SEVENTH INSTALMENT

“Mama,” chirruped Johnny, blow-
ing on his knuckles. “Tha was shore
i Satisfaction, i ben itchin’ to | do
that all mornin.”

“Heh!, heh!” chuckled Tex coldly,
“Yuh shore rung up a bulls eye thet
time, kid. Go- on. Pink, yuh stick to
Miss Ronney.”

Spelle was gulping with fury and
lismry, While Lange had been un-
able to finish his statement he had
Ist ont enongh to advise Spelle that
something was radicnily wrong con-
corning the Delevan mortgage, In
his thwarted greed on ‘modicum. at
courage returned to him and he ad-
vanced into’ the room. oe

“What's this?” he rasped. “What's
this about the Delevan mortgage?" ,

ne much." snid Tex, “Cept.

V its paid in full.”

nay at ranved Spelle. his maze
working evilly. | “T- don’t want it: paid
T refuse to accept payment for it.”
“Yub’re plumh onto’ Juek.-bombreo

the money on the ‘table au’ we got the!

mortage. Jest let the fact sink in.
We're goin’? to keop it. C'mon Johnny
the story's tald. ‘Let’s.. rattle our
hacks,” ;

The two partners made their war
to the street. Tex watching  Spelle
warily aver his shoulder. Down the
street Ronney aud: Pink Croshy were
waiting at the ‘buckboard.- Further
on, fied in a Tine at the hitehing rail
lefore | the Starlight, ‘Saloon, was a
group of horses, “all wearing the SS

haul ‘em up,
loose kid."
Johnny. pulled the rifle from: the
boot. bencath his: left thigh and Jey-
ered in a cartridge. Then. he and
Tex hauled their mounts down to 2
leasurely Iope. The horsemen in: the
Tear came up fast and Tex, watching
them closely, measured the distance.
“Four hundred yards,” he annoyn-
ved presently, “Fan_ ‘em a couple,”
he ald Johnny, 4
Ohedienly Johnny turned and sent
five shots to the rear. Jt was: hard
ishooting; twisted thus on a running
horse. but the following band made
ag mark and at the fifth shat .a

Git yore Winchester|two ‘hombros. with Trifles,

theirs,

braggink about.”

plunging broneos “to a halt,
will.

with a 30-80 now.”

Inisy—those tro Jaspers are,
range.”

threwup Ais_ rifle.

shells through the loading gate. “But
thoy" re goin’ to ssprend out. ‘Some-
hody's usin” ‘his liaid back there.”
“Nemmine, -Pink’s’ almost oat’
sleht—an’* that's the main thing.”
As) Johmmy “had snid ‘the pursuers
had spread out nnd no longer presenc-
eda selid mass to shoot -at. From | Look close. Aint that lead horse a
now on any: fire: that Tohury might | star. faced black’#" -

sive through lis: vifie would perforce |. “Teah, itis,” snapped Johnny rais-
he merely haphraard with chances |ing his. rifle again, ““An’ I'm poin'
for-n hit Yery.-sinail, at least while to put men slug right in‘ the star.”
bis own horse wis in motion, But Tex shaved his rifle aside

What did ‘yuh ‘do that . for.
holdin’ daid contre.” |

0”
comers: with na mingled expression of

doubt and jor. i

“iid. yore eyes aré hetter’n mine.

FE tape nee yay rs ore Vist tenes wae eee oy pm cemeans,,

Ad

te
n
i
1
i
4

irom, Tex’s face was furrowed ‘and,
seTians as he reached the: Buckboard.

“Pink, yon an’ “Miss Rontier on in}
bat vie an’ light ont far home, Them!
hraneos “have hen wantin’ to ramble:
wo omernin” Te ‘om ont. Pour the}
whip inte them, Burn the tuths off'n
them - wheels ~gettin’:.

evan ebts his hands on if.”

“Tex.” sali, Ronney fearfully: “You
dey't think there w il he trouhle do, .
yon? : , :

“Don't think a thing, Miss Ranney,
answered Tex. “T know theto
Soon’ as Spelle gets -through snopnin’
at himself he's. ganna turn that gane
a his loose on yore trail -to ty. nnd
haid yuh off: "fore yuh. get home.”

“But, but you and Johnny.” obser- |
ved the girl, her eyes on Johnny's
artim young face. “Yuh can’t - fight
them all off. You'll get hurt.”

“Tobuny’s face broke into a wide,
heantifie git: ““Nemmine™ aa,’ Miss *
Ronny. -Me any’ thig ole sind rat’ pen!
shot. at afore. We’ re jest too “citssed™

“ornery to /Ston. bullets. . Pink,’ shake *
thom reigns. Soe ‘yuh “Wille ao."

Pink spun “tie huekbdard ‘around on:
one wheel | “and: turned}. ‘the: 2raNCNS,
Toose, into, a. “wild mn ip th 1 dt
As the buckhoard* passed the? bank.|
Spelle leaned out into the street-with
a haw! of Anger, shaking ° his. fists
ahove his hend:. ‘Then he heniléd. on
townrds. the. Jsn160r ‘with a ‘clumsy , punt

“Fork yore. itl “ei,” oa . nape “Tex

4]

t

a
We're

; fo:

ere’

ive uf ott: ne

there, That!
morta won't be safe until dim: Dele ©

wilh:

this sien siniled grimly.

with their six. xu
hari.

we “one put, a erlnp in, Mistlr. Spette

[Look -« on an

E horse tid ‘e

\ “FTL,” gn

"ht ela!

5

- Pex. and Sobung spurre vd atter” the “‘buckboard’

The anit thudding ut “Eni “shits
sounled- in the rear: Dut only one lone
nue sang qinst. Tex. quick: to ren

Again, “tia, a ‘he ‘murat’ cut Actigntea
ly. ‘hats’ ‘ole: Utah: Lyiieh an A
Burrows: from ‘the | ‘Bac’ B, outfit.

Boe telegraphed © ein ‘to ome ‘avunni’ an’
“Lucky for ng. there “aint. any .of|Shore thelr ; ‘dain’ nat. Xan’ ‘fan heil
hem got Winchosters, ' They ean ;outa’ Spelle’s erowd, » Tm. goin’ ont toy
Mug away All diy ag. this’ ‘distance | Meet Utah ad. AL

ithout - doin’ any | The ‘sdnewhat hewildered.
- Kinsyuls

*“ Nope; Plumb’

ont ‘plght. ‘Reckon s érowi. and with his first slot lifted

nda y Te

| shot: brought: A, horse’ ‘serenming to

“Thon: Jolt Jedrth ‘and ‘the’ rest. broke and’: rode

Nig eter sh

ped in tae ait

tike. them ‘to

comers find- ‘pump’ ‘their hand: }

ae

yifte “Tose tn
iapel f

nae nae y

Came 1 A

ond soe. the'lending?. riders: His Second .
where they” gather.

rete “ont-maneuy- |
red ; tt iV. saw. Tex: spur out to meet,

2 (iva? or ‘kind ri

¢| ole highbinders,~

I'll’ keep
this other gang back. My old hawk-
lai will throw lead’ just’ ag far as
Now let’s see: ‘yuh do some a’
that hig gh-toned shootin’ yah've been

“Tf yuh'd only pack 2 Winchester,”
wailed ' Johnny as they drew their
“But
yore so dangei bull-haided yuh never
Just’ think what | yuh could do}

“Nemmiine “me,” snapped” Tex.¢“ “Get
“within |

Jounny ‘slipped from his horse and
Tt. wavered, stead-: a,

T was nim know if you. needed any ‘more

Tex paid no attention... His keen. Shen
ald eres: were fixed on the: two -new- ‘ontti

“Jobnny oe
Ww ‘hirled on. the “rapldiy:: nearing. Double :

“Rta the ‘said,

in’ te open “up on.me an Al.”

chimed: in.

ling. “He's gettin’ to. be mean medi-
‘eine “with a Winchester. Trouble ig |"
his. brain aint developin’ like it should
If he could. think as straight and fast
as he enn shoot he’d be all right.” ’
“Aw! wary” /Snorted Johnny, It'd
heen no-loss if I had leaded you twa
Jest the same 7'll
admit I was glad to Know it was
friends droppin’ in, How's’ Bud‘ and
Barbara an’. Nevada an’ ail the rest
at the ole Bar BY

“Finer'n frog’s hair. grinned Utah,
“Phey’s a new boss at the ole apread
now. But. the second.”
“Naw! "" _excliimed Johnny delight}
edly,

“Pm: tellin’, ‘yuh, Viale noitded.

| “Fattest, happiest. lil’. seezer . yuh ever
”

“Tha tts shore fine,
gotta. take a trip some day an’ ' Took in
on that young ront.”

“Mehbe so, some: day. ” drawled the
old man. “Runt. vicht now we: got our
own dsh-o hash to cook. Boys, yuh

4

horse went headlong, throwing its ted., but when tt érashed - flatty. the’ ‘Tran nodded: ° “Tonks > thatawnr.
Tider spreadengling into the dust. |. Iullet went far and ‘wide. Just as What's it all about: Tex? When AL
; “Bueno,” crled Tex, “That slowed | Johnny pulled. the trigger ‘Tex had aw’ me got them telerrains we took,
om th. co loaned ‘forward and - sw rept the barrel Jom ta Bnd an’ told him we was drift

“Yeah, for a miunte,” . answered | up. lin’ down this Wity, pronto. : Bud shoo-
Jobuny, | feverishly plugging» more “E¢r gosh sakes.” blazed: Johnny. | ed us-off on the ran an’ told us to let

i hem, Tf yuh do, .dest.-wire him: an’
eome aforein’ it with the whole
tad .

“Reckon, that won't he neressary.”
sail Tox. “Bot: shore Tm - thankin’ |
Rnd for feelin’ that way. Now Jets
‘amhle_ along. TT! ‘tell you fellers the

“yah aint “forgot
how to: ‘throw a lot o’ mean lead: “have
‘thought yuh: ‘Was: =ff0-

Al. Burrows, chunky’ of. body and
“Tex, this dang. cab 0’
yore’s is shoore® ‘developing his claws.”.

“Yeh,” nodded ‘Tex, his eyes’ twink

Tex, ‘me’ n row

hare tained in atthe vieht-time?’ >

(aaMerons and withr.

corrals: ‘of th

ox D ranch Utah: and
Al had, the whole. story and had joint
ly ‘expressed’ ‘their satisfaction at the
opportunity ,.of sitting in’on things.
When Tex ‘attempted. to thank them . ;
for their. prompt response to his mes- "°°
‘BARES | ‘they: “waved him oft.

“Why thank us’?! scoffed. Al -Bur-
rows, “Shucks, Tex, we're the’ ones
to ‘Tender thanks, ‘After ‘an’ Johnny’
let? our neck a’ ‘the: yroods things got
so danged auiet Diah an’ me began to
ossify. This ‘looks ‘like ‘one. swell
chance to: take the kinks.” onta’ our

trigedr fingers a any’. keep up. our eyes
a Teetle.” ons bee TN See oe

“Oyun danged ole ‘witt-dogs.” Tex

: chuckled. : : .

: Pink Cr ‘sp P ad Fr rfiaig

were» ‘unhnoking: nu “pdir’ of’ meek and‘ *
sweutine broncos from. the buekbow rd
when the four rider: drew up. Aftr
introductions, were ‘ay er. Tex turne
to Pink with twinkling. eyea.

7 Continued “next week |

‘Conte, Next, Week. 7

A NATIVE WEDDING AT KITSE-
’ GUCKLA VILLAGE vont

pA L wording of. great, ‘interest was

hotd in -‘Ritseguckla on Saturday the .
26th: Septemher when the chief to be.

Bert Russell,was:- united in- marriage «

to Miss: Maggie Wesley. a native girl
of Kitsegnekla.. - The chureh was. ov-
or crowdell when Rey, B, Black, the
new pastor, performed the eoremony. -
After the wedding “a sumptions Dan-
anet was spread. find speeches were .
The band - was...
mresent from Kitwanga and rendered _
PIEMeroaus . selections, and. a trombone
sola was given by one of the menihers
‘nests were present. from many of --

stery as we ride :adng,”

the. surrounding villages,

‘ ~ Bottah:
value re $

435, 000, 000.00,

no Limbi

pai has produced ‘minerals sot x

@:
all charge for- this publication. )
Placer ae in’ British. ies ena