ROBBERS’ I
ROOST
b
■ *»
Zane Grey
r |
Cbvrrlcht.—WNU Smto*.
THE STORY
CHAPTER I.—Jim Wall, young cow. ]
puncher from Wyoming, in the early
days of the cattle lnduatry, eeeke a
new field In Utah. He meete Hank
Hays, who admits to being a rchber,
and tells Wall be It working for an
Englishman named Herrlok, who has
located a big ranch In the mountains.
Herrick has employed a email »i my of
ruatlers and gun-flghtsrs, ami Hays
and others are plotting to eieul their
employer'a cattle and money. Hays
wants Wall to throw in with the
ruatlers
CHAPTER II.—At the little settle
ment of Green River. Hays gets Into
an argument with a gambler sailed
Stud, over a poker game. Wall saves
Hank's life by bluffing the gambler out
of shooting. With Hays and two other J
rustlers. Happy Jack and Lincoln. Jim I
Wall starts out for Herrick's ranch.
In camp, the first night out. Jim re
grets the step he has taken, but It it j
too late to turn back.
I
CHAPTER III.—The four men arrive i
at the rar.ch Herrick announces that '
his sister, Helen, is coming to the |
ranch. Hays unfolds his plan for get- ;
ting possession of the I2.0{'0 head of ,
live stovk on the Herrick ranch. He]
and hi* lieutenants ride away to drive I
off iho first bunch of cattle Jim re
mains behind to shoot It out. If neces
sary, with Ifecseman. Haya' rival
among the cattle rustlers. Jim sees a I
dust cloud, which he is certain de
notes the arrival of Hecseman and his
gang He stands with rifle ready.
CHAPTER IV.—llecseman tells Wall j
that Hays was once his (Heesoman's)
partner and double-crossed him Her
rick delegates Jim to go to Grand
Junction ,o meet M'ss Herrick » Jim
gets Harnes, a young cowboy with j
him. to tell her that he (Jim) ts a
desperado of the worst ty'pn Parties
does so, but the girl treats the in
formation tightly
CHAPTER V
They came to a long, level valley,
where the white road was like n floor, ;
and the horses went like the wind.
What was going to be the effect of
this extraordinary woman upon the
tierce men of this lonely region? Upon
that swarthy Hank Hays!
At last the Inirscs Imtl to he held In
at the base of the longest ascent on
the Journey. Miss Herrick tucked her*
disheveled hair with the etuis of the ;
veil underneath the edges of her ;
bonnet.
“Wlmt a run! I'ttl used to ’ •rrces
but not tearing along- with a .chide ;
like ibis." she said, breathlessly.
“Wait till one of these old drivers
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DOAN’S PILLS
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA,
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY.
The undersigned, having been duly
appointed and duly qualified as ad
niinistrat rs of the Estate of E. S.
McCall, deceased, all persons having j
claims against the said estate are!
notified to exhibit the same before:
said administrators on or before
December 6th, 1935, or this notice
will be pleaded in bar of their re
covery. All persons indebted to said ,
estate will please make immediate i
payment.
This 6th dav of December, 1934.
NETA McCALL,
T. J. WOOD,
Administrators of E. S. Mc
Call, deceased.
Jan. 10. '
At Any Hour
Day or Night
MOORE & OSBORNE
Undertakers
Are ready to serve you
Day Phones, 88, 159, 250
Night Phones, 159, 250
BREVARD, N. C.
Ill 4 119 W. Main St
Moore & Osborne
Undertakers
gets a chnnce at you. I*m really no
teamster."
"Are you a cowboy?"
“Didn’t young Barnes tell you who
and what I am?” queried Jim, turntng
to her.
“I grasped that you were a stranger
to Utah—that you were from Wyo
ming. where you^had billed many bad
men, and that your mere reputation
was enough out here to keep rustlers
and desperadoes away from Star
ranch. Mr. Wall, you certainly are a
hero In his eyes."
It did not take great perspicuity to
grasp that Jim was not far from that
In her eyes. He groaned In spirit.
“I see that you will not tell me
about yourself," she went on. "Pardon
my Inquisitiveness. But 1 must Inform
you that I expect to go Into the ranch
ing business with my brother. You
will be working for me, then, as well."
"I hope you don't. Miss Herrick,” he
burst out. Impulsively. “Somebody
umsi tell you, It oughtn’t come from
a a—rider like me. But this Is no
place for such a gtrl as you.”
“What do you mean, Mr. Wall? That
hardly seema a compliment to me. I
can work, and I want to."
"Miss Herrick, you didn’t get my
meaning," replied Jim, hastily, with
strong feeling. “It Is not you who
couldn’t fit In. You've convinced me
you could. And that Is the biggest j
compliment I could pay you. . . . I j
meant that you will not be able to (
live, and work too, the way you want
to. You dare not ride around—or even
leave the house. Even that—’’
“For mercy's sake, why not?" she
demanded, In astonishment.
“Because, young woman, you are too
new, too strange, too lovely to risk
yourself In sight of these men at the
ranch. . . . Not all of them. But
some of them.’’
“You cannot be serious."
“I swear it, Miss Herrick."
“But what of the vaunted chivalry
<>f westerners? I've read of Fremont,
Kit Carson, Crook, and many others.
And of the thousands who ure un
sung."
"That Is true," he replied, Ids voice
husky. "Thank God, 1 can say so.
But you won't tlnd that at Star ranch."
“You say 1 am too new, strange,
too—too lovely to risk—I understand
you, of course. I must doubt it, de
spite your evident strong fooling. Von
may be playing a western joke on
me."
“I wish I was.”
"Mv brother will know. If there Is
anything In what you say." -
“No! No!” hurst out Jim. “Her
rick doesn't know. He never will know.
He can’t see through a millstone with
n hole In it. Oh, don’t misunderstand
me. Herrick is a fine chap, but this Is
no place for an English gentleman and
sportsman, any umre than it Is a fit
place for his sister."
_ “That is for us to decide," she re
turned. coldly. “I shall ride, anywhere
and everywhere. I’ve always ridden.
I'd go mad uot to get on a horse In
this glorious country."
* “I’ve done my best. I've told you,"
he said, curtly, as If he wore also ad
dressing his conscience.
"I- thank you, Mr. Wall," she said,
quick 'o catch the change In him. “No
doubt you western folks regard Bernle
as eccentric. And I’m bound to admit
Ids ranching Idea—ripping as it is to
us—must appear new nnd strange to
you. So I'll compromise. If It’s really
dangerous for me to ride about alone,
I will take you with mo. Not, how
ever, tlial I'd he afraid to go alone.
Then I would be perfectly safe, would
I not?
Wall flicked the reins.
“Look, Miss Ilerrlck. We're on top
at last. There's your country. The
black snow-capped mountains are the
llenrys. We go through that gap—a
pass—to Star ranch. Tlmt purple
space to the left—with the lines and
streaks—that's the desert."
“Ah-h-h!” she had cried out, breath
lessly.
Jiin halted the horses and gazed,
himself trying to see with this stran
ger's eyes. He had more—a feeling
that it would not he long until the
open wasteland claimed him again.
For him the bursting of one of tho
Henry peaks Into volcanic eruption
would be no more startling than what
would accrue from the advent of this
white-faced, golden-haired woman.
Jim drove down the hill, nnd again
put the blacks to a keen gait on a
level road, this time a straight, white
line across a longer valley. Jim cal
culated that he would boat the time lie
had declared, nnd reach Star ranch be
fore sundown.
When he drove past Heeseman's
camp all that' worthy's outfit were at
supper. The road passed within fifty
feet of their chuck wagon.
“Whnt a ruffianly crew!” murmured
Miss Herrick. “Who. pray, are these
men?"
‘Tart of the outfit your brother
hired to protect his cattle from
rustlers," replied Jim. “Funny thing
about that Is they are rustlers them
selves."
“Deliciously funny, though hardly so
for Bornle. Does he know it?"
"Not to my knowledge. Heeseman—
the leader of that gang—came on his
own recommendation and got the Job."
“I’ll have the fun of telling Deride,
. . Oh, what’s that. . . What an
enormous barn! All yellow, And a
new one going up. I.ogs and logs. . . ;
l<ook at the horses! I want to stop."
“No, Miss Herrick," he replied grim
ly. "I’ll drive you home safely or die
in the attempt. . . . Don’t look at
this tall man we’re coming to."
"Which?" she asked, laughingly.
“The one standing farthest out," re
piled .Jim. “He's got on a black som
brero. . . . Don’t look at him That’s
lank Hays. . . •■Miss Herrick, drop
our veil."
She obeyed, unobtrusively, though
her silvery laugh ponied out. "You
are teasing, of course. But I must re
ward your effort to entertain me."
Jim drove by Hays, who stood apart
from a group of cowboys. If he no
ticed Jim at all, It was totally ob
livious ro Jim. But Wall’a glance,'
never so strained, pierced the shadow
under Hays' (lark sombrero rim to the
si range eyes below. They were not
pale now. Jim’s hand clenched tight
on Hie reins. He becumc preoccupied
wIili the nucleus of the first deadly
thought toward Hays.
"Hunk IlHys. Who Is he?" Miss Her
rick was saying.
"Another of your brother's vlg
IlHiites.’’
"Ugh! How he stared! Bilt It
wasn't that which struck me most In
India I've seen cobras rise and poise,
ready to strike. And your Mr. Hays
looked for all the world like a giant
cobra with a black sombrero on Its
head. Wasn't that silly of me?"
"Not silly. An Instinct Self
preservation," returned Jim, sternly.
She passed that by, but only perhaps
because she caught sight of the ranch
house up the slope. Here her en
thusiasm was unbounded. Herrick
stood on the porch steps with his dogs.
He wore high boots and a red coat. He
waved.
Presently Jim reined In the sweating
horses before the steps. He was most
curious to see the meeting between
brother and sister. She stood up.
"Bernie, old top, here I am," she
said, gayly.
"Yes, here you are, Helen," he re
plied, and stepped out to help her
alight. “Did you have a nice trip?"
"Ripping—from Grnnd Junction In."
They did not embrace or even shake
hands. Jim, coming to himself, leaped
out and began removing the bags.
Barnes, whom he had totally forgot
ten, jumped out on the other side.
“Buenos, carry the bags In. Jim,
hurry the blacks down. They’re hot.
You must have pushed them."
“Yes, sir. Stage was late, but we
made up for It."
"Helen’s where's that Wells Fargo
package?" queried Herrick.
"Here in my satchel. Oh, Bernle,
it's good to get home—if this can bo
home."
"Come in and take off that veil,” he '
said, and with his arm In hers led her :
up on the porch.
Jim let Barnes take the team, while
he crossed tha bench and made his
way down the steep, rocky declivity
to Hays' cabin. Happy Jack wns
whistling about the fire, knocking pans
and otherwise Indicating the proximity
of supper.
“Howdy, Jnck. What’s tricks for to
day?" asked Jim.
“Glad you're back, Jim," declared
the cook, cordially. “Anyone’d have
thunk you wns goin' to dish the outfit
—Judgin’ from Hays, lie’s been like
a hound on a leash. Smoky rode li’
tndny full of ginger, news, an’ n roll
of long green Hint’d have choked a
cow. But even thet didn't ease the
boss.”
“What ailed him, Jack?" Inquired
Jim, not without impatience.
“Dinged If I know, it had to do
wl|h your goin' to Grand, a darned
sight more thun Smoky’s.”
* Heavy footfalls outside attested to
the return of Hays. Without more
comment Jim stood up anil away from
the table, to face the door. Hays en
tered. He wns not the genial Hays of
other days, yet It was hard to define
the change In him, unless it consisted
In a gloomy, restless force behind his
stride. Smoky followed him In, agree
able by contrast:
"Hullo, here you air. I waited at
the bam," said Hays gruffly.
"Howdy, boss. I took a short cut
down," replied Jim.
"1 seen Barnes an’ had a word with
him. So your trip come off nil right?
You shore made them blacks step."
“It wasn't as pleasant a drive ns
you'd imagine," returned Jim, darkly.
"Ilaw: ^’oii must he one of them
womcn-haters. . . . Outside of thet
side of It, what happened to Jar you?"
"Nothing to concern you or your
outfit. Stin ky saw me yesterday be
fore I got a line on him. He ducked
off the road. At Grand Junction no
body paid any more attention to me
than I'd expect."
I "Ahuh. Thet's good,” replied Hays.
I nnd going over to the pack beside his
bed he rummaged about to return with
a packet, which he slapped down upon
the table.
"There you air, Jim. On our first
deni."
The packet unrolled nml spread out
—hills' of large'denomination.
“What’s this for?" queried Jim.
“Quick action, Thet’s how we work.
Your share. Smoky fetched it."
Jiui did not cure to give tlie Im
pression Hint he was unused to this
sort of thing. Straddling the bench
he sat down to run through the bills.
"Five thousand six hundred," he
said, as If to himself, and lie slipped
the money Inside Ills pocket. “Much
obliged, Smoky. Now 1*11 be able to
sit in n little game of draw.”
“Jim. ain’t you got any news nt
all?" inquired Hays, searcblngly. "A
feller with your ears an' eyes shore
would pick up somethin’."
"Miss Herrick fetched a Wells-Fargo
package to her brother," rejoined Jim,
slowly.
“Then It's come," said Hays, crack
ing Ills hands. “Herrick was expectin’
money last.stage."
After supper Smoky was the first
to break silence:
"Eo.-s. now Wall Is back you can
make up your mind about what I'd
like to do."
“Jim, listen to this: Smoky an’ the
.direr fellers, except Brad, want to
make a clean sweep with this nest
Irlve. What •you think?"
“Clean Herrick out?" asked Jim.
"Thet’s the Idee.”
Jim pondered a moment. |
"It’d be harder work, bat are time,
and perhaps our bacon at well. These
cowboys are going to find out pretty
soon that the cattle hnvejhtnned out
If Smoky drives a couple thonsond
more It'll be sure to be found out
sooner or later.”
•‘See thar, boss. Wall sees It Just
ns I do. There's plenty of water along
the road an' feed enough. . . . Let's
make.it one big drive.”
“Wal, It’d mean leavin’ Star Ranch
sudden," cogitated the robber chief.
"Shore. An’ thet’a good."
"Hut I don’t want to pull out of here
sudden,” declared Hays.
"Why not If we get away with ten
Stradding the Beach Ha Sat Down j
to Run Through the Bllla.
thousand head?" queried Smoky, as
tounded.
“Thet ten thousaud won’t close the
deal I'm on."
"What've you got up your sleeve,
Hank?”
"Tliet's my business. Yours Is drlv
| In’ cattle.”
"You mean to rob the Engllsher?
Hnnk, don’t be a hawg!"
“Hays, If you'll excuse me, I’m think- I
lug Stnoky talks sense,” Interposed
Jim, quietly.
"My mind's made up. We'll stick j
to our first Idee, You fellers make
drive after drive, goln' slow. . . thet’U ,
give me time—”
"Ahuh. So you'll risk goin’ ugin' 1
the whole outfit,” Interrupted Smoky, j
j with a curious gaze at his superior.
“Wnl, yes. If you put It thet way,”
: replied Hays, and he stalked out.
J “Smoky, will you start the second
| drive tomorrow?" asked Wall.
“I’ll lny It tin to my outfit. Wnl, so
long. See you soon, one wn.v or an
other.”
He went out. Jim heard a few sharp
words pass between Smoky and Hays,
and then silence.
Next day lot went back to work on
the new barn. A subtle change In
Hnnk Hays augmented his suspicion of
that Individual. Jim let hint alone.
Herrick was tiround as usual. Inter
ested in every detail of Die building.
| Hays had gone off with the cowboys
across the valley to put them upon
some job there, which no doubt was a
ruse to keep them away from Lime
stone Springs, where most of the stock
grazed. And the day had ended with
out one glimpse of Helen Herrick.
At breakfast the following morning
Hays surprised Jim.
"Was the Herrick girl out yester
day?" he inquired.
“Didn’t see her."
“You didn’t say what kind of a
looker she was."
“Oh. that,” laughed Jiin. “I forgot
or didn’t ttiink you were Interested.”
“Wal, I'd like to see her once before
our deal’s off here."
Hays had liis wish fulfilled next day.
He was at work on the new barn, on
the far side from where Jim was oc
cupied, when Miss Herrick came down
with her brother. Jim stared ns if his
eyes deceived him. An English riding
habit was known to him only from
pictures. She looked queenly. Jim
did not,look at her face. Besides, he
wanted most to see the effect upon
Hank Hays. Tlint worthy's hawklike
hend was erect, but Jim could not see
Die telltale eyes, Hays stood trans
fixed.
Herrick ami his stater walked toward
Jim’s side of the barn.
"Good morning,” she said. "Bernie
told me how you shot bob—no, jack
rabbits—from the saddle, I want to
see you do that. And I want to learn
how. Will you show me?”
“I’d be pleased, Miss Herrick."
"Tomorrow, then, you will ride with
me?"
“I'm at your service.”
"Wall, you’ll oblige me by riding
with my sister when it suits her,” said
Herrick.
“Yes, sir," returned Jim, gazing
across at the statue-like Hays.
The couple moved off toward the
open yard, where mounted cowboys
were leading out saddled horses. ,
"I seen her, Jim," Hays said, as if
the event were epic. “She walked
/lght by me.”
“What if she did, Hank?”
"Nothin'. What was she sayin’ to
you?"
“It seems Herrick told her about my
Bhootlng jacks from my horse, and
she wants to see it done.”
"You’re goln’ ridln’ with her? . . .
The luck of some men I"
“Hank, shall I tell Herrick yen'll go
in my stead?”
“Nil, much as I’d like to. 1 can’t
hit Jumpin’ rabbits."
, • Jf/k*'.?.
---
Hay* hong ground th« burn
Idle, watcblog the valley, u
Herrick* returned, The
brought the horse* down. Whereupon
Hays abruptly left And he did not
come back. From that hour be be
came an elusive man.
That day ended Jim Wall's carpen
try. On tiie next ha was summoned
.early after breakfast to ride with the
Herricks.
tinder the stimulation of this girl's
Inspiring presence Jim gave an exhibi
tion of swift and accurate shooting
that surpassed any he bad ever ac
complished.
"Marvelous!” she exclaimed.
"Helen, he's a bally good shot" do
clared Herrick.
That night Hank HayS evinced slight
but unmistakable symptoms of Jealousy,
occasioned, perhaps, by Jim’s report
of killing thirteen out of fifteen bound
ing Jack rabbits. Happy Jack, wide
eyed and loud-voiced, acclaimed Jim'a
feat aa one in a thousand.
“Air you thet good frontin’ a man
who you know Is swift?" drawled tbe
robber chief.
Jim stared. “Hank, I'm not so good
then," he replied, slowly,
“Wal, somebody'll try you out one
of these days," added Hays.
"I daresay,” he rejoined, coolly, and
sought his seclusion. He refused to
let that linger In his mind. Something
else haunted him. Ills slumber was
troubled.
(TO BE CONTINUED
NEXT WEEK)
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE
Having qualified as administrator
with the will annexed of S. P. Was
son, deceased, this is to notify all
persons indebted to said estate to
make settlement at once, and further
to notify a!! persons having claims
against said estate to file their
claims within the time required by
lj:w, within one year from publica
tion of this notice, or this notice will
be plead in bar of their recovery.
Claims may be filed with the
undersigned, cr with R. L. Gash, at
torney for tbs undersigned,
ECK L. SIMS, Admr. c, t$».
of Ebtete of S. F. Wasson,
deceaa
Dec. 6-13-20-21
Jan. 3-10.
NOTICE OF A RESALE OF
LAND ?
The Board of Aldermen having re
fused to confirm the sale of the here
inafter described let held on Novem
ber 21, 1934, and having ordered a
resale of said lot, this is to notify
the public that the Town of Brevard
will offer for sale and sell to the
highest bidder for cash on Tuesday,
December 18, 1934, at 12 o’clock noon
at the City Hall Door >.n the Town
of Brevard, N. Cr,- the following
described parcel dl land, to-wit:
Lying in the Town of Brevard.
. .. ... . - — i i mi i i m mu -
Transylvania County, North Caro
lina, on the west aids of Hwri itnsL
being part of ths old Jail lot.
BIGIN KINO on a staka on tka
east margin of Broad street and at
the northeast-, corner of a 10 feat
allay, which point la 180 fact froaa
Main Street, and runs with the mar*
gin of said 10 font alley North 84
deg. West 76 feet to a stake; thence
North 28 deg. Eaet 184 feet to a
stake in the South margin of the
boundary alley; thenee with the
South margin of said boundary alley
South 64 deg. East 76 fast to a stake
on thi West margin of Broad street
South 26 deg. West 134 feet to the
BEGINNING,
The Town of Brevard reserves ths
right to reject any and all bids If not
satisfactory.
This the 4th day of December.
1884.
TOWN OP BREVARD,
By J. C. WIKE, Mayor,
Dec. 8.
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
Under and by virtue of the
Power of Sale contained in that
certain Deed in Truetfrom
T. W. Whitmire and wife, to the
undersigned Trustee, said Deed is
Trust bearing date of July 5th, 1929,
and registered in book No. 28, P. 78
at the Record of Deeds in Trust for
Transylvania Co., N. C., said in
strument securing certain indebted
ness therein described, and default
having been made in tne payment of
said indebtedness and all notices
as to said default having
been given and said default has not
been made good, and the holder of
the note evidencing said indebted- .
ness having requested the under
signed Trustee to foreclose said Deed
in Trust;
Now therefore the undersign
ed Trustee, will, on Saturday, Jan
uary 12th, 1935, at 12 o’clcck M., at
the Court House Door in the Town
Brevard, N. C., offer for sale and
sell to the highest bidder f or rash
the following described property to
wit: M
That certain lot lying on the
Southwest side of Caldwell Street,
,iud being the same lot fully described
in the Deed in Trust aforesaid
reference being hereby made t*
said Deed in Trust and the Sfecord
thereof for a description of raid lot
by metes and bounds.
The proceeds of said sale to be
applied upon S3id indebtedness, cost*
of sale, etc., as provided in said Deed
in Trust.
This the 8th day of - December
1934.
D. L. ENGLISH, Trustee.
Dec. 13-20-27. Jan 3-10.
I’t See Miles Master Mounts at
|j Simpson’s Barber Shop, Brevard * !|
I) Deer heads nv.'.inted, Live Expresf'-ca, Moth proof.
HI hides tanned, glove-ienther, fur-rugs, novelties.
M * FREE illustrated folder. Write §
K| Ship ytur trophies to d ' 1
H L. M. Simpson, Brevard, N. C. >
•it Wk- .... A‘ent tJi
Reference
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