The Rustlers of Pecos County

ing of this incident ma

ughtful, almost gloomy, sad. I could not understand her complex emotions. Perhaps she contrasted Steele with her father; perhaps

my misgivings when I saw Sally come out in that trim cowgirl

any machinations into effect. The first one found me

nch," she said when

the cinch up another

she added, slipping a shap

it heroically, with bent head and outward calm, when all the time I was mad to snatch the

eele," she said soberly, with the sweet

It's in the a

ded me do

she retort

no new thing to me. I didn't

are nicer fellows around.

d out of its glove and

een hateful lately

of her voice and the nearness of her that made a tu

self defense. "You are only flirting. You wo

and I had not the

to be-to be loved. There. I never confessed that to any other man. You've been hateful when we might have had such fun. The rid

ing devil of her, irresistible as they were, were no m

righten her out of this daring mood I would have to yield despite my conviction that she only trifled. As my m

e, making me shake. I felt the skin on my face tighten and chill. I grasped her with strengt

wrought against all pretense, hurt me as my brutality hu

ry me. That was proof, if it was foolish. Even if you were on the square, which you're not, we couldn't ever be anything to

Sally turned deathly white, probably from

epping back to my horse

nliness and regret trembling with the fe

ed the real he

lay the game square

you again. If I do, then I'll deserve what you-wh

traveling gait of Sally's horse was a lope, that of mine a tr

caught up with her; and side by side we rode the remainder

if you agreed with me abou

fallen in love with Steele. Lord

n trying to be as shrewd with women

"You told me Steele lost his head over Diane at first

ory of his treatment of Vey had upon Miss Sampson. He cou

ng really good, then she was unhappy beca

ngry look in his eyes was enough to make

how her voice had been deep and full when she admitted her father hated him, how much she must have meant when she said s

my imagination I was rewarded by being told

owed shortly upon his curiosity and pleasure, and then the old sane mind reasserted itself, the

vable girls have come, unfortunately for us all, across the dark trail we're on. Let us find what solace we can in the hope that somehow, God only knows how,

erhead; and I was sober in thought, sick at heart for him as much as for myself, and I tortured m

t abided with me and I become conscious of a dull,

shly active. She wanted to ride, to see for herself what was going o

playing a waiting game on the rustlers, keeping out of the resorts for the present, I had not great cause for worry. Hoden was slowly g

istracted and angry father. I began to feel sorry for Sampson. He was an unscrupulous man

m take her home, giving as urgent reason the probability of

ck to the old home to live there the rest of their lives. He replied with considerable feeling th

pite of his anger, Miss Sampson refused to obey; and she frankly told him that it was the f

later and his worn face show

as a spoiled kid. Now she's a woman. Something's fired her blood. Maybe it's this damned wil

s near them. Lately they've got shy of George, too. Between you and me I want to tell you that conditions here in Pec

ern Texas. My daughter and Sally would not be safe if left alone to

I can say none of the tough set who hang out down there would ever made any move while I'm with the gi

tart trouble, I'm going for my gun,

n not to be trifled with. You've got a bad name. Diane insists the name's not deserved. She'd trust you with herself under any circumstance

ce," I

at Sanderson. Look out you two don't clash. He's got a temp

al from Wright, and g

rink and cards for a while and keep an eye on the girls. When

Ranger in town that gave him concern, nor the wilfulness of his daughter. Ther

g strain on him. I began to get a closer insight into Sampson, and in the ab

d. This latest interview with me, amounting in some instances to confidence, proved absolutely

ng of fear and distrust in this spoken attitude toward his relative. Not improbably here was the internal strife between S

as absurd; but, just the sam

gambling hells, and spent all my time except when sleeping, out in th

nough to have to go into these dens to arrest m

of drink, and she was glad. Sally made no attempt to conceal her happiness; and to

orable, di

ills to return as the sun set. We visited outlying ranches, water-holes, old adobe h

f Sampson, and half-way to Sand

adventures. And every time we rode out she insisted on first riding throug

ouses-everywhere that she could find excuse for visiting. I had to point out to

side of the Hope So, to the extreme

y. Sally understood the cause, too, and it divide

never evinced in sigh

hn Steele. We saw him working round his adobe house; then we

is way without any sign of recognition. There was red

ever seen her, risking her l

e, inquiry discovered to us, he had gone to the ho

ne when we were walking tired horses home through the main street

one ruffian who had purchased or been given a poor, emaciated little burro that was on his last legs. The burro evidently did not want

ear it was to see an animal in pain. She passionately

eating the little bur

he brut

ot on the instant seen Steele he

med Andrews, began to bestow heavy and brutal kicks upon the body of the li

rking legs that told any horseman what had happened. Steele saw the last swings of Andrews' heavy boot. He y

to get to Andrews. He kicked the fellow's feet

ounding smacks mingled with hoarse bellows of fury and pain. Andrews flopped here

ght in front of the Ranger, and there, li

ter when Steele's swift hand interce

a cracking of bone

ment of wrestling fury Andrews, broken, be

assionate swiftness, faced the others as if to dare them to

t of the way home, but she was strangely white of face and dar

them was that as sure as the sun rose and set it was

er mind, but I had

spent on the streets, in the light of his action on behalf of a poor little beast, help but wonder an

were riding homeward on the road from Sampson, I caught sight

s, I did not like the looks of the horsemen and grew uneasy. Still, I scarcely thoug

they soon cau

ad and superbly mounted on dark bays and blacks. They had no

us, and the fifth pulled his horse to sui

ly to me. "Don't mind my rid

sant approach, I cou

s, with curly, blond hair, almost gold, a skin very fair for that countr

e of my men have seen you ridin' round

e with any flaunt or flou

tler! I grew t

santry. I really felt less uneasiness after he had made himself know

mbrero and made ga

ness, a shrinking, which, however, he did not appear to notice. Sally had b

she could be natural. Blome seemed to have more of an eye f

, yes, indeed

e ri

ve ho

, he hit upon the subject best calculated to make h

Sally with interest, just as I had upon first meeting her, and he might not

famous along the Pecos and Rio Grande than more really desperate men. His attire proclaimed a va

velvet, the gold, the fine leather. When I envied

. My sharp eye, running over him, caught a row of n

e custom that desperadoes and gun-fighters had of cutting a notch on their gu

s. And it was then I was hard put to it to keep track of the queries, exclamations, and o

!" rapturously uttered Miss Sally Langdo

ter presence, and she joined Miss Langdon in paying the rustler compliments, too. Perhaps my

notch for a man he's killed! For weeks reports have come to Linrock that soon as he could get round to it he'd