The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-03-22
CHAPTER w.
First Blood at caIabasas.

First Blood at caIabasas.
! Nothing more than De SPANS an.
nouncement that he would sustain his
stageguards was necessary to arouse
a violent resentment at Calabasas and
among the Morgan following. The
grievance against Elpaso was made a
general one along the line. His stage
was singled out and ridden at times
both by Sandusky and Logan--the
really dangerous men of the Spanish
sinks-and by Gale Morgan and Sas-
soon to stir up trouble.
All Calabasas 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 a respect for Elpaso's short
ened shotgun, and stopped this side
actual hostilities with him. SassOon,
however, nOurished a particular griev-
ance against the meditative guard, and
his was one not tempered either by
prudence or calculation. His chance
| NtAAiV VIC night Nlltll LllDdoO l4Gu III
wisely allowed himself to be drawn
into card game at Calabasas inn. Ell
paso was VIGOROUSLY a stickler for a
square deal at cards. A dispute found
| him without friend in the room. Sas-
soon reached for him with a knife.
McAlpin was the first to get the
news at the barn. He gave first aid to
the helpless guard, and, without dream
ing he could be got to a surgeon alive,
rushed him in a light wagon to the
hospital at Sleepy Cat, where it was
said that he must have more lives than
wildcat Sassoon, not caring to brave
De SPANS anger in town, went tenn
pOrarily into hiding. Elpaso, in the
end, justified his old reputation by
making a ecovery-haltingly it is
true. and with perilous intervals of
sinking, but a recovery.
1t 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 a thirsty man. His face
beamed, he frightened his belt, shook
out his gun, and looked with beneyo-
lent interest on De Spain, who stood
bordering. IF you will stay right here,
Henry" he averred convincingly, 81
will go over and get Sassoon."
the Indian, was in the barn. He smiled
at Lefever's enthusiasm. "Sassoon,"
said he, sis slippery"
you'd better let US go along and
see you do it," suggested De Spain,
who with the business in hand grew
thoughtful.
Gentlemen, thank you" protested
Lefever, raising one hand in 'depreca-
ton, the other resting lightly on his
holster. 1--WE still have some little
reputation to maintain along the sinks.
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 John
to bring SassoOn in" murmured Scott,
who spoke with a smile and in the low
tone and deliberate manner of the In
dian, eff he can find him."
Lefever rode down to the inn with
out seeing a living thing anywhere
about it. When he dismounted in
front he thought he heard sounds with
in the barroom, but, pushing open the
door and looking circumspectly into
the room before entering, he was sur
prised to find it empty. He noticed,
however, that the sash of the low win
dow on his left, which looked into the
patio, was open, and two heelmarks in
the hard clay suggested that a man
might have jumped through. Running
out of the front door, he sprang into
his saddle and rode TO where he could
signal De Spain and Scott to come up.
He told his story as they Joined
him, and the three returned to the inn.
A better tracker than either of his
companions, Scott after a minute con-
frmed their belief that Sassoon must