Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-18

little boss sense into thet bunch O. cattle.
Thet's bout the only thing We kin do fer q
plum fool. SO long as the law won't let ye
kill him."
They lapsed into contemplative silence.
each man busted with his own thought. and
neither perceiving clearly any probable
way out Of the difficulty. Hampton spoke
first
"I'm really sorry that you got mixed up
in this, Buck, for 1t looks to me about nine
chances out of ten against either Of US get
ting away from here unhurt."
"oh. I don't know It's bin my expe-
only keep yer eyes skinned. OF course
them fellers has got the bulge; they kin
starve us out, maybe they kin smoke US
out. and they kin sure make things on
guns to THROWN lead permiscous. Thet's
their side Of the fun. Then, on the other
hand, IL we kin only manage to hold EN-
back till after dark we maybe might creep
this little game. Anyhow It's up to US to
play 1t out to the limit Bless my eyes, IL
those lads amt a-comin' up right nowi'
A half-dozen men were starting to climb
the tangled underbrush. Looking down
upon them, it was impossible to distinguish
their faces, but two among them. at least,
carried firearms. Mason stepped up on to
and watched their movements closely.
Hi, thereP he called, his voice harsh and
strident. you feIlers. are not invited to
this picnic. an there'll be somethin' doin'
II you push along any higher"
The little bunch halted instantly just with
out the edge of the heavy timber. turning
their faces up toward the speaker. Evil
IDENTIFY they expected to be hailed, but not
quite so, soon.
NOW, see here, Buck" answered one,
taking a single step ahead Of the others.
and following his hand as trumpet to
speak Though, ut don't look to US fellers
as If this affair was any OF your funeral
nohow and we've come long ahead of the
others just on purpose to give you fair
show to pull out of it afore the real trouble
begins. SabeT'
us tibet so?'
The little marshal was too far away for
them to perceive how his teeth set beneath
the bristly mustache.
''You bet! The boys don't consider thet
agin 'em in this way. They 'lected you
marshal of this yere camp, but 1t warn't
expected you'd ever take no sides long
with murderers. Thet's too stiff fer US to
abide by. So come on down, Buck, an
leave us to attend to the cuss.''
IF you mean Hampton, he's my prisoner
VIII you promise to let me take him down
to Cheyenne fer trtal?"
oval reckon not. old man. We kin
give him trial well 'nough right here IN
Glencaid." roared another voice from out
the group, which was apparently growing
restless over the delay. But we amt in
CuneQ TO 60 you no Marin OnleSS We ram IN
too far. So come on down. Buck throw up
yer cards; we've got all the aces, an We
can't blun this whole darn camp"
Mason spat into the dump contemptuously.
his hands thrust into his pockets. You're
a fine-lookin' lot O. law-abidin' citizens,
you are! Blamed II you amt. Why,
wouldn't give snap Of my fingers fer the
whole kit and caboodle of We, you low-down.
sneakin' parcel o. thieves. Ye say 1t wus
yer votes whut made me marshal O. this
camp. Well, I reckon they did an reckon
likewise I know bout whut my duty under
the law Is. an I'm a-goin' to do it. II you
fellers thought ye lected a chump. this Is