The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-10

toward the hills. Winthrop watch
ed them.
He could hardly believe tn,
tramp had deserted him, yet the
evidence was pretty plain. Ever
his revolver was gone, and his bel
and cartridges. Winthrop wal
hungry. There was no food. But
there was water. He walked to-
ward the water-hole.
stand still-and listen," said q
voice.
The voice seemed to come from
the water-hole at his feet.
"Over here - this way" the
voice said.
Winthrop smiled. II it were q
disembodied spirit talking, 1t was
no other than the spirit of Over
land Red. The accent was unmis.
taxable. The Fastener glanced
round and observed a peculiar
something behind the brush edg-
ing the rise beyond the water-hole
Its me-" said Overland, still
concealed. Thought | quit you
ell? Are them folks out of sight
YETI"
mo. They're still in sight
Where's the burro?"
Hes hid-right in plain sight
up a little arroyo"
Wont they find him, and con
fiseate him and the things?"
Not on your life! IT amt ex.
actly healthy, even for constables
to go round confiscatin' outfits
they don't know who's connected
with. They can't say for sure that
burro and stuff is mine. They'll
look 1t over and leave 1t right
there"
But why did, you come all the
way back here?A asked Winthrop
Seem they's lots of time, IN
explain. II | had KEEP on goin
they would "a trailed me. They
are two to one, and they could gel
me at night. Now they'll either
give 1t up. or spot my back tracks
and find me here"
What shall I do when they
come back7"
"You Jest go to studyin' bugs OF
rattlesnakes or somethin'. II they
ask you anything, answer 'em nice
and polite, and so I can hear"
They've stopped. One of them
is down on the ground looking al
something. Now he's up again
They're riding back" said Win.
throp.
They cut my back trail" said
Overland, smuggling down behind
the brush. you 60 and set dowr
by the water-hole and find bus
to study"
Are you going to fight?"
mot II It can be helped. Other
wise-till me wires are down ant
me lamps are out. She's deser
law out here"
Winthrop watched the approach
ing horsemen. Presently he got NJ
and sauntered to the water-hole
He wanted to shout, to do anything
rather than sit stupidity silent b!
the water-hole.
The two riders loped up. TIL,
constable dismounted. "Nothin
doin'," he said. STOPPING to drink
About then the man on the pom!
began to ride out from the water
hole in a wide circle. The con
stable came from the spring.
The heavy, space blunted repor
of the circling horseman's gun
and Overland calmly spat out tn,
sand that fitted across his lips
The rider had ventured shot ant
had ridden behind a ridge instant
ly.
The rider had appeared from
behind the ridge. Slowly Over
land raised his right hand. Thel
the old fighting soul of Jack Sum
mers, sheriff of Abilene, rebelled
mo! Dam II I'll ambush an
white man." And he leaped t
his feet. Overland Limited" h
shouted, and with his battlecr
came the quick tattoo of shots
The horseman wavered, double
up, and pitched forward to tn
sand.
overland Red dropped and roll
ed to one side as the constable
gun doomed Intellectually. TIL
tramp lay still.
A clatter of empty stirrups, tn
swish of a horse galloping pas
and silence.
Slowly the constable az
preached Overland's PROSTATE fif
ure. Times up for you'll" he sait
covering the tramp with his gun.
Water" groaned Overland.
Water. Ell? Well, crawl to 4
you rat!"
Winthrop, his heart thumpIn
wildly, followed the constable.
this was the desert lawf
You seem to kind OF recogniz
your friend now" sneered the cor
stable.
That was too much for VIII
throp's overstrung nerves. HI
pulses roared In his ears With