The Valley of Gold

reet flowed a turbid torrent, the squalid wash of an "old-timer-three-days'-blow" from the Great

inged mists of tobacco moved the unkempt silhouettes of boist

inverted briar on the palm of his hand, he proceeded leisurely to fill in the tobacco. This act duly completed, he turned about and looked McClure in the face. In his eyes was a faint twinkle, but he elected t

neered. "You're yell

all eyes turne

some partisan of McClure's

ised applaud

rs, pards," cried a smooth

of the crowd had a cu

inking, however. He held McCl

hips akimbo McClu

ped! You

uld see them moving about into position to cut off all egress from the one door. Not a man of his own gang was in sight and the two or three outsiders were not promising allies. The stench of liquor and the savage flashing of wild eyes warned him of their

m his pocket McClure thrus

ainst you two to one that we can lick the Valley Outfit in a thirty day r

ck. His fresh, youthful face looked almost innocently from under the peak of

e times to-day you have flaunted this trifling wager in my face. It means nothi

him impotently mute. Backing their boss with yells of rage the gang moved menacingly toward the speaker. Suddenly above the foul o

l fetch the Valley

d him, but he dashed o

toward the solitary and defi

cried Pullar in a voice

eaping from the eyes where but a moment before glimmered a whimsical smile. Hol

I'm not interested in his little gamble. But I am tolerable anxious over the important matter of hiking along h

etreat. Pullar laughed and the threshers, with wild yells, rushed

him under your boots before his gang get

o assailants he brought them together with a trap-like shutting of his muscular arms. Their heads met with a muffled shock and he sent them reeling to the wall. Hands were grasping for him as h

as unable to avoid the kick of the heavy boot. It caught him along the cheek-bone, ripping the flesh. He closed, clinching his assailant. The big fellows were well matched, but with a confusing speed Pullar had pinned

bing him of any means of defense, while a third belaboured him fiercely about the head. Still another fastened on his throat. This latter clutched Pullar's neck with both

nched his right arm free. There was a series of quick, jabbing motions and the four assailants fell magically away. With a bound Pullar was on his feet facing McClure. The latter struck furiously for the face b

he with a grim smile

instant there was a great shout and the Valley Gang charged through the door. T

This fraca

angered to fighting-mad pitch by the

r!" cried Ned, ho

l, Ned?" screamed Murphy. "I wull be afthu

, followed by the others. But he was i

"Stick with me, lad. This is my powwow.

e that passed between them checked the belligerent passion in Murphy's wild h

ce. "For why have ye bin mussin' up Rob's bowld byes? 'Tis a cyclone blower ye ar

it followed their spokesman's lead. T

ipe. Repacking the tobacco carefully he lit up. Throwing a series of blue circles to the ceiling he

In fact, I was anxious to get home to the milking. I have changed my mind. Rob's proposal will interest you. He wants to stack his hus

ats and a sinister movement of the Valley

in a thirty day out-put. Strange as it may seem I cannot agree with him. If he will make a real bet, make

flew to pockets and wads appeared. Snoopy Bill caught his feet groggil

p!" said he with a sne

ne of his ga

, Ford, an

whipped out his check book and filled in a form. As

e exclaimed. "Rob

h immobile face. Amid a deep silence the crowd pre

s Ned had swung steadily along the Valley's brow with his twenty-horse, thirty-six inch portable mill, threshing the line of farmers rimming the northern bank of The Qu'Appelle. If

a few farmers thrown on the threshing market through the defunct condition of their syndicate machine. Since Pullar's outfit was full up for a big season the cluster of jobs fell to McClure. The farmers of the Pullar run threw out some banter and an occasional jab resenting the attempt of McClure to cut in. This nettled McClure and was the small beginning of a bitter rivalry. Smothering his chagrin McClure set to work to build up a gang that would lower the colours of the Valley Outfit.

with the result that the annual threshing derby began to show a tendency toward even money. The interested public pricked up its ears, enjoyi

he check when Jack Butte

in. "Hold this money for McClure. We are ho

e the noise rose the voice of Easy Murphy. He was performing

challenged Murphy. "Fifty ti

"Here, Butte's the dough. You can h

deluged wi

rotesting hands. "Two at a time. Come a

entry of all stakes. His task completed he to

eight P.M. on the last day of October. We'll meet in Louie Swale's

aces of the bosses and t

e run on the squa

ure. "We'll shear thes

s wedged in the pile of bills. They were McClure'

s and re-bank the whole

tte, flashing sharp e

as the lo

ing when he bit his tongue. Ned's eyes were smiling but behind the smile glittered an ominous light that made McClure strike an attitude of defense. H

cows need milking. At any rate, the Valley Gang have taken a sudden whim to be alone. Think it over. We'll give

cket while the Valley Gang let

they made no move to close with their taunting enemies. The Valley men flung jeer and jibe in wild effort to provoke a c

he snarled.

g through the door in swift and ignominious ret

the lucky divils!" crie

ifted a victorious roar, following McCl

. Astride swayed the form of a girl clothed in a slicker. Beneath her quaint hood flashed the light of brown eyes. The

ision of the girl remained with him and a shadow contended with the pleasure the sudden meeting ha

ted. "Where will this

e, only child of his avo