The Twins of Suffering Creek

ironical pleasure of the jade Fortune. Scipio had not the vaguest idea of whither his quest would lead him. He had no ideas on

gh at disaster. Thus it was that wherever he went, wherever he paused amongst his fellows in search of informati

strong, so absolutely invincible as Scipio's. As it was, with single-minded simplicity, Scipio saw no reason for subterfuge, he saw no reason for disguising the tragedy which had befallen him. And so he shed his story broadcast amon

trail by a hard-faced citizen who had little i

okin' fer the James outfit. Guess he wants to shoot 'em up. He's a sawed-off mutt, an' don't look a heap like scarin' a ja

from?" so

cowpuncher, "an' seems to me

was as well that of all his six treasured horses Wild Bill had lent him his black beauty, Gipsy. S

n in the remoter parts of the lower foothills, but this was all. At one farm he had a little better luck, however. Here he was told that the farmer had received an intimation

n named Nicholls––despondently, "h

it," acqui

through the other's mind, and the man-h

oned harshly. Then he leant forward, his eyes li

s, and his simple reply ha

e's stole my wife. And I'm goi

isitor's manner that it was impossible

bout that four hundred?

his temper rose. "But I'm just goin' to sleep with a gun to my hand, an' he'll get it

ded sympat

n. My mare'll be fed an' rested by this. Thanks for the feed. G

on of his own troubles and eyed the diminutive fig

, "guess you must be bustin'

shook h

a wan smile. "But

A

of understanding in

and weary, but his purpose knew no weakening. Gipsy was going fresh and strong, and though she had already traveled probably a h

the greater hills. Up and down these wonderful grassy dunes he roamed searching a resting-place for himself and his mare. There was nothing of the sort in sight, nothing but the en

f the worst came to the worst his mare could eat her fill of grass, and, for himself, sleep in the open had no terrors. Of food

ea of grassy dunes, and mark a mountain waterway. Nor was he disappointed. A few moments later, to his delight, he found himself gazing into the dep

and he had wandered at least a hundred yards in his search for an opening when a human voice abruptly hailed him from the far side of the stream. He looked across without answering,

d at last, after a

only a fellow man in misfortune. He saw the lariat on the horn of the saddle, the man's chapps, his hard-muscled broncho

m?" demanded t

ek," replied S

a piece," said the other,

ure

ou doin

But Scipio had no suspicion of anybody

n called James. Y

tered his questi

our name?

o––and

tures seemed to relax for a moment into so

y. I'm out chasin' cattle." And the fact that he finished up w

ong the stream until he came to a shelving in the bank where his mare could climb down. He crossed

e better by the time Scipio came up. His smile was almost

crook, James," he said e

ha

o his place right now to spy out things. I was jest waitin' fer the sun to go. Y'see we're o

sclaimed the

to find him. I'

t f

ave him a moment's pause. But he finally answered frankly, as he a

aid, his eyes directly gaz

r, with a curse. But the ironical light in his

who knew of James' whereabouts. A dozen questions sprang into

on with you

t up to Jam

t's wher'

dy but a man like Scipio. Now he seemed to be pondering a somewhat vexed question, and his brows were drawn together in a way that suggested anything but a clear purpose. Bu

for the barest fraction of a second––"y'see, I'm out after this cattle racket, an' I

man's drift, and thought

s it were." His smile was more pronounced. "Now I guess I'll show you where his lay-out is if you'll sure give me your promise to let me hunt around fer

hanks. The man's kindness

llow," he said. "Guess

eyes fixed themselves pierci

d shortly, "w

assing into the deeper shadows of night, but he rode amongst the hills as though he were traveling a broad open trail. There was no hesitation, no questioning g

' to do when––you g

back," replied

James b

keep her––

t––if he notio

s pale eyes were staring straight ahea

e said at last, as though there co

an no

uns?" he inqu

t o

is it? M

ion out of his pocket and handed

ights ain't good over a distance, but a

e sights, and the clumsy, rusted, protruding hammer. It was six-chambered, and he knew that it must be all of forty year

to his senses," he observed, as

wer as approval, an

t much of a man, is he? I mean he hasn't much grit. He's a coward sure. If he'd got grit he wouldn't do it. Well, that's how I figger 'bout this James. He's mean, an' a cowardly dog. I don't guess I'll hav

erved the man, with his eyes fixed ahead

r it never entered his head that she cared for the man she had gone off with. He blamed James, and it was no mere figure of speech when he said that he believed he had "stolen" her. He believed such to be the case. He believed she had gone unwi

er two hours when Scipio realized they were passing over a narrow cattle track on the summit of a wooded hill. Then presently their horses began a steep shelving descent which required great caution to negotiate. And as they proceeded the darkness closed in up

hour of this went by, then, suddenly, ahead, still farther down the slope, two or three dim lights shone up at them like will-o'-the-wisps. They seemed to dance abo

nroy dryly. "Them

ce," said Scipio, wit

in the darkness. "He's got the bigge

f?" Scipio was struggling to

atisfaction had the effect of silenc

ed, and the soft grass under her feet set G

ight here while I get on an' get thro' with

ered into an agreement, and had no desire, in spite of his eagerness to be doing, of departing

The horseman had intervened on Scipio's line of vision. Then the yellow gleam as suddenly reappeared, and the last sign of Conroy passed. The

man James. It was the first time he had thought of the matter deliberately, or attempted to estimate its possibilities. Hitherto he had been too torn by his emotions to consid

after having had Jessie restored to him? James should be dealt with as gently as his feelings would permit him. Yes, thank God, he had no actual desire to hurt this man who had so wronged him. The man was foolish, and he could afford to be generous

s returning, and, a moment later, Conroy loomed up in the darkness. He c

. Ther's some o' his boys around. He's jest right in ther' wher' you ken see that biggish light," he went on, pointing at the illuminated square of a window. "I see him through an open door round back. He's lyin' on a heap o' blankets rea

t altogether agree with the man's suggestion of getting the drop on James. He felt it

" he went on eagerly. "You see, you've done something for me to-night I can't nev

all right. James is low––doggone low," he added. And his face was turned we

Seeing I shan't see you here when I get

other. "An' you needn't

t something of its satisfied expression. However, he sat there only a moment. Presently he lif

a lousy trick anyways." Thus he dismissed t

de of it, but light shone only in one of them. It was by this light the horseman saw a tie-post some yards from the house. And without hesitation he rode up to it, and, dismounting, secured his mare. Then, following Conroy's directions, he proceeded on foot to the back o

l glare of the light from the doorway, and James was smiling down upo

right in," he added, and, lounging out of the doorway, he dropped back into the room. "You'll find things a bit untidy," he went on calmly, "

conceived intentions. Astonishment was his first feeling. Then a sudden diffidence seized him, a diffidence that was nearly akin to fear of his rival. But this passed in a moment, and was instantly replaced by a hot rush of blood through his small body. All his pictured interview die

he demanded, with a

at. Say, com

ccepted the invitation without thought of trap or anyt

rrounded. And though, as James had said, the place was untidy, he saw nothing and none of it. His eyes were on the man; ang

nded threateningly. "You've stole her, and ta

r sting was lost. The forceful bluster of an outraged man, determined upon enforcing his demands, would probably have stirred James to

e was not willing to come along. She came with me. Well, I guess she came because she fancied it. You say you'r

about him helplessly. Then, in a flash, his

come back." He drew a deep breath to choke down his fury. "Say," he went on, with a sudden moderating of his tone and his manner, taking on a pitiful pleading, "do you think you love her? You? Do you think you know what love is? You don't. You can't. You can't love her same as I do. I love her honest. I love her so I want to work for her till I drop. I love her so there's nothin' on earth I wouldn't do for her. My life is hers. All that's me is hers. I ain't got a thought without her. Man, you don't know what it is to love

ghtened, but the smile was there, hard, unyielding in its very setness. And when Scipio's appeal came to a

ou, even if I let her––whi

culated to goad him to extremity. In one short, harsh sentence he had dashed every hope that the othe

from his pocket and pointed shakingly at his torment

o complete his sentence. The other's hand suddenly reached out, and the pistol was twisted

The hammer refused to move. It was so rusted that the weapon was quite useless. For a moment the desperado's eyes sought the pale face of his would-be

lessly, as Scipio's hand closed over the wretched weapon, "or I'll hand you over to the boys. They'll show you less mercy than I do. They're waiting out there," he cried, pointing at the door, "for my orders. One word from me and they'll cut the liver out of you with rawhides, and Abe Conroy'll see i

le man by. He made no attempt to obey. The pistol hung in his

ief!" he cried. "Gi

beaten man whose spi

stepped to the door and whistled. He might have been whistling up his dogs. Perhaps thos

m out and set him on his horse, and send him racing to

state of semi-unconsciousness. Nor did he rouse out of his stupor, until, sick and sore in every limb, his poor yellow head aching a