Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-01-15


way ont, burdened with parcels.
On the cinder platform Juanita
looked about for Anse Havey. and she
saw him standing in a group with Jeb
and several other men whom she did
1 not know-but Anse's face was not
turned toward her. and it did not wear
| the look of expectancy that the thought
| of her usually brought there. Jeb's
countenance. too. was white and set,
and a breathless tensity seemed to
hold the whole group in fixed taut-
ness.
/ There were several clumps of men
standing about, all armed. and every
face wore the same expression of wait
ing sternness.
| A gasp OF premonition rose to Jua-
nita's lips as she caught the sinister
| spirit of suspense In the atmosphere
Then Milf McBriar stepped down from
the smoker vestibule, followed by an
| other man.
| As the two turned In opposite direc-
tons on the snow-covered platform.
one of the men who had been standing
| with Bad Anse Havey laid hand on
| the shoulder of the clean-shaven ar
| rival and said in clear voice: Luke
Thixton. want y@ fer Their murder of
Fletch McNash-''
Old Milt McBriar, 8or once startled
out of his case-hardened seff-control.
| wheeled and demanded angri1y: What
hell's trick is this?'' His eyes were
blazing and his face worked with pas
sionate fury
deputy answered him: AN Milt
| McBriar. 1 wants you. too. on an in
dictment fer accessory ter murder"
T1,or Falt fin
gers clutch her arm and her own knees
grow suddenly weak She heard clat-
| ter of parcels as Young Milt dropped
them in the snow and leaped forward.
his eyes kindling anu his right hand
frantically c1awing at the buttons of
overcoat and coat. But before he
could draw. Jeb McNash had wheeled
| to face him, bending forward to a half
crouch. The younger McBriar halted
and bent back under the CLINT of the
revolver which Jeb was thrustiRg into
his face.
Haveys, armed and grim of visage.
now began drawing close about the
captives-
Dawn chung with bloodless lips and
white cheeks to Juanita as she watched
Jeb holding his weapon in the face of
the boy whom she suddenly realized
she loved more than her brother.
Then the sheriff spoke again.
Thar hain't no use in maxim no
trouble, Milt- Their grand jury hes
done acted, an 1 reckon ye'd better let
the law take it's course
why don't We take me, too?" de-
manded Young Milt in a tense, passion
at. voice. Pm a McBriar. That's all
we've got against any of these men,.
THE grand jury didn't irdict sc.
son." responded the sheriff calmly.
i. Then the elder McBriar became sud
denly quiet again and self-possessed.
He turned to his son.
"Mflt," he said. sternly, you keep
outen this. Ride over home an tell
every man that calls hisself a Nc
Briar'-his voice suddenly rose in the
| defiant crescendo of trapped lion
| tell every man that calls hisself a
McBriar tibet Their Haveys hev got me
in Their damned jailhouse-an' ask 'em
! eff they aims ter let me lay thar"
Young Milf turned and went at a
| run toward the livery stable. Over his
shoulder as he went he flung back at
Jeb. who stood looking after him with
lowered pistol: I'm gofn' now, but I'll
| be back ter reckon with you'll"
| And Jeb shouted. too: I'VE KANT
| come back none too soon. Milt- I'll be
hyar when ye comes.
Then the group started on their
| tramp toward the courthouse and the
| little Jail that lay at it's side.
| Juanita suddenly realized that she
and Dawn were standing as if rooted
\ to the spot. The older girl heard an
! inarticulate moan break from the lips
| of the younger. and then, as though
waking out of sleep. she looked abb
sently down at a litter of beribboned
parcels which lay about her feet. That
message which Old MiIt had flung back
to his people on the lips OF his son
| would send tumbling to- arms every
| man who could carry rifiei
And the Haveys were grinly waiting
for them. The Haveys were already
there The two girls could not ride
across the ridge now. They could: only
sit in their room at the wretched hO-
tel and wait. too.
Juanita was glad Dawn could cry
| She couldn't. She could only look
ahead and see a procession of hideous
possibilities.
1t had been few minutes after
| noon when Young Mill had rushed into
| the livery stable and ordered his horse
! In that one instant all his colaege in
| fuenees had dropped away from him.
and he was following the fierce single