Gunnison news-champion., 1913-09-19
assuAA - OAG ~-e.. s~S

of skins beyond There o On -
pearsnee OF neatRess also. the aooe
swept. the table unlisterea Vet be
scarcely realized these aetsiis st the
time 80 ciosely Was his whole sftenr
tioR conferred on the heare Of . maa-
The fellow occupied a stool before
he fireplace. and Was bending saaGht
~ forward staring do~n at the RED
embers. unconscious of the mtruaer
he MAS a thin-chessed. unkempt inr
eividaal with hong hair. and shsssy
whiskers. both iroH gray. The side
Of his face and neck had q ssisex hook.
while his nose was prominent. The
sergeant surveyed him a moment his
cooked revolver covering the motion
less figure. his lips set grimly. Then
he stepped within and closed the door.
I At the slight sound the other leaped
to his feet. overtaHnins the stool. and
whirled about swiftly. his right hand
cropping to his belt
That viii do. friendf" Hamlin's
voice rang stern.
stand ~ you sre-your sun 10 ly-
ING on the bench yonder. Rather
careless of "a in this country. No.
I wouldn't risk n II ! wss you; this
n hair trigger"
\ The fellow stared helpless into the
6ergeant's gray eyes.
"who-who the hell are you?" he
managed to artieulate hoarsely. e
Q soldier?"
Hamlin nodded. willing enough 70
net the other talk.
"Youre-youre not one o Ie-
Fevre's outfit?"
II whose"
Gene lie Fevre-the damn skunk;
you know hm?"
Startled as he was, the sergeant
held himself firm. and laughed.
Il reckon there isn't any one ~
that name Q friend o nine," he ssid
soolly. SO you're free 10 relieve
your feelings - far ~ In concerned.
Were you eEpsctiaG that seat slsaG
tAis tsal?"
"Yss. I waa, an twa'nt - pasas-
ent little reception l lowed 70 olve
him neither Say, Wouldn't yer just
ss soon lower thet shootin' iron? We
amt got no call to quarrel 30 fur -
{ hin see"
Maybe not, stranger" and Ham
lin leaned back against the table. low
erins his weapon slightly, - he
slanced watchfully about the room,
"but I'll keep the gun handy just the
o. me 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 q bit ago."
/ The man shuffled uneasily. but the
sergeant's right hand came to q level.
Did you?"
Il s'pose thar amt no use o. deny
In it," reluctantly. eyeing the gun in
the corner. but | didn't mean to
Shoot up no outfit but lie Fevre's. So
help me, l didn't, The DANCED snow
was so thick couldn't see nohow. but
I never s'posed any one was on the
trail 'cept him. Thar amt been no
white man long yere in three menths.
Didn't hit none of yer, did II"
"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 a throw of the dice with
me whether | MI you full of lead, or
let you go | came in here intending
to kill you. If you were the cur who
shot US up But I'm willing TO listen
10 " hat you have got to say. I'm some
on the fight. but plain murder don't
appeal TO me. How is il? Are you
ready to talk? Spit it out mani"
sIH 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?"
kin ! sit down."
Yes. make it short now; all l
want is facts"
oval my name is Hughes-Jed
Hughes; ! uster hang out around San
AutOne. an hey been mostly in the
COW business The last five years lie
Fevre an / hev been grain cattle in
between yere an Buffalo Creek"
'-Partners?"
W al, by God' l thOught SO, till Just
lately" his voice rising. Anyhow. I
he'd a bunch o. money In on the deal.
though III be darned il | know just
what's become o. it, Yer see, stranger,
Gene he'd the inside o. this lnjun
business. bein' as he's sorter q equaw
man"
What" Interrupted the other
sharply. do you mean he married
into one of the tribes7"
"Sorter left-banded-yep; q Chey-
enne woman. Little thing like that
didn't faze Gene none. II he did have
a white wife-a blamed good locker
she was too. She was out here onc't,
three years ago, bout a week maybe.
Course she didn't know nothin' bout
The squaw, an the Iniuns was all