The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-09-23

William Stanley Winthrop. despite
his resolution, found that his hands
trembled and that his heart beat cholz
out toward the horsemen. TO do any
thing rather than sit stupidity silent by
the water hole
The two riders loped up. The con
stable dismounted. "Nothin' doin'." he
said, STOPPING TO drink.
mo; nothing doing" echoed the man
on horseback.
THAT" muttered Overland Red
squirming n little higher behind the
bushes. was intended for me. l know
that tone. Ii means there's lot doin'
Well, I'm good and ready" And he
lifted both OF his red, hairy hands tc
the edge OF the hole. and both his
hands were "flled."
About then the man on the pony be
gan to ride out from She water hole in
a wide circle. The constable came
from the 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 &c
have TO do II"
The heavy, space blunted report OF
the circling horsemans gun, and Over
land calmly spat out the sand thai
fitted across his lips. The rider hac
ventured a shot and had ridden behind
a ridge instantly.
Winthrop exclaimed at these strange
tactics.
"He seen jack run In there" ex
planned the constable, leering.
"Thls here's gettin' interestin'," mum
bled Overland as the constable un
holstered his gun and sauntered to
ward the ridge. II got to get the gem
on the cayuse The other one dom
count"
The rider had appeared from behind
the ridge. Slowly Overland raised his
right hand. Then the old lighting soul
OF Jack Summers. sheriff of Abilene,
rebelled mot Hanged If 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 horse
man wavered, doubled UP and pitched
forward to the sand.
Overland Red dropped and rolled to
one side AS the constable's gun boom
ed Intellectually. The tramp lay still.
A clatter OF empty stirrups, the swish
OF horse galloping past. and silence.
thsk IN m n u
overlands PROSTATE figure. Times
up for your' he said. covering the
tramp with his gun.
"Waterl" groaned Overland
Water. Ell? Well. crawl to It, you
ratT
Winthrop, his heart humping wildly
followed the constable. So this was
desert law7 No word Of warning oil
inquiry, but a hail of shots, a riderless
horse-two men stretched upon the
sand and the burning sun swinging In
IA cloudless circle above the desolate
silence.
"You seem TO kind OF recognize your
friend now" sneered the constable.
That was too much for Winthrop's
overstrung nerves. His pulses roared
In his ears. With leap he seized the
constable's gun and twisted at it with
both hands. There was an explosion
and Winthrop grinned savagely, still
struggling. With insane strength he
finally tore the gun from the others
grasp You're the only coward in
this affair" he gasped as he leveled the
gun at the constable. That officer
reading danger in Winthrop's eye, dis
creetly threw up his hands.
"Goodw exclaimed Overland, sitting
up suddenly. THAT was risky, but II
worked out all right. / had a better
plan. You go set down, Billy. I'll see
this gent safe toward home"
Winthrop laughed Historically. why,
you-you-you're n joker he cried. 81
thought
$50 did the little man with the pie
pan pinned on his shirt" said over.
land. You keep his gun. got TO sec
how bad the other gents hit"
An hour later the constable OF the
desert town led his pony toward the
railroad. On the pony was his com
panlon, with both arms bandaged. lie
leaned forward brokenly, swaying and
cursing. "Pll-get him II it takes-a
thousand years. he muttered.
81 reckon It'll take all OF that"
growled the constable. "You can have
all you want OF his game. Saunders
I'm through"
out by the water hole Overland turn.
ed 10 Winthrop I'm glad you en-.
joyed the performance" he said. grin.
ming. We've opened the pot, aud the
best man rakes her down. She's desert
law from now To the finish"
Nnhn rrn W