Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-06-29


'twixt here and the railroad knows
that De Spain and Nan Morgan have
| fastened up to each other for the long
ride down the dusty trail together.
| That, take it, is their business. But
her uncle, old Duke, and Gale, and the
whole bunch, hear, turned dead sore
on it, and have fixed it up to beat them.
You all know the Morgans. They're
some bunch-and they stick for one
another like hornets, and all hold to-
gether in a fight. SO don't want any
man to ride in there with me thinking
he's going to a wedding. He isn't. He
may or may not be going to funeral,
but he's not going to shivaree."
Frank Elpaso glanced sourly at his
companions. 81 guess everybody here
| is wise, John"
81 know you are, Frank" retOrted
Lefever testify; that's all right. I'm
only explaining. And don't want you
to get sore on me if l don't show you
a fight" Frank Elpaso grunted. 81
am under orders" John waved his
hand. "And 1 can't do anything"
"But talk" growled Frank Elpaso,
not waving his hand.
Lefever started holly forward in his
saddle. "Now look here, Frank" He
pointed his finger at the objecting
ranger. I'm here for business, not for
pleasure. Any time I'm free you can
talk to me"
mot till somebody gags you, john"
interposed Elpaso moodily.
Look here, Elpaso," demanded Le-
fever, squirting his horse smartly to-
ward the Texan, "are you looking for a
fight with me right here and nOw?"
Eyes, here and now" declared 81
pasO tiercely.
COR, there and then" interpOSed
Kennedy, ironically, "some time, some
where, or no time, nowhere. Having
heard all of which, hundred and fifty
times from you two fellows, LET us have
peace. You've pulled it so often, over
at Sleepy Cat, they've got it in double
faced red-seal records. Let's get
started"
Fright you are Farrell" assented
Lefever, "but-"
Second verse, John. You're boss
here; what are we going to do? That's
all we want 10 know"
"Henrys orders were to wait here
till ten o'clock this morning. There's
been firing inside twice since twelve
,,saI L., ,;,xIN Il ~ 10
no attention to that. But if the whole
place hadn't been under water all
night, I'd have gone in, anyway. This
last time 1t was two high-pOwered
guns, picking at long range and, if I'm
any judge of rifles and the men prob
ably behind them, someone must have
got hurt. It's all a gueSS-but I'm go
ing in there, peaceably if l can, to look
for Henry de Spain; if we are fired on
we've got to fight for it. And if
there's any talking to be done"
you can do It," grunted Elpaso.
"Thank you, Frank. And will do it.
I need not say that Kennedy will ride
ahead with me, Elpaso and Wickwire
with Tommie Meggeson."
Leaving Scott in the trees, the little
party trOtted smartly up the road,
picking their way through the pools
and across the brawling streams that
tore over the trail toward Duke Nor
gan'S place. The condition of the trail
broke their formation continually and
Lefever in the circumstances, was not
sorry. His only anxiety was to keep
Elpaso from riding ahead far enough
to embroil them in quarrel before he
himself should come up.
Halfway to Dukes house they found
small bridge had gone out. 1t cut off
the direct road, and, at Elpasos sug-
gestion, they crossed over to follow the
ridge up the valley. Swimming their
horses through the backwater that COW
cred the depression to the south, they
gained the elevation and proceeded
unmolested, ON their way. AS they
approached Sassoon's place, Elpaso
riding ahead, drew up his horse and sat
a moment studying the trail and cast
ing an occasional glance in the direc.
ton of the ranch-house, which lay un'
der the brow of hill ahead.
When Lefever rode up to him, he
, saw the story that Elpaso was reading
in the roadway. 1t told of man shot
in his tracks as he was running toward
, the house-and, in the judgment Of
these men, fatally shot-for, while his
companions spread like fan in front
, of him, Lefever got off his horse and
: bending intently over the sudden page
t torn out of a mans life, recast the
, scene that had taken place, where he
{ stood, half an hour earlier. Some little
! time Lefever spent patiently decipher
| ing the story printed in the rutted road
; and marked by wide crimson splasl
/. in the middle of it. He rose from hi!
. study at length and followed back tn,
$ trail of the running feet that had beer
= stricken at the pool. He stopped il
! front of a fragment of rock jutting VI
!, beside the road, studied it while and
= looking about, picked up a number o
: empty cartridge-shells, examined them
e and tossed them away. Then h