Louisiana Lou

irst time, that De Launay was sending her a lawyer to transact her business for her. This made her angry, his assuming that she needed a lawyer, or, even if she did, that he could prov

et of escaped lunatics when he beheld Solange, slender and straightly tailored, but wit

lost in some gutter, and without whose aid she had been puzzled how to proceed on he

red to convey her sorrow. To which Miss Pettis, staring at her with hard, bold eyes, as at some puzzling freak, made no reply, being engaged in uneasily wondering what "graft" the Frenchwoman was "on." Marian disliked being reminded of her grandfather's

response. "As for Monsieur Wilding, it is later I will require his services, though it may be that he can aid me not only in procuring

s head but Maria

but at that he was some kid believe me! He took a shot at a fellow here in Sulphur Falls-that was before there was any town here at all-and they was givin' him the gat

mob about three jumps behind him. He sets in with us and takes a great shine to me. I was quite a doll in those

hat. Well, he plays with me and when he goes away I cried and wanted him to stay. I remember it just as vivid! He had on these chaps-leather pants, you

Lochinvar, and marry me some day, and I w

s and goes south toward the mountains. Next day or so, we pick up your father, shot something terrib

was like brass. "In cold blood, you say? Then he ha

n and they hated the sheepmen, you know, and used to fight them. Then, he was one of these gunmen, always shooting

rsty, evil thing, unspeakably depraved. But it wa

now. I will look f

anddad call him 'the last of the gunmen,' because the country was settling up and getting civil

ow him. It is of another matter I would talk. Ther

nd around here. The Lunch Rock mine, they call it, and

ain't fo

d'mo'selle Dalbray! Call fer Mad'mo'selle Da

see yuh, miss!" the boy told h

! What next? Well,

nd into the alcove of the mezzanine balcony, holding their broad hats in their hands. Su

another man, slinkin

e, her voice once more clear and swee

aldas. He likewise instigates us to corral this here horned toad, Banker, who's a prospector, because he says you'll want to see him about some mine

was something to put these bashful range riders at

true that I require help, and I shall be glad

le we can't give that there country any rank ahead of the U. S. A., we hands it to her frank, that any t

ed Sucatash, not to be ou

nking Banker. "Come here, Jim, and say howdy, if you ain't herded with burros so lo

wn under constant exposure to the sun. His garments were faded nondescripts, and on his feet were thick-soled, high-lacing boots. He gave an impr

knew enough to question this queer spec

ly tell him what we wish to know. And, if the mi

ere, has been searchin' for it ever since the year one and he ain't found it. Say, Banke

id Banker

nce Lord knows when. This lady is lookin' for it and

to whine. "Yuh reckon if I knowed where it was I wouldn't

gin' Lizard," growled Sucatash. "You can

e's got Ike Brandon's letters, ain't she? He told her where it wa

killed?" Solange asked, kindly.

I was-I reckon I was over south of the range, out on

awed by the mystery of the hidden eyes. He was like a wild, shy animal, uneas

monsieur," she said. "I had h

ining voice. "It was this her

closer to the dry desert rat, who shrank from her. "And when I

and almost shrill, c

ll kil

ty eyes for once held steady. There was horror and fear in the back of them. He put one foot back, shifted his weight to it, put the other back, then the first aga

ained stand

he frightened? I did not mean to

ery, ma'am. Probably don't like this talk of killin'. They say he beefed Panamint C

re the mine is," said Solang

at mine was, believe me, you'd be late looking

new what to do. Perhaps, if this

he's there," 121 suggested MacKay. Solan

ger to aid, "but my old man was around here when these hostilities was pulled off, a

r fa

from our ranch at Willow Spring. It's right near the mountains and not far from Shoestring Ca?on, which it's like

it might be the wise th

here is one thing you can do for me, besides the arrangements for that divorce. Can you n

that the kille

must find out. Oh! If this depraved De Launay were of any

ared. Solange turned to him eager

ways, I located him. That animated vat of ine