The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-15

Winthrop politely but firmly de-
clined to acknowledge he had had
companion.
The horsemen rode away, fol-
lowing the circle of burro tracks
toward the hills. winthrop
watched them.
He could hardly believe the
tramp had deserted him, yet the
evidence was pretty plain. Even
his revolver was gone, and his
belt and cartridges. winthrop
| was hungry. There was no food.
But there was water. He walked
toward the water hole.
stand still-and listen" said
a voice.
the water hole at his feet.
over here = this way" the
voice said.
Winthrop smiled. If IT were a
disembodied spirit talking, it was
no other than the spirit of Over
land Red. The accent was unmis-
taxable. The fastener glanced
round and observed a peculiar
something behind the brush edg-
ing the rise beyond the water
hole.
Its me-" said Overland, still
concealed. Thought l quit you,
err? Are them fellas out of sight
YETI"
mo. They're still in sight
| Where's the burro?"
He's hid-right in plain sight,
up a little arroyo"
Won't they find him, and con-
fiscate him and the things?"
Not on your life! IT amt ex-
actly healthy, even for constables,
to go round confiscating' outfits
they don't know who's connected
with. They can't say for sure
that burrO and stuff is mine.
They'll look it over and leave it
right there"
but why did you come all the
way back here?" asked Win
throp.
Seem they's lots of time, I'll
explain. If l had KEEP on goin'
they would "a trained me. They
are two to one. and they could
get me at night. Now they'll
either give 1t up, or spot my back
tracks and find me here"
What shall l do when they
come baek?"
You jest go to studyin' bugs,
or rattlesnakes or somethin'. If
they ask you anything, answer 'em
nice and polite, and so l can
hear"
They've stopped. One of them
is down on the ground looking at
something. Now he's up again.
They're riding back" said Win
throp.
They cut my back trail" said
Overland, smuggling down behind
the brush. You go and set down
by the water hole and find a bug
to study"
Are you going to fight?"
mot if ii can be helped. Other
wise-till me wires are down and
me lamps are out. She's desert
law out here"
] winthrop watched the APP
preaching horsemen. Presently
he got up and sauntered to the
water hole. He wanted to shout,
to do anything rather than sit
stupidity silent by the water hole.
!, The two riders loped up. The
constable dismounted. "Nothin'
dOin'," he said, STOPPING to drink.
About then the man ON the
pony began to ride out from the
water hole in a wide circle. The
constable came from the spring.
The heavy, space-blunted report
of the circling horseman's gun
and Overland calmly spat out the
sand that fitted across his lips.
The rider had ventured a shot and
had ridden behind ridge in
stantly.
The rider had appeared from
behind the ridge. Slowly Over
land raised his right hand. Then
the old fighting soul of Jack Sum-
mers, sheriff of Abilene, rebelled.
mot Dam IL I'll ambush any
white man." And he leaped to his
feet. Overland Limited" he
shouted, and with his battlecry
came the quick tattoo of shots.
The horseman wavered, doubled
up, and pitched forward to the
sand.
Overland Red dropped and
rolled to one side as the con-
stables gun doomed Intellectually.
The tramp lay still.
A chatter of empty stirrups, the
: swish of a horse galloping past
and silence.