Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-04-04

below. "The boys raise hell all night
an, then come ter me ter straighten
It out in the mawnin'. When did ye
git int"
AN hour ago; had to wake the
chink' up to get any chuck. Town
looks dead"
"Tain't over lively at this time O.
day" permitting his blue eyes to wan
der up the silent street, but instantly
bringing them back to Keith's face.
"but reckon it'll wake up later on"
He stood squarely on both feet, and
one hand rested on the butt Of re-
volver. Keith noticed this, wonder
ing vaguely.
Il reckon yer know, Jack, as how I
ginerally git what goes after" said
the slow, drawing voice, "an' that
draw bout as quick as any o. the
boys. They tell me yo're a gun-hght-
er, but 1T won't do We no good ter
make play yere. fer one O. us is sure
to git yer-do yer sabe?"
Get me?" Keith's voice and face
expressed establishment, but not
muscle of his body moved. what do
you mean, Bob-are you fellows after
me?"
Sure thing; got the warrant here"
and he tapped the breast of his shirt
with his left hand.
The color mounted into the cheeks
Of the other. bis lips grew set and
white, and his gray eyes darkened.
LET it all out, Marshal" he said
sternly, you've got me roped and
tied. Now what's the charger"
Neither man moved, but the one be-
low swung about so as to face them,
one hand thrust out of sight beneath
the tail Of his long coat.
Make him throw up his hands,
Bob" he said sharply
ooh, l reckon thar amt goin' ter
be no trouble" returned the marshal
genially, yet with no relaxation of at
tention. Keith knows me- an ex-
poets fair deal. Still, maybe I bet
ter ask yer to unhitch yer belt, Jack"
A moment Keith seemed to hesitate.
plainly puzzled by the situation and
endeavoring to see some way of es-
cape; then his lips smiled, and he
silently unlocked the belt, handing 1t
over
sure, know you're square, HICKS
he said, coolly. "And now I've unlim-
bered. kindly inform me what this is
all about"
Il reckon yer don't know"
mo more than an unborn babe
have been here but an hour"
That's it.: If yer had been longer
thar wouldn't be no trouble. Yore
wanted for KILN couple o. men out
at Cimmaron Crossin' early yesterday
mornin'."
Keith stared at him too completely
astounded for the instant to even
speak. Then he gasped.
For Gods sake, Eicks, do you be-
lieve that?"
I'm damned If 1 know" returned
the marshal, doubtfully. Don't seem
like ye'd do it, but the evidence is
straight 'nough, an thar amt nothin'
fer me ter do but take We in. l amt
no ledge an jury"
mo, but you ought to have ordinary
sense, an you've known me for three
years."
Sure I have. Jack, but If yee've
gone wrong. you won't be the first
good man I've seen do It, Anyhow, the
evidence is dead agin you, an I'd ar
rest my own grand-dad If they give
me a warrant agin him."
What evidence is there?"
Five men swear they saw We haul
In the bodies about, and loottn' the
pockets"
Then Keith understood, his heart
beating rapidly, his teeth clenched to
keep back an outburst of passion. So
that was their game, was it?-some
act of his had awakened the cowardly
suspicious Of those watching him
across the river. They were afraid
that he knew them as white men.
And they had found a way to safely
muzzle him. They must have ridden
hard over those sand dunes to have
reached Carson City and sworn out
this warrant. 1t was a good trick,
likely enough to hang him, If the fell
lows only stuck to their story All
this flashed through his brain, vet
somehow he could not clearly compre-
bend the full meaning, his mind con-
fused and dazed by this sudden real.
ization of danger. His eyes wandered
from the steady gaze of the marshal
who had half drawn his gun fearing
resistance, to the man at the bottom
OF the steps. Suddenly it dawned
upon him where he had seen that
dark skinned face, with the black goa
tee, before-at the faro table of the
Red Light" He gripped his hands
together. instantly connecting that
sneering. sinister face with the plot.
"Who swore out that warrant?"
Il did. If you need to know" a sar
castle smile revealing a CLEAN OF
white teeth. ION the AFFIDAVIT of others
friends of mine"