Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER ".
First Flood at Calabasas.

Fret Flood at Calabasas.
Nothing more than De Spain's an
nOuncement that he would sustain his
Safeguards was necessary to arouse
u violent resentment at CalnbaSas and
among the Morgan following. The
grievance against Elpaso was made n
general one along the line. His stage
was singled ont and ridden Mt times
both by Sandusly and Logan-the
really dangerous men of the Spanish
slnks-and BY Gale Morgan and Sas-
soon to stir W trouble.
All Calnbasas knew that Elpaso, if
he had to, would fight, and that the &c.
centric guard was not actually to be
cOrnered with impunity. Even Logan,
who, like Sandusky, was known to be
without fear and without mercy, felt
at least respect for Elpaso's short
ened shotgun, and stopped this side
actual hostillties with him. Sassoon,
however, n0urishcd particular griev.
ance against the meditative guard, and
his was one not tempered either by
prudence or calculation. His chance
came one night when Elpaso had I'M
= wisely allowed himself to be drawn
into a card game Mt Calabasas inn. FL.
-paso wns' VIGOROUSLY a stickler for a
square deal at cards A dispute found
him without friend in the room. Sass
soon reached for him with a knife.
McAlpin was The first to get the
cews at the barn. He gave first aid to
the helpless guard, and, without dream
ing he could be got to Il surgeon alive,
hospital Mt sleepy Cat, where it was
said ihat he must have more lives than
wildcat. Sassoon, not caring to brave
De SEains anger in town, went tenn
pOrarlly into hiding. Epaso. in the
end. justified his old reputation by
making recOvery-haltingly, it Is
true, and with perilous intervals Of
sinking, but recovery.
It was while he still lay In the hos
pital and hope was very low that De
Spain and Lefever rode, one hot morn
Ing, into CalabaSas and were told by
McAlpin that SassOon had been seen
within five minutes at the inn. To Lee
fever the news was like a bubbling
spring to thirsty man. His face
beamed, he frightened his belt, shock
out his gun, and looked with benoso-
lent interest on De Spain, who stood
bordering. "lf you will stay right here
Henry" lie avcrrco convlncingy, 6.
vii, 90 over and get Sassoon.'
The chief stage.guard, Bob Scott
the Indian, was in the barn. He smiled
ut Lefever's enthusiasm. "Sassoon,
said he. sis slippery
"You'd better let lis 90 along ant
see you do it," suggested De Spain
who with the business in hand grew
thoughtful.
Gentlemen, l thank you" proteste,
Lcfever raising one hand in depreca
ton. the other resting lightly on hi
holster. 1--WE still have some littl
reputation to maintain along the sinks
A Don't let US make it a posse for Sas
soon." No one opposed him further
and he rode away alone.
at won't be any trouble for JohI
to bring Sassoon in," murmured Scott
who spoke with a smile and in the 10,
tone and deliberate manner Of the In
dian, "lf he can find him."
Leftover rode down to the inn with
out seeing living thing anywher
about it. When he dismounted i
front he thought he heard sounds will
in the barroom, but, pushing open tn
door and looking circumspectly int
the room before entering, he was SUI
prlsed to find 1t empty. lie noticed
however that the sash OF the low vii
dow on his left which looked into til
patio, was open, and two hee!marks
the hard clay suggested that a ma
might have jumped through. Runnin
out of the front door, he sprang int
his saddle and rode to where he conl
signal De Spain and Scott to come III
He told his story as they 1oine
him, and the three returned TO the I'M
A better tracker than either of n
\companlons, Scott after minute COZ
Ifirmed their belief that Sassoon mu'
Jhave escaped by the window. He the
took the two men out to where som
4 one. within few minutes, had noun
ed a horse and galloped off.
/ "But where has he gomez" demandt
Lefever, pointing with his han