d
everythings OK as you might say. I reckon you are wondering howcome
this to be postmarked Golden. Well, old pardner, Im sure enough
married at last but I had a great time getting Esther to see this my
way. Shes one swell little girl and theres only one thing I hate.
Before she would marry me I had to swear up and down I wouldnt touch
the yellow wolf who got her into trouble. But she didnt say nothing
about you so I will just slip you his name. It wasnt your uncle at all
but that crooked oil broker nephew of his James Cunningham. If you can
muss him up proper for me youll sure be doing a favor to

yours respectably

COLE SANBORN

P.S. Esther sends bushels of love to Rose and will write to-morrow.
I'll say Im going to make her one happy kid.

COLE

Kirby laughed in sardonic mirth. He had fought the wrong man.

It was James Cunningham, not Jack. And, of course, Jack had known it
all the time and been embarrassed by it. He had stuck loyally to his
brother and had taken the whaling of his life rather than betray him.

Kirby took off his hat to Jack. He had stood pat to a fighting finish.
He was one good square sport.

Even as he was thinking this, Kirby was moving toward the telephone
booth. He had promised to report progress. For once he had
considerable to report.

CHAPTER XXXIII

OLSON TELLS A STORY

When Rose heard from Esther next day she and Kirby took the Interurban
for Golden. Esther had written that she wanted to see her sister
because Cole was going to take her back to Wyoming at once.

The sisters wept in each other's arms and then passed together into
Esther's bedroom for an intimate talk. The younger sister was still
happy only in moments of forgetfulness, though she had been rescued
from death in life. Cole had found her comfortably situated at a
farmhouse a mile or two back from the canon. She had gone there under
the urge of her need, at the instigation of James Cunningham, who could
not afford to have the scandal of his relations with her become public
at the same time as the announcement of his marriage to Phyllis
Harriman. The girl loved Cole and trusted him. Her heart went out to
him in a warm glow of gratitude. But the shadow of her fault was a
barrier in her mind between them, and would be long after his kindness
had melted the ice in her bosom.

"We've got it all fixed up to tell how we was married when I come down
to Denver last April only we kep' i