Steve Yeager

es and faces. As a film actor he did not have to seek sensations. They came to him unsought. He had the faculty of projecting himself with all hi

rating scenes of frontier life as Billy Threewit conceived these. Sometimes Steve smiled. The director's ideas had largely been absorbed in New York from reading Western fiction. But so long as he drew down his two-fifty a day and had plenty of fun doing it, Steve was no stickler for naked realism. The "bad men

ster what the director wanted of a bad man. In the rough-and-tumble life he had led, it had been Yeager's business to know men. He

from the property room with a saddle Threewit had ask

loves on with me s

"I sure would. The boys say you'

class as a fighter. What you need is to take some le

rung the bell

advertising it. Harrison might pick another qu

can look at a pine board so darned sultry it begins t

e well-packed muscles of one always trained to the minute. Fifteen years in the saddle had given him a toughness of fiber no city dweller could possibly equal. Nights under the multiple stars in the hills, cool, invigorating mornings with the pine-filled air strong as wine in his clean blood, long days of

willing to help him get the properties ready for the required sets, would put on the gloves with him and try him out

to meet Harrison. It was apparent to all of them that the prizefighter was nursing a grudge. The

oing to break loose again," Farrar told Man

self in trouble when he tackles that young tiger cub," answered the comedian. "Ever

He set his heavy jaw and waited. He intended that Yea

his jealousy was inflamed because Steve was a better rider than he. At any tim

im bluntly one day. "We've never had a ride

f these days-nothing to

the producing director as he walked away

hase scene they were going to pull off. The pony was a wiry buckskin with powerful flanks and withers. The prizefighter was no sooner

Jackson and Orman, two other riders fo

urt, a

ring. "Any of your da

After several attempts he succeeded in kicking its ribs. Yeager said nothing, but his eyes gleamed. In the cow count

e reins. Two minutes later he took the dust again. The horse had spent the interval in

pay to beat up a horse. A man's liable to get piled, a

he made a fair guess at their meaning

to say out lou

hat way when it gets its back up. I wou

an ride this

fear. Steve's movements were slow, but not doubtful. He stroked the pony's neck and gentled it. His low voice murmured soft words into

rd and patted the neck of the colt softly. His soothing voice

e," Steve cal

red down the road. A quarter of an hour lat

ake any horse a devil wh

to reply, but the words were taken out of his mouth. From

our opini

eyes met his steadil

u're taking boxing lessons. You'r

quicker," answer

" ordered Threewit curtly. "I'll f

d eyes on the range-rider. "And I serve notice right here that next time my youn

That's twice he's used the word 'friend.' I reckon

ector changed the subject. "I want you to choose a couple of the boys and go down to Yarnell's after a herd of cattle we're

air of leathers. Steve had a fleeting thought that the man was listening;

uld start r

get back by to

ell got 'em rounded

e this morning t

s Robles late to-morrow nigh

o do you want to

e Shorty

to the conchas on the chaps. They were made of 'dobe dollars. He had seen Jacks