Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-02-09
CHAPTER ~.
Glrst Blood at calabasas.

EIltNhn't uEuluHt ItPH'' WIS hith' ~
general one along the line. His stage
was singled out and ridden n times
both hy Sandusky and Lognn-the
really dangerous men of the Spanish
snks-and by Gale Morgan and SaS-
soon to stir up trouble
All Cnlabasas knew that Elpaso, If
he hud TO. would fight and that the &C.
centric guard was not actually to be
cornercd with impunlty. Even Logan.
who. like Sandusky. was known 10 be
without fear and without mercy, felt
at least u respect for ElpaSos short
encd shotgun. aud stopped this side
actual hostlitleS with him SasSe0n,
however nourlShed Il particular eriev.
ancp against the meditatlye guard, and
hts Mas one not tempered either by
prudence or calculation. His chance
came unr night when ElpaSo had un-
wisely allowed himself 10 be drawn
into n cnrd game AT CalabaSas Inn. FL
paso was VIGOROUSLY stickler for
square deal NJ cards A dispute found
him without II friend In the room Sass
soon reached for him with knife.
McAlpin was the first 10 get the
news AZ the barn He gave first aid TO
the helpless guard, and. without dream-
lns he could be got 70 a surgeon alive,
rushed him In a light wagon to the
hospital At Sleepy Cat, where II was
said that h. must have more lives than
a wildcat. SaSsoon, not caring TO brave
De Spnin's anger 10 town, went tenn
porarlly into hiding. Elpaso, in the
end, justified his old reputation by
making recovery-haltingly, It Is
true, and with pcrlous intervals OF
sinking. but a recovery.
II was while he stIll lay IN the hos
pltal and hope was very low that De
spain and Lcieyer rode. one hot morn
Ing into Calubasas and We're told by
McAlpIn that Sassoon had been seen
within tlye minutes M the inn. To Lee
fever the news was Ike bubhlng
spring to thirsty man. His face
bcamrd he frightened his belt shook
out MS ,du, aud looked With benevo-
lent Interest IN De Spain who stood
pondrrlng II you Will stay right here
Henry he averred conyincingly, II
vii 20 over and get SasSoon.
The chief Stage-guard Bob Scott
the Indian was In the barn. He smiled
at Lcfrv,rs enthusiasm. "SasSoon.
said he rs slippery"
You'd better let Us 60 along and
see you do il" suggested De Spain
who with the business IN hand grew
thoughtful.
Gentlemen, thank you protested
l.cfeyrr. raising one hand IN depreca-
ton, the other resting lightly on his
holster I'VE Stll have some little
reputation to maintain along the sinks
Don't let Us make II a posse for Sas-
soon" NJ one opposed him further,
and he rode AWAY alone.
III won't be any trouble for John
10 bring SnSsoon In" murmured Scott
who spoke with smile and in the low
tone and deliberate manner Of the In
dian, ~ he can find him.
Lefeyer rode down to the inn with.
out seeing living thing anywhere
about IT, When he dlSmounted in
front he thought he heard sounds With
In the barroom. but. pushing open the
door and looking clrcumSpectly into
the room before entering. he was sur.
prised TO find II empty. He noticed,
however, that the Sush Of the low win
dow on his left, which looked into the
patio. was Open and two heelmarks In
the hard clay suggested that 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-
frmrd their belief that SaSsoon must
have escaped by the window. He then
took the two men out to where some
one, within a few minutes had mount
ed horse and galloped off.
"But where has he gomez demanded
Lefever, pointing with his hand
There Is the rond both ways for
three niles Scott nodded toward
the snow-capped peak of Music noun
tain. "Oyer to Morgan's, most likely
He knows no one would follow him
into the gap
after hlml" cried Lefever hotly. De
Spain looked inquIrlngly at the guard.
Scott shook his head. "That would be
all right, but there's two other Gala
basas men In the gap this afternoon 1t
wouldn't be nice to mix with-Deaf
Sandusky and Harvey Logan"
1--WE won't mix with Them" suggest.
ed De Spain.
IF we tackle Sassoon, they'll mix
with us" explained Scott. He reflect
ed a moment. "They always stay at
Gale Morgan's or Dukes. We might
sneak Sassoon out without their get.
ting on. Sassoon knows he Is safe In
the gap; but he'll hide even after he
gets there. I've got the Thief River
run this afternoon"
Don't take your run this afternoon"
directed De Spain. Telephone Sleepy
Cat for substitute. Suppose we go
back, get something to eat, and you
two ride slngly over toward the gap