The Rustlers of Pecos County

ting place, and we compared notes a

onslaughts, all the idlers and strangers in town went to see the sight. Manifestly it was an occasion for Linrock. When Steele let it be

party that was to be given by Miss Sampson, and I told h

ustlers, yet keep that beautiful and innocent girl out on the frontier and let her give parties to so

what the girls must have regarde

, to attach to her train all the young men, and have them fighting to dance with her. Miss Sampson had an earnest desire to open her father's hou

nal decoration, when Miss Sampson learned that her father had just ridden o

urry of the colonel. My sharp ears, however, took this in and it was thought-provo

ights. Every lantern and lamp on the place, together with all tha

aced, bright eyed, eager for the fun to commence. Then the young people f

iously, excused her father's ab

owboys with banjos and an antediluvian gentleman with a fiddle. Nevertheless

and the flashy scarfs of the cowboys furnished a gay enough scene to a man of lonesome and stern life like mine. During the dance th

usual careful observation, was an unobtrusive

o dainty, so altogether desirable, that I groaned a hundred times in my jealousy. Because, manifestly,

or gallant young buck from town, and on these occasions she favored her esco

or from indifference, she apparently deigned me no more notice. But, quick to feel a difference in her,

hoping she would make me hate her, I followed her shameles

push the flirting to extremes. Young Waters was the only one lucky enough to kiss her, and

sy a real anxiety. I had brushed against Wright more than once t

er abhorrence of drink, I believed she would not have walked out wi

efully for a man who rode a horse as much as he. After the dance he waved aside Sally's many partners, not so gaily as would have been consistent with good feeling, and led

my sight for a moment before Sally cried out. It was a cry of impatience or re

to the door of the arb

ered a cry that was one of alarm. Her face blanched; her eyes grew str

oked like one. "I heard a squeal. Thought a girl was hurt, or something. Miss Samps

, Sally, excusing herself to the s

our danc

and we walked th

hispered. "You frightened me wor

he'd been drinking,

Russ, let me tell you-whenever anything frightens me since w

h the last words she said. She stood before me, eyes downcast, face flushed, as sweet and pretty a lass a

rtner. I'm glad for the chance. Dance with me, Russ-not gallantly or d

e another evening like this, at least, for me, in that

dancers, despite all that confusion I heard

and alluring, floating close to me, with our hands clasped. Then it appeared the music h

nce. And Sally said she did not have to reac

tied for once,

ut to the patio. At the same moment that I heard a heavy tramp of boots, from the porch

ele bend his head to enter the door

s pale, yet heated. He panted. He wore no hat. He had his c

e as her dress. The young women present stared in

h your house!" panted Steele,

pped forward out of the corner. Steele had been running. Why did he hol

ent was succeeded by ang

am mistress here. I will not

ust do so without your pe

you not insulted us enough? To search my house to-night-to break up my party-oh, it's worse than outrage! Why on earth do you want to search

it had to do with her scathing scorn or something t

ld be too bad to spoil your party. Let me add, perhaps you do me a little wrong. God knows I hope so. I was shot

the color of which in places was white. The rest was all

ied Miss

man who imagined she saw a man mortally wounded. It was a h

s, Miss Sampson. From you they hurt. For I stand alone. My fight is to make Linrock safer,

ple a dignity fitted his words. Why, a woman far blinder

his heel, and strode o

red, still shocked, I electe

ell me that if he had sustained any more than a flesh wound he would n

d wounded Steele. As I started forward, however, Miss Sampson defeated me. Sally

ment or two

ler-here-hiding?" re

find him. I'll rou

't use violence," she replied. "Se

on with your dance. I'll take a couple of cowboys. I'll find this-this rust

ed me deeply, and I st

you going?"

ts me to find this hidden man. She t

I'd see to tha

I retorted. "But I'm thinking you mig

gun he would have pulled it on me. As it was, Miss Sampson

Russ. Please hurry. I'll be nervous till the r

house. We went through the rooms, searching, ca

e hurried, too, tried to keep in the lead. I wondered if

ed into a dark corner, and then with a

wearing dark sombrero, blouse and trousers. I collared him before any of

pallid look of a man who had just gotten over a shock. He peered into my face, then into that o

o know, but I meant to

u?" I aske

n at me. It always irritated m

t good," I yelled, prodding him in the sid

cker,"

ion to Bil

s s

ou hide h

ed to gro

as safe in Sampso

eplied, and he never knew, or any of the

something sinister to combat. This was no time for me to rev

othing to do now but let the others decide

d, as if uncertain, now the capture was mad

I guessed he had not much fancied the wide a

ushed Snecker in front of him into the hall. I follo

d not wait to see where they went, but hurr

stressed. I soon calmed their fears of any further trouble or possible disturb

uld come here," she

had a better chance to hide where there wa

ind myself keen to shunt her mind fr

ve arrested hi

m," I replied frankly, feeling that if what I

ful sight-the whole front of him bloody! Russ, how could he

y. A man like Stee

See how it is with him!"

e chance and hurried

ng cautiously, so as to be sure no one saw me, I went close and whistled

have worried. Sling a blanket over

n the act of bandaging a wound that

king the strips of linen. "Ahuh!

charmer? It's a wonder I di

me abo

ther attempts at his life, and concluded by saying th

I noted, too, on the fine white skin more than one scar made by bullets. I got

r's son?" I asked when I had to

sterday. Both the Sneckers are in town. F

replied. "Shall I chuck my job? Com

ve got to be able to prove things.

d stiff till he recognized

've got to catch Sampso

ted. "Remember what Neal told me. I'm to kick. It's time for

mark had angered him. "You fellows are all wrong. I know when to throw a gun. You ought to

ot at Snecke

three times at his legs-tried to let him down. I'd have made h

gunmen don't mind being killed. But to cripple them, rope them, jail them-that's hell to them! Well, I'm to go on, u

yet he was more thoug

t: I'll hang under cover most of the time when you're not close to me. See? That can be managed. I'll watch for you when you c

ved. "Well, I'll have to rustle back now

cising care not to disarrange the bandages; and he stopp

she-show

p about it. Thought y

he sen

he said hurr

the apparent possibility of Stee

ld have cared if-if I

sked this like a boy, hesitat

d. Diane Sampson has fallen in love with you! That's all.

is time straight through the heart. Perhaps one had-an

ot go back on it

at a terrible thing to sa

nt on. I may be wrong. But I swear I'm right. When you opened you

autiful broke through. Pity, fear, agonized thought of your death! If that's not love, if-if

here," he or

e door and to listen a moment, then I hu

lm, so cold, that it somehow hurt me to l

le and to me? I had a moment of b

seldom found it after that. But love had certainly met me on the w

even in the face of fate. Steele and I, while balancing our lives on the hair-trigger of a gun,

w knocking at my heart, but notwithstanding that, ti

ast that I had sown in Steele's; probably it was just a propensity for sheer mischi

er this event might be less tragi

ortent flitting in the

erruption of the gaiety. I found Miss Sampson on the lookout for me and sh

I suggested. "I don't want

beautiful. I felt her tremble. Perhaps my gravity p

g my words. "He let me in-was surprised. He had been shot high in the shoulder, no

isn't bad," said Miss Sampson.

your words-what you said hurt him more than

! I was furious. But I

ng the Rio Grande. It's scarcely my place, Miss Sampson, to

I find out?"

said e

ve feared it this last hour. It was his look. That pierced me. Oh, I'd hate to be u

replied

seemed, despite an eff

re for long. He's been-well, let's say, easy with the evil-doers. But times are changing. He opposed the Ranger

t know what

r you to think thing

strange. Though, of course, I've only seen him twice a year since I was a little girl. He has two s

. But he doesn't-he doesn't satisfy me. He's grown impatient and wants me to g

ing for her. "It's all mystery-and trouble fo

leave here-leave my

a rather troublesome time.

I'll stay," she declared,

aking a long, deep breath, "I ought to

l, g

being the farthest removed f

was at least

arge of their duty. He was courteous after you defamed hi

who had shot him. Under ordinary circumstances he would have searched your house. He would h

it amazed me. Just now, when I was with him, I learned, I g

tic her eyes! A woman's divining intuition m

was I doing to her-to Vaughn? Something

voice. "Love at first sight! Terrible! Hopeless! I saw

ask here without any handicaps. Every man is against him. If he fails, you might be the force that

. If he is killed, which is more than likely, you'll feel the

with her hands at her breast, she walked straight a