Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-12-06


l guess you never heard me tell lie,
or knew of my trying to dodge out of
a bad scrape. Besides, haven't any
thing to gain now, for l reckon you're
planning to stay with me, guilty or
not guilty, but l did not kill that fel-
low. l don't exactly see how l can
prove it, the way it all happened, but
l give you my word as a man, l did
not kill him"
Mason looked him squarely In the
eyes, his teeth showing behind his
stiff, closely clipped mustache. Then
he deliberately extended his hand, and
gripped Hampton's. "Of course l be-
lieve ye. Not that you're any too
blame good, Bob, but you amt the
kind what pleads the baby act. Who
was the fellerr"
Red Slavin."
moi" and the hand grip perceptibly
frightened. Holy Moses, what ingrati.
tude! Why, the camp ought to get tn
gether and give ye q vote Of thanks,
and instead, here they are trying their
level best TO hang you. Cussedest
sorter thing q mob Is. anyhow; goes
like a flock O. sheep after leader,
an bet could name the fellers who
are a-runnin' that crowd. How did
the thing happen!"
Both men were intently observing
the ingathering Of their scattered pur-
suers, but Hampton answered gravely,
telling his brief story with careful de-
tail, approaching the Importance Of
reposing full confidence in this quiet,
resourceful companion.
"All l really saw Of the fellow" he
concluded, was hand and arm as
they drove in the knife. You can see
there is where 1t ripped me, and the
unexpected blow of the mans body
knocked me forward, and of course
fell on Slavin. 1t may be | drove
the point further in when l came
down, but that was an accident. The
fact is, Buck, have every reason to
wish Slavin to live. | was lust get
ting out of him some information
needed"
=. Mason nodded, his eyes wandering
from Hampton's expressive, face Ito
the crowd beginning to collect be-
meath the shade of a huge oak hun.
dred yards below.
Never carry a knife, do ye?"
mo"
Thought not; always heard you
fought with a gun. Caught no sight
Of the Teller after ye got up?"
"All | saw was the crowd blocking
the doorway. l knew they had caught
me lying on Slavin, with my hand
grasping the knife-hilt, and, somehow
couldn't think of anything just ther
but how to get out of there into the
open. I've seen vigilantes turn loose
before, and knew what was likely tc
happen!"
Sure. Recognize anybody in thai
first bunch?"
Big Jim, the bartender, was thu
only one knew; he had a bung-start
er in his hand"
/ Mason nodded thoughtfully, bill
mouth puckered. ITS him, and hal
dozen other fellers of the sam,
stripe, who are kickin' up all this fra
cas-. The most of EN- are yonde
now, an If it wusn't fer leavin' a pris
oner unprotected, darn me if wudn'
like to moSey right down thar an
pound a little boss sense into tina
bunch o cattle. Thet's bout the onl,
thing ye kin do fer a plum fool, 81
long as the law won't let ye xii
him"
I'm really sorry that you got mike,
up in this, Buck" said Hampton
for it looks to me about nine chance
out of ten against either of US gettin,
away from here unhurt."
"Oh, | don't know. It's bin my e1
perience tibet there's alters chances
you only keep yer eyes skinned.
we kin only manage to hold EN- bac
till after dark We maybe might cree
away through the bush to take a han
IN this little game. Anyhow, it's u
to US to play it out to the limit Bles
my eyes, if those lads amt a-comi1
up right now"
A half-dozen men were starting {
climb the hillside, following a dill
trail through the tangled underbrusl
Mason stepped up to the ore dunn
where he could see better, and watcl
ed their movements closely.
Hi, there!" he called, his voic
harsh and strident. you fellers ar
not invited to this picnic, an there
be somethin' doin' II you push alon
any higher"
The little bunch halted Instant
just without the edge of the heay
timber, turning their faces up towar
the speaker.
Now, see here, Buck" answere
one, taking a single step ahead of Ii
others, and following his hand as
trumpet to speak through, ut don
look to US fellers as II this affair wa
any Of your funeral, nohow, and we,
come long ahead Of the others juI
on purpose to give you q fair show
pull out Of It afore the real troub
begins. Sabe?"
'Ts thet sol"
.sae Aarshal WA ton N, Az,