The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-11-26


we've helped this Kirby to get away
from you we've done somethin' we're
not a lot proud of, and that's no
josh If there's anythin' we a do
to make up for it. wen sure be glad
to do 1t. If"
There's one thing you can do.
maybe" cut in Kirby. IF you've
got q horse that's Eastern the n
you gave Kirby-one I can catch
him on even now"
why sure we have!" cried Har-
per. in sudden elation. Funny l
didn't think of that. We've got half
a dozen horses that're faster than
the one we gave him. There's Bla-
ger. now. who could give that Daisy
he's got four miles start and still
get to the pass first. Why. down
in Phoenix last year at the fair.
Blazier took second in" he paused
suddenly, and grew sober. 'There's
just one thing" be went on. "You
can't blame us for wantin' to know
that you're really the Sheriff. We've
oaly got your word for it, the same
as We had his. You don't mind
givin' us some proof that you're
zeigler. do you?"
Sure not" said Kirby promptly.
He opened his coat and exposed an
officers star. That star had cost
Kirby As cents at a secondhand
store in Prescott, and it wasn't a
Sheriff's star, either; but Kirby gave
Harper no chance to find that out.
He merely gave the other a flash of
the star and then rebuttoned his
coat. II guess Kirby didn't show
you his star, did he?"
mo, he didn't" replied Harper.
and turned to his punchers- "a
couple of you saddle up Blazer for
the Shorthand do It quick" he
ordered.
II don't suppose" said Harper,
when the two punchers brought Bla-
Ter up, you'd want any OF US to 60
with your"
Kirby paused with n foot in the
stirrup and shook his head.
II can handle him Alone" he said,
and swung up into the saddle. ut
always looks better for a Sheriff to
get his mar alone, you know"
All right Keep the horse as
long as you want him. Wen take
care Of yours for you. Hope you
get him all right"
Thanks will"
Kirby headed his horse around
and was about to gallop off; but
just as his spurs touched the horses
sides a voice that wa only too IA
miliar said, quietly and distinctly:
Put up your hands, Kirby"
For a second Kirby sat perfectly
rigid. Then he turned his head and
peered closely at the dark outline
OF the little mesa, from whence the
voice had spoken.
mo. don't try to run for it." he
was advised. 'I've got my foHrty-fivs
trained on you, and I'd never miss
at this distance. Put your hands
way up--that's better. Now hold
EN- up till I get over there"
And then Bill zeigler, the Sheriff
OF Yavapai county, got out Of the
rocks at the foot Of the mesa and
came over to the camp fire, a gun
in his right hand and q grin on his
face.
Kirby" he said evenly. you got
BY me with this little stunt I'D in
Jerome that time. but lightning don't
ever strike in the same place twice.
you know"
Kirby gazed wonderingly at the
Sheriff.
BILL" said he, do you mean to
say you knew all the time I was
hiding back Of the mesa-that You
only was stalling when you rode I'D
and borrowed a horse from these
boys?"
Zeigler nodded.
That's about the size Of 1t.
don't mind admitting. though. 1t was
just by accident you didn't fool me
tonight, the same as you did up In
Jerome. As soon as | saw this camp
fire I left your trail and headed
r~. -.--