he seemed to be hit hard by
a novel idea.
‘‘Say, is that jewelry sales
man still around?”
“Yeah,” replied the barkeep.
“I want to see,, him,” mut
tered Mack. ‘‘Figger to have
’an elk tush mounted.” Obey
ing the idea, he marched up
the back stairs of the Gusher
and down to the room
numbered eighteen. He started
to Knock, Dut was forestalled |
by the -ight of Gay Thatcher
on the threshold, beckoning
him in. The door closed quick
ly.
CHAPTER XI
The Attack on the Jail
Mack Moran was a plain un
adorned product of the range.
He walked and he rode with I
his head up, asking conces
sions of nobody, claiming the
freedom to do as he pleased
and go where he pleased. He
had nerve enough to pass that
popular and mythical test of
spitting in a grizzly’s face; and
Roaring Horse, in furtherance
of the idea, allowed that Mack
was perfectly willing to let the
grizzly have first spit. He was
a small man, but he never
allowed that to handicap him;
and his conversation was
open, unhemstitched, and
sometimes slightly scurrillous.
Such was the reputation of
the gentleman as he stepped
inside Gay Thatcher’s room.
Yet the moment the door
closed behind him and he
found himself closeted alone
for the first time with a young
woman of recognized standing
and undeniable pulchritude a
sort of panic struck him, un
nerved him, paralyzed him. Ho |
was at the moment as nearly !
petrified as it is possible for a
human to become and yet
draw breath. He grew as rrsy
as a Kentucky belle at her
first ball. With his hat re
moved and the weight of his
body canted ovc-r on one foot
he looked like a man who had
been caught stealing sheep;
or, what was worse, eating ;
sheep. And he mumbled in
coherently: “Yes’m.”
The worry on Gay That
cher’s forehead relaxed an
instant. She smiled. “I am
perfectly harmless, Mr. Moran.
Your reputation is perfectly
safe. Perhaps if you rolled a
smoke you’d feel more at
ease.”
Mack sought for something :
to say and found it. ‘‘Ladies
and hosses—yuh never know
what they’ll do.” That was out
and it sounded funny. He was
immediately sorry.
•‘Many a man nas guim
through life not recognizing
that,” said Gay. ‘‘It isn’t com
plimentary, but it is almost
true.” The smile departed. She
bent forward, her clear eyes
searching Mack. “I have heard
about Jim Chaffee. Tell me—
there isn’t anything serious
about of it? He’ll be out of jail
soon, won’t he?”
Turned to a familiar topic,
Mack lost his embarrassment.
“Two weeks ago I’d of said
yes. Slade drew first. A bunch
of men have told me. The
town was full of Tlieodorik's
gents, all lnyin’ for Jim.
Shucks, any other time, Jim
couldn’t have been jugged.
It’s an iron-clad rule here
abouts, and always has been,
that the fellow which pulls
first is just out of luck if he
stops a bullet. Only exception
is when some hired gun artist
does the job. Such a gent is
apt to win a fight and still
lose his neck. Accordin’ to
sentiment.” He stopped, not
sure what he wanted to say.
“Well?” prompted Gay.
“Jim’s in a heap of trouble.
Country’s changed a lot since
Satterlee died. They’s a raft
of strange dudes roamin’ the
streets. I’ve had a bug put in
my ear. They aim'to haul Jinr
out after dark. That's what
the schedule calls for.”
He thought the information
would shock her. It usually
shocked people who wore not
accustomed to range tactics.
But he was mistaken. She
didn’t flinch, she didn’t break
out with a lot of comment
about injustice. All she did was
to ask a quiet question. “Will
the sheriff permit that?”
“I bet a hat this sheriff
will,” said Mack vehemently.
“It’s a crooked game all the
way through, if they thought
they could get a packed jury
they’d let him stand trial. But
they ain’t that sure of them
selves. Apt to be a kick back.
So it’s the easy way out they’re
takin’.”
“Who is behind this?”
Mack pondered. His training
was all against naming names.
And he had heard since time 1
immemorial that women
couldn't keep secrets. “I ain’t
sure,” said he evasively.
“Might make a bum guess.”
“But you think you know?”
che persisted.
“You bet.”
He was immensely relieved
to find she didn’t press the
question. She walked around
the room, her oval face drawn
sharply. Mack was no hand at
judging women, but he was
struck by the thought that she
didn’t seem like a stranger in
the land. Didn’t act like one.
And she was pretty.
She turned back to him. “Is
there anything I can do?”
It was on the tip of his
tongue to say no. Then it oc
curred to him that here was a
possibly solution to his main
problem. “They got Jim in sol
itary. I ain’t abie to get within
shoutin’ distance of him. Meb
be you could.”
“I think so. What do you
want me to tell him?”
That took Mack off his feet.
He was dumbfounded and he
showed it. The girl shook her
head, almost impatiently.
“You are mistaken about me,
Mr. Moran. W’hich is not un
usual. Most men are. What you
have told me is just what I
have heard myself. Perhaps I
knov/ a little something about
conditions here. If there is no
other way—then we have to
fight fire with fire.”
“Ma’am, yore dippin’ yore
clean fingers into skuldug
gery.”
“What do you want me to
tell him?”
He rehearsed the situation
in his own mind before an
swering. “Tell him to watch
that window about eight
o’clock to-night. Gil Daugh
herty will try to make the
courthouse roof and lower a
couple of ropes without the
guards’ catchin’ on. Jim’ll get
the rest of it.”
“All right.” And she further
astonished him by the active
ness of her thoughts. “Now
supposing there is trouble and
you miss connections with him
after he gets free? Where is
his horse to be—where will
you be?”
“Son-of-a-gun,” breathed
Mack. “Where have you been
all these years? I will remove
my hat to yuh. The hoss will
be in the alley between the
restaurant and Tilton’s. If he
can’t make that, tell him to
hit for the rodeo field. Be
another there. Me, I got to
make connections. I’m ridin’
wherever he rides. The rest of
the boys’ll block off trouble
for a little while.”
“I’ll go down now,” said
Gay.
That was all. Mack wanted
to express sentiments, but
didn’t know how. So he bowed
himself out and left the hotel
by the same way he had en
tered. A little later, loitering
by the stable, he saw her
walking toward the court
house. And, free from the dis
turbing effects of her immed
iate presence, he caught the
lithe grace of her body. She
was more than pretty; nor was
he the only man on the street
to come to that conclusion.
Gay went directly to Luis
Locklear's office. There wasn’t
even an argument. She smiled
at the man and said she want
ed to visit Jim Chaffee. That
was all. and It was very simple.
Yet Gay Thacher was a
shrewd judge of men, and be
fore Luis Locklear could reply
yes or no she added that she
had heard pleasant things of
him from the sheriff down in
Bones County. Locklear
swelled visibly and reached
for his keys; and he looked
around at the other men loit
ering in the room, his glance
seeming to say: “Ain’t I a hell
on women?” Unlocking the
upper stair door he motioned
her ahead.
“I will not presume to listen
in on a lady’s conversation.
Take all the time yuh want.”
Gay nodded and descended
the stairs. Locklear left the
door ajar and turned quickly
to one of his followers. “Go
tell those boys at the window
to see she don’t pass him no
gun.”___
(TO B» CONTINUED)
SKA GULL PUZZLES CITY
Portland, Me.—(UP)—How long
does tbe average sea gull live?
Thatfs a question puzzling Maine
lulk. A gull in Casco bay. easily
distinguished by' exceptionally dark
leather* on its wings, has been un
der observation for 21 years.
■■ ■ ' -. . »♦-- —
The Lo.it Extravaganza.
Front Kansas City Star.
A term of joyous theatrical en
tertainment of an earlier day is re
called by the death of Edward Han
lon, the las; of the once famous
Hanlon brothers, six in number, Vho
lor many years contributed to the
American staee sucrewtv*
ganzas of an exceedingly popular
kind. The Hanlons were acrobats.
They retained their acrobatic per
formances in most of their shows,
but adapted them largely to their
productions by assuming characters
more or less grotesque. Their stunts,
combined with trick scenery, specta
cular settings, music, dancing and
comedy, furnished many delightful
evenings for the playgoers of the
time.
There were other producers of
spectacle who rivaled the Hanlons.
The Kiralfy brothers covered a long
period with \ their activities. They
depended mainly on elaborate dls
> oktt, large ballets and choral mu
sic. But tiie most lavish producer
of them all was David Henderson,
manager of the old Chicago opeia
house, where the Henderson spec
tacles originated. These productions,
dramatizing and eleborating the
familiar fairy stories, such as "The
Crystal Slipper” a ad “Jack and the
Beanstalk,” were jeorgeous presen
tations, with awesome transforma
tion scenes characteristic of all the
extravaganzas of the time. The
Henderson spectacles were unfail
ingly brought to l&anois City, and
one of the delight! in their coming
was the clownish comediaji, Eddie
Foy, who made hb. name as a Hen
derson star. The extravaganza lia.*
I passed out. along with much elan
that once thrilled old and young. In
our theaters, and nothing has talc
tho place they once occupied in
our scheme of entertainment. May
be it ts because we no longer be
lieve in fairies, our last confession of
lailh having been made about the
time Maude Adams overcame, for
the time, our encroaching skepti
cism with her charming “Peter Pan."
The Only Danger.
From Der Lustige Sachse, Leipzig.
Girl: Tiger hunting must be
very dangerous sport.
Hunter: Yes, especially wher
there a:e tU-*rs about.
When You
CAN'T
QUIT
A headache is often the sign of p
fatigue. When temples throb it’s | •
time to rest. If you can’t stop work, K
you can stop the pain. Bayer pf
Aspirin will do it, every time. Take H
two or three tablets, a swallow of H
water, and carry-on—in comfort.
Don’t work with nerves on edge I J
or try all day to forget a nagging PI
pain that aspirin could end in a m
jiffy! Genuine aspirin can’t harm
you; just be sure it’s Bayer. •' ,
In every package of Bayer [l
Aspirin arc proven directions for m
headaches, colds, sore throat,
neuralgia, neuritis, etc. Carry these ^
tablets with you, and be prepared.
To block a sudden cold on the L|
street-car; quiet a grumbling tooth ||
at the office; relieve a headache in I
the theatre; spare you a sleepless §M
night when nerves are “jumping.” I
And no modern girl needs “time I
out” for the lime of month! Bayer yP
Aspirin is an absolute antidote foi SK
periodic pain.
Take Bayer Aspirin for any ache
or pain, and take enough to end it.
It can’t depress the heart. That is
medical opinion. That is why it is
only sensible to insist on the genuine
tablets that bear the Bayer cross.
The pocket tin is a convenient size.
The bottle of 100 tablets is most
economical to buy,
State Seeks Hinges of
Doors of Historic Fort
The state of Maryland Is engaged
in a search for an old hinge. The
earch centers around Hagerstown
ind the object is one of the massive
hand-made hinges which did service
upon the doors of historic Fort Fred
erick. This was erected in 1755 for
the protection of the settlers against
I lie Indians and it is located on the
old Braddoek trail to Pittsburgh.
Sections of the long-abandoned high
way may slill lie seen in the vicinity
of tlie fort. The fort has been neg
lected for years, but the state ac
quired possession of the structure
and the surrounding property eight
years ago, and now it is proposed to
restore it to its old-time appearance.
Persons who remember the structure
say that the great, binges upon the
doors were one of the outstanding
features of the old fort's architec
ture, and the suspicion lurks that
one of them may be found to act as
| a pattern for making others.—Wash
■ ington Star.
To keep clean and healthy take D**
I'lerce’i Pleasant Pellet*. They regulatf
liver, bowels and stomach.—Adv.
Bagpipe’s Defense Strong
Friends of the bagpipe in Scotland
and Ireland have arisen in* wrath
over the threatened movement to
abolish the instrument on the ground
that listening to it causes deafness.
Musicians have joined the attacks,
saying that pipe music is primitive
and barbarous. Scotch and Irish de
fenders deny alt this, and add that
bagpipe music makes fine marching
and battle music, and certainly
strikes terror into the heart of an
enemy.
Cheap
Mrs.—Here's my new dress, dear.
I bought it for a song.
Mr.—All right, send the collector
in and I’ll sing to him.
I
Fretful DAYS
Restless NIGHTS
•.. give child Castoria
Fussy, fretful, can’t sleep, won’t
eat.... It isn’t always easy to find
just where the trouble is with a
young child. It may be a stomach
upset; it may be sluggish bowels.
But when little tongues are
coated and there is even a slight
suspicion ot Daa oreatn—u s ume
for Castoria!
Castoria, you know, is a pure
vegetable preparation especially
made for babies and children. When
Baby cries with colic or is fretful
because of constipation, Castoria
brings quick comfort, and, with
relief from pain, soothes him to
restful sleep. For older children—
up through all the school years,
Castoria is' equally effective in
helping to right irregularities. Just
give it in larger doses. What a
comfort Castoria is to mothers!
Get the genuine, with Chas. H.
Fletcher’s signature on wrapper
and the name Castoria that always
appears like this:
Source* of Ivory
When “commercial” Ivory is men
tioned, the tusks of male elephants
are referred to. Few females pro
duce good tusks. The teeth of the
hippopotamus, walrus and certain
members of tlie wliale family are also
classed as commercial Ivory. Ivory
requires no preparation before being
used for manufacturing purposes; it
Is fit for use at once. The best
comes from Africa, but Asiatic
Ivory, which Is whiter and si fter,
would be the more popular were it
not that it turns yellow sooner and
is not so easy to polish. Ivory can
not stand changes In temperature
and is liable to crack easily. Ivory
is used for making billiard balls,
piano keys, combs, toilet articles, and
tunny other goods. At one time hip
po ivory was used for making artlrt
cial teeth, but it is now bought
chiefly by the manufacturers of um
brella and slick handles.
Explained
"What’s daughter so put out
about?” asked father.
“Her date is off and she is on her
high horse because site lias to stay
I In tonight,” said mother.
-- ""
I During Childhood Lay
the Foundation for
a Healthy Skin
By Regular Use of
CuTicimA
Soap and Oinlmont
Teach your children the
Calicnra habit
-- ■ ■ — t
\ Si Sms I5e. Ointanl tS«. mi 50e. T.V.ai iS«. ,
Proprietor*: I'ottor Dr»a a < 1 Csrp.. M.U-n, Mm.
