The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-02-06

WuiSkeTS, UOLl lIOu 81 ray AA~
of his face and neck had sallow look.
while his nose was prominent. Inc
sergeant surveyed him moment, his
cooked revolver covering the motion
less figure, his lips set grimly. linen
he stepped within and closed the door.
At the slight sound the other leaped
to his feet, overturnlng the stool, and
whired about swiftly, his right mana
dropping to his belt.
That will do, friend" Hamlin's
voice rang stern.
Stand as you are-your gun Is ly'
ing on the bench yonder. Rather
careless of you in this country. No,
wouldn't risk it if was you; TINS
is hair trigger"
The fellow stared helpless into the
Sergeant's gray eyes.
"Who-who the hell are your he
managed to articulate Eoarsely, "a
a SOLDIER"
Hamln nodded. willing enough to
: let the other talk.
"Youre-you not one o Le-
! Fevre's OUTFIT"
"Whose?"
Gene lie Fevre-the damn skunk:
you know him."
Startled as he was, the sergeant
held himself firm, and laughed.
81 reckon there isn't any one by
that name a friend O. mine" he SAID
ccclly. so you're free to relieve
your feelings as far as I'm concerned.
j Were YOU expecting that gent along
this trail?"
eyes. was, an 'twa'n't no pleas
ant little reception l lowed to give
him neither. Say! Wouldn't yer just
as soon lower tibet shootin iron? We
amt got no call to quarrel SO fur as
| kin see
! "Maybe not, stranger" and Ham.
lin leaned back against the table, low
ering his weapon slightly, as ne
glanced watchfully about the room,
but III keep the gun handy just the
same until we understand each other
Anybody else in this neighborhood:
Not unless it's LIE Fevre, an his
outfit"
Then I reckon you did the shoot
ing out there bit ago.
The man shuffled uneasily, but the
sergeants right hand came to level.
Did your
81 s'pose thar amt no use O. deny
IN it," reluctantly, cycling the gun ln
the corner but didn't mean to
shoot up no outfit but lie Fevres. so
help me- didn't! The DANCED snow
was so thick ! couldn't see nohoW, but
l never s'posed any one was on the
trail cept him. Thar amt been no
white man long yere in three months.
Didn't hit none OF yer, did ~
Yes, you did" returned Hamlin
slowly, striving to hold himself in
check. You killed one OF the best
fellows that ever rode these plains,
/ YOU sneaking coward you. Shot him
dead, with his back to you. Now, see
here, it's throw ST the dice with
me whether fill YOU full of lead, OF
let you CO. l came in here intending
to kill you, if you were the cur who
shot US up But I'm willing to lister
to what you have got to say. I'm some
on the& fight, but plain murder DOM
appeal to me. How is it? Are you
ready to talk? Spit it out, man.
"Ill tell yer jest how it was"
DO it my way then; answer
straight what I ask you. Who are
you? What are you doing here?"
I kin sit down."
Eyes: make it short now; all
want is facts
oval, my name is Hughes-Jed
Hughes; ulster hang out around San
Antoine, an hev been mostly in the
COW business. The last five years LIE
Feyre an | hey been grain cattle In
between yere an Buffalo Creek"
"Partners?"
oval, by God! thought so. till just
lately" his voice rising. Anyhow,
he'd bunch O. money in on the deal.
though I'll be darned il l know just
what's become O it. Yer see, stranger,
Gene he'd the inside O. this lnjun
business. bein' as he's sorter squaw
man"
What" Interrupted the other
sharply. do you mean he married
into one of the tribes?'
"Sorter left-handed-yep: a Chey-
enne woman. Little thing like that
didn't faze Gene none, if he did have
a white wife-a blamed good-looker
she was too She was out here onc't,
three years ago, bout week maybe.
Course she didn't know nothin bout
the squaw, an the Injuns was all
huntin' down in the Wichitas. But
as was sayin', Gene caught on to
this we're Injun war last spring.
reckon OIL Koleta, his lnjun father-in-
law likely told him what WIS brewin'
he's sorter a war-chief. Anyhow he
knew tibet hell was to pay, an so we
match ally gathered up our long-horns
an drove 'em east whar they wouldn't
be raided We didn't git all the crit
ers rounded up, as we wus in a