Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. [Illustration: _Only at the threat of her raised crop did he drop the grasped bridle rein._] LONESOME TOWN BY ETHEL _and_ JAMES DORRANCE AUTHORS OF “Glory Rides the Range,” “Get Your Man,” etc. FRONTISPIECE BY G. W. GAGE NEW YORK THE MACAULAY COMPANY _Copyright, 1922, by_ THE MACAULAY COMPANY PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. To FATHER KNICKERBOCKER WHO HAS WILLED TO HIS HEIRS FOREVER THE GREAT HERITAGE OF CENTRAL PARK CONTENTS · CHAPTER I—SOME PLACE LIKE HOME · CHAPTER II—A TIP FROM THE TOP · CHAPTER III—THE SKY SIGN · CHAPTER IV—DOUBLE FOCUS · CHAPTER V—ONLY THE BRAVE · CHAPTER VI—JUST AU REVOIR · CHAPTER VII—THE EMERGENCY MAN · CHAPTER VIII—EMPTY · CHAPTER IX—SNUFFED · CHAPTER X—THE OLD PARK LADY · CHAPTER XI—DUE EAST · CHAPTER XII—WHAT A WELCOME! · CHAPTER XIII—IN HER SERVICE · CHAPTER XIV—THE CREDIT PLAN · CHAPTER XV—THE LIMIT OF TRUST · CHAPTER XVI—AN ACCEPTED ALLY · CHAPTER XVII—POPLARS FOUR · CHAPTER XVIII—TOO READY RESCUE · CHAPTER XIX—TEN OF TO-MORROW MORN · CHAPTER XX—ONE LIVELY ESCUTCHEON · CHAPTER XXI—IGNORING IRENE · CHAPTER XXII—BEEF ON THE HOOF · CHAPTER XXIII—THE MAN BEHIND · CHAPTER XXIV—LOST YET WON · CHAPTER XXV—HUNTERS HUNTED · CHAPTER XXVI—HOUSE OF BLOCKS · CHAPTER XXVII—“FORTUNE FOREVERMORE” LONESOME TOWN CHAPTER I—SOME PLACE LIKE HOME The trail spilled into a pool of shadows at the bottom of the gorge. As if doubtful of following it, the lone rider in chaps and a flannel shirt drew up for a “breathing.” This was gratefully advantaged by his mount. Evidently they had come at speed, whatever the distance, for the reins were lathered and foam flecked the bit corners. The man removed his white sombrero and mopped his brow with a purple bandanna. The fingers with which he combed back his moist thatch nicely matched the hair in color—sunburn brown. His head bulged slightly at the back, but was balanced on a neck and shoulders splendidly proportioned. His rather plain face was not covered with stubble or mustache—cheek bones high, jaw sloping in at an angle, nose straight, lips thin by contrast with their width.