Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-23

Etank Dsaso gaancsd ssasay 1t ~
companions II guess everybody here
u wise, John"
II know you are. Frank" retoeted
Lefever testify: that's all right. I'm
only explaining. And ] don't want yea
to get sore On me II I don't show you
Q fight" Frank Elpaso grunted. II
am under orders" John waved his
hand. .And I can't do anything"
But talk" Eowied Frank Elpaso.
not waving hls hand.
Lefever started holly forward in his
saddle. snow look here. Frank" He
pointed his finger ct the 0bjecting
ranger. tim here for business, not for
pleasure. Any time I'm free you can
talk to me-"
"Not till somebody gags you. John"
interposed Elpaso modify.
Look here. Elpaso." demanded Le-
fever. squirting his horse smartly to-
ward the Tenn. "are you looking for a
fight with me right here and nowF"
"Yes. here and now" declared FL.
pas0 fcrcely.
"Or. there and them" i~nterposed
Kennedy. ironically. "some time. some
where. or no time. nowhere. Having
heard all Of which. a hundred and fifty
times from you two fellows, let US have
peace. You've pulled It 20 often, over
at Sleepy Cat, they've got it in double
faced. red-seal records. Let's get
started"
Right you are. Farrell" assented
Leftover, "but-"
Second verse, John. You're boss
here: what are We going to do? That's
all we want to know"
"Hcnry's orders were to wait here
till ten o'clock this morning. There's
been firing inside twice since twelve
o'clock last night. He told me to pay
no attention to that. But II the whole
place hadn't been under water all
night. I'd have gone in, anyway. This
last time 1t was two high-roweret
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 n guess-but I'm go
ing in there. %peaceably If I Z can. to lool
for Henry de Spain; II we are fired OF
we've got to fight for 1t. And Il
there's any talking to be done"
"You ran do it," grunted Elpaso.
THANK you, Frank. And l will do 1t
I need not say that Kennedy will rid
ahead with me, Elpaso and Wickwir'
with Tommie Meggeson."
Leaving Scott in the trees, the littl
party trotted smartly up the roat
picking their way through the pool
and across the brawling streams tina
tore over the trail toward Duke MOI
gan's place. The condition of the trail
broke their formation continually an
Lefeyer, in the circumstances, was no
sorry. His only anxiety was to kee
Elpaso from riding ahead far enoug
to embroil them in a-quarrel before D
himself should come up.
Halfway to Dukes house they foun
a small bridge had gone out. 1t cut o
the direct road, and, at Elpaso's SUI
: gestion, they crossed over to follow tt
ridge up the valley. Swimming the
horses through the bnckwater that CO
cred the depression to the south, .tht
z gained the elevation and proceede
unmolested, on their sway. AS thu
' approached Sassoon's place. Elpas
Q riding ahead, drew up his horse and S
u n moment studying the trail and ca
y ing an occasional glance In the dire
!. ton of the ranch-house, which lay u
y der the brow of a hill ahead.
y When Lefever rode up to him,
= saw the story that Elpaso was readil
y in the roadway. 1t told of a man sh
s. in his tracks as he was running iowa
the house-and, In the Judgment
% these men, fatally shot-for, while
u companions spread like a fan in fro
of him, Lefever got off his horse ar
Is bending intently over the sudden pa
e. torn out Of a mans life, recast
le scene that had taken place, where
III stood, half an hour earlier. Some lit
W time Lefever spent patiently deciph
ing the story printed in the rutted ro'
re- and marked by a wide crimson spla
ne in the middle Of 1t. He rOse from
NJ study at-sength and followed back
eil trail Of the running feet that had BIZ
stricken at the pool. He stopped
front Of a fragment Of rock jutting
beside the road, studied 1t a while Il
W looking about, picked up a number
:, e empty cartridge-shells, examined tn
and tossed them away. Then
~ Strengthened up and looked searchi
" across the gap. Only the gr'
wv silent face Of Ell CAPTAIN confron
'u' him. 1t told no tales.
IF this was Henry de SPAIN n
II tered Elpaso. when Lefeyer rejoi
led