s fetlocks. But the rain was over, the sun was out glorious and warm above the level lands and in the air was a miraculous feeling as of spring. It is the way of Dry Town in th

in front of the bank, he saw Hap Smith's lumbering vehicle standing down by the stable. From it he let his eyes travel along the double row of ill kept, unpainted houses. Fifty yards away a stranger would have marked only his great height, the lean, clean, powerful physique. But from ne

rom the saddle and with spurs clanking noisily up

nd the new lattice work. The words were very quietly spoken, the voice rather soft and

say it is?"

ing citified mighty fast

my cards! Well, just

orn

Thornton, from the

anwhile no glint of their stern light as they looked at the man to whom he was talking and beyon

than he had spoken before. "But Mr. Templeton will be gla

rew open the door at the end of the short hallway. Here was a sort of waiting room, to judge from the two or three chairs, the square topped table strewn with financial journals and illustrated magazines i

.W. TEMPLETON, President, Private. He took a step toward the door and then stopped suddenly a

... "this thing is madness! Pure and simple, unadulterated madness! It's as devo

voice young and fresh and yet withal firm and a little cool. "I didn't come to as

n, sweeping off his hat as h

I judge it's important. And there's no sense in lo

front of him whirled about suddenly, his gesture and eyes alike showing his keen annoya

is young woman has got

Templeton, that this i

looking down upon the owner of the voice that was at once so fresh and young, so coolly determined and vaguely defiant. And as he

Then after a little when it was evident that Templeton was going to say nothing more she turned slowly to the new comer, her lashes sweeping upward swiftly as her eyes met

tdoors, that she had upon the heels of her boots a pair of tiny, sharp rowelled spurs, that a riding quirt hung from her right wrist by its rawhide thong, that her cheeks were a little flushed as though from excitement but that she knew the trick of forbidding her

me into her look just a hint of admiration which the man did not see as she in her swift examination noted the breadth of shoulder, the straight tallness of him

n he had spoken with the cashier, "three days ahead of time. It won't take me a minute to get through. And if you and the young lad

answer. "Miss Waverly is planning to.... Well, I want to talk with her a little more. Well, Thornton," and only now he pu

ed in to fix up th

l had gotten to her feet swiftly. "If yo

on my mind, and since I'm just going to hand Mr. Templeton some money, an almighty big pile

ooked at him

now? That you've just ridden in from the ran

ought out a small packet done up in a piece of buckskin and tied with

. "Gold and a few pieces of pap

put out his hand, lifted the packet, dropped it back up

county you two are without equals. Buck

lips. "I saw a man once I thought had sense and I found out af

en flat on the table. There were many twenty dollar pieces, some f

full for second payment due, as you say, in three days. I'll

his spurs in his hat and his hat upon a chair and began to roll a cigarette. The banker wrote quickl

lity in his curt tones. "And now you listen to me; you're a fool! Or else you're so far

what's happening," re

e thousand dollars with him, and when everybody in the country knows that according to contract he

did not answer. He see

one might almost suppo

head suddenly, his e

s, he said

ree days ahead o

ut of the world! If you do a fool thing like this, Buck Thornton, when yo

he receipt into his vest pocket,

ght under Mr. Bad Man's nose, since I was carrying that little wad last night when Hap Smith got cleaned at Poke Drury's. Well, I'll be going. Just give

rned and looked back at the girl. She had r

thanked you

twitching at the corners of his large

. And.... We'll see each other again," he concluded in his quietl