The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-03-08
By FRANK H. SPEARMAN

I though Jeffries was nervily stating q
fact bald and notorious to both.
There are lot Of bad men there
Jeffries went on, "who are bad simply
because they've never had a man to
show them"
THE last general manager was
killed there. wasn't her"
mot in the valley. no. He was shot
at Calabasas Inn."
would that make very much differ
ence in the way he felt about it?''
Jeffries. with an effort, laughed.
That's all right, Henryl They won't
get you" Again he extended his fin
ger dogmntically: "If thought they
would, / wouldn't send you down
there"
THANK you"
"You are young, ambltious--four
thousand year isn't hanging from ev-
cry telegraph pole; II Is almost twice
what they are paying me-"
| "You're not getting shot at"
"No man. Henry, knows the hour of
his death. No man In the high coun-
try knows when he IL to be made q
target-thnt you well understand. Men
are shot down In this country That
have no more Idea Of getting killed
than have--or you have"
| Don't include me. have pretty
good Idea Of getting killed right
away-the minute take this job
1--WE have temporized with this Gala
bnsas outfit long enough" declared JEFF
fries, dropping his mask at last. Deaf
Sandusky, Logan and that squlnt-cyed
thief, Dave Sassoon-all hold-up men.
every one OF theml Henry. I'm put
ting you In ~ that Job because you've
got nerve, because you can shoot, be-
cause ] don't think they can get you
and paying you whaling big SALARY to
straighten things out along the Span
ish Sinks. DO you know. Henry"
Jeffries leaned forward and lowered
his tone. Master of the art of persuad-
Ing and convincing. of hammering and
pounding. OF swaying the doubling and
deciding the undecided, the strong eyed
mountain man looked his best as he
/ Is
''Do You know" he repeated. 81 suspect
that Morgan's Gap bunch are really be-
hind and beneath lot of this devil.
try around Calabasas? You take Gale
Morgnn-why, he trains with Dave
Sass0on: take his uncle. Duke--Sas-
soon never IL In trouble but what
Duke will help him out" Jeffries ex-
ploded with a slight but forcible expie-
tive. "Was there ever thief or n
robber driven into Morgnn's gap that
didn't find sympathy and shelter with
some Of the Morgans? I believe they
ure In every game pulled on the Thief
river stages"
AS bad ms thatT"
Jeffries turned to his desk. "Ask
John Lefever."
De Spain had long talk with John.
But John was poor adviser. He ad-
vised no one on any subject. He whis-
tied. he hummed n tune. He extended
the brink OF n positive assertion. He
decided nothing, and asserted nothing
But concerning the Morgans and their
friends. he did abandon his habitual
reticence. "Rustlers. thieves. robbers,
coiners, outlaws!" he exclaimed ener-
getically.
rs this because they got your money
today, John?" asked DE Spain.
"Never mind my money. I've got a
new job with nothing to do. and plenty
of cash."
De spain asked what the Job wns.
"On the stages" announced Lefever.
II am now general superintendent of
the Thief River line"
"Wbat does that meanr
ut means that am to be your as
sistant."
"Tm not going to take that job,
John"
Lefever took of his hat and twlrled
II sklllfully on one hand. hummlng
softly the while.
IL believe you'd better change your
mind, Henry, and stay with u.s."
mo-" returned De Spain medita-
lively, "Pm not going to stay. I've
had glory enough out of this town for
WHILE" He picked up his hat, poked
the crown discontentedly, and, rising
with n loss OF amlability In his fea-
lures and manner, walked out of the
| room.
The late sun was streaming down
the full length OF Main street. The
street wns still filled with loiterers
who had spent the day IT the fair. and
fingered now In town In the vague hope
Of seeing brawl or fight before
undown--roisterers from the Spanish
Sinks, and gunInen and gamblers from
Calabasas and Morgan's gap. The
Morgans themselves and their follow
Ing were out to the last retainer.