The Sheriff's Son

ches a

isoner, who plodded without spirit up

ve grumbled a heap at digging up that sack, and then loaning me their horse to carry it

heerful, but he did not look it. The pudgy r

with my own eyes how you was feeling the need of them health exercises, I couldn't let you force your bro

with me?" growled the defe

Why, I am going to ask you to go up to the horse ranch with me

ntain park surrounded by peaks. In it was the Rutherford horse ranch. Few men traveled to it, and these by little-used trails. Of those who freq

aptive while the latter transferred the gunnysack and its contents to the other saddle. Never for an instant did the little spy let the other man close eno

's cowpony wen

you?" cried the owner of the horse angr

bronco came down like a pile-driver, camel-backed, with legs stiff and unjointed. Skyward it flung itself again, whirled in the air, and jarred down at an angle. Wildly

it, you buckaroo," he shouted. "You got him p

ay, momentarily alarmed. "Here -- you, hold your brut

eared. His arms, working like windmills, went up as Teddy shot into the air again. The hump-backed weaver came down close to t

g as if a spring had been touched. Dingwell was on his own feet before the other knew what

ludicrous expression on his fat face. His min

away," he complained querulous

ple cart. No, don't bother about that gun.

redulity struggled with resentment. "You ma

a wiz, Chet," draw

and ashamed was all a bluff. You were layin

or man, his days are as grass. He diggeth a pit and falleth into it his own self. Likewise he dig

I might 'a' shot you safe and comfortable fr

wide with that quirt instead of giving you a nice little easy tap that just did the busine

ox, his hand to an aching head. "But I didn't lam

u meek and humble, did you? But we can talk while we ride. I got to hustle back to Battle Butte and turn in this sack to the sheriff so as I can claim the

e back with his former prisoner to the park. Dingwell gathered up the rifle and revolver

" he said. "It will be ni

laying the groundwork for his own escape. There was in his mind no intention of trying to recover the gold himself, but

the trail from the park. "I ain't got a thing against you-nothing a-tall. Besides, I'm a law-abiding ci

the cocoanut with the end of my quirt. That's why I'd let you have about three bullets from old Tried and True here right in the back if you tri

ur joke, Dave, but I know mighty well you wouldn

er afterward, I expect," replied Dingwell ca

at all. I was jus

t the horses had to fall into a walk. He was not sure whether when it came to the pinch he could summon nerve to try a bolt, but h

uld have been a very attractive one except for its look of sulky rebellion. From the mop of black hair tendrils had escaped and brushed the wet cheeks flushed

hat. "Good-evenin'

of Fox. A question and an answer, neither of them in words, fla

the left of the road. I'll ride next you with Miss Rutherford on my right." He explained to the girl

spoke out, "Wha

surprise. "Why, nothing at all, I reckon.

eet your father and he won't

ed Dingwell. "You didn't seem in no manner of hurry when y

him here. He can go if he want

go if you want to," murmured

ck if I hit the trail any fas

re," flamed Beu

eyes attack

e how it is, Chet. Maybe I will; maybe I

tion, but it was clear to her that somehow Dingwell was interfering with a plan of her people. Her untamed youth resented t

tly. "Have you got a war

e here." Dave patted th

t a deputy

Not off

as Chet

must 'a' broke some ordinance in that long career of disrespectability of

t. Presently she took off her slicker and held it on the left side o

ll it up,

I c

e flung the slicker over his head. Her weight on the left sti

het!" s

off like

rford girl clung as if her arms had been ropes of steel. Before he had shaken

n with her quirt. He lowered the rifle, turned to

a schoolmarm, but I wouldn't have shot Chet,

t out of the mud where it had fallen. Her li

my coat," she ch

"I'll buy you a new one when we g

. "I'll attend to that, Mr. Dingwell. Suppose you

Dave," he mused aloud, eyes twinkling. "She s

her foot. "Will y

t wreck I'd come up and be one of your scholars. Anyhow, I'm real

of them would depend on chance. Dave knew that they might be waiting for him before he reached town. He had to get rid of the treasure between that spot and town, or else he had to turn on his tired horse and try to escape to the hills. Into his mind popped a possible solution of t

swung up one street and down another beside which ran a small field of alfalfa on one side. A hundred yard

nknown to the cowboy. But Dingwell knew he was on his way to the Legal Tender Saloon, which

ned toward the business section of the town and rode down the main street. From a passer-by he learned

nders, and Chet Fox. The little man walked between the other two and told his story excitedly. Dingwell