The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-29

concentrations.


 again. "She's new and will pull stiff.
 That means she'll throw to the right.
 We'll, I got the little Cat to open up
 the show with
 William Stanley Winthrop, despite
 his resolution, found that his hands
 trembled and that his heart beat chok-
 ingly. He wanted to shout, to run
 out toward the horsemen, to do any
 thing rather than sit stupidly silent by
 the water hole.
 The two riders loped up. The con
 stable dismounted. "Nothin' doin'." he
 said, stopping to drink.
 s.No; nothing doing" echoed the man
 on horseback.
 'That," muttered Overland Red.
 squirming a little higher behind the
 bushes, twas intended for me. know
 that tone. It means there's lot doin'. We'll, I'm good and ready" And he
 lifted both of his red, hairy hands to the edge of the hole, and both his
 hands were "Alled."
 About then t..e man on the pony be-
 gan to ride out from the water hole in
 a wide circle. The constable came from tho spring. Overland noticed that he kept winthrop between him. self and the sage on the ridge. "That settles it." Overland swiftly conclud- ed. "They're on. I'm right sad to have to do H.''
 The heavy, space blunted report of the circling horseman's g,1A and Over land calmly spat out the sand that fitted across his lips. The rider had ventured shot and had ridden behind q ridge instantly.
 winthrop exclaimed at these strange tactics.
 .He seen a jack run in there" ex- plained the constable, leering. "This here's gettin' interestin'," mum bled Overland as the constable un- holstered his gun and sauntered to- ward the ridge. T got to get the gent on the cayuse. The other one don't count" The rider had appeared from behind l the ridge. Slowly Overland raised his right hand. Then the old fighting soul of Jack Summers, sheriff of Abilene, 1 rebelled. 'sNo! Hanged if I'll ambush | any white manr' And he leaped to | his feet. Overland Limitedy' he shouted, and with his battlecry caIle | the quick tattoo of shots. The horse man wavered, doubled up and pitched forward to the sand.
 1 Overland Red dropped and rolled to l one side as the constAble's gun boom 1 cd ineffectually. The tramp lay still. 1 A clatter of empty stirrups. the swish l of horse sallopinR past, and silence. Slowly the constable approached | Overland's prostrate figure. Times 1 up for your he said, covering the 1 tramp with his gun.
 ''Water!' gsoaned Overland. Water, eh? We'll. crawl to it, yot 1atrr
 winthrop, his heart thumping wildly l followed the constable. So this wa, inquiry, but hail of shots, riderlesl horse two men stretched upon thu sand and the burning sun swinging 1T . cloudless circle above the desolatt silence.
 "You seem to kind of recognize you friend now" sneered the constable. That was too much for Winthrop'i overstrung nerves. His pulses roaret l in his ears. With leap he seized thu constatle's gun and twisted at 1t witt both hands. There was an explosion and Winthrop grinned savagely, stil struggling. With insane strength h.
 finally tore the gun from the others | grasp. You're the only coward fl this affair, Y he gasped as he leveled th, 1 gun at the constable. That officer
 reading danger in Winthrop's eye, dis
 creetly threw up his hands. "Goodr exclaimed Overland, sittini up suddenly. SThat was risky, but i worked out all right I had bettel l plan. You go set down, Billy. I'll ses this gent safe toward home" | Winthrop laughed hysterically. ''why you-you-vou're jokev' he cried. q thought / 'So did the little man with the pit l pan pinned on his shirt" said Over land. You keep his gun. got to set how bad the other gents hit.' | An hour later the constable of tn desert town led his pony toward tn railroad. On the pony was his com panion, with both arms bandaged. H,
 leaned forward brokenly, swaying a1t | cursing. "I'H-get him if 1t takes, | thousand yearsy' he muttered. "I reckon it'll take all of that growled the constable. "You can hay, 1 all you want of his game, Saunders I'm through"
 Out by the water hole Overland turn | od tO Winthrop "T'm glad vou on