The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-21

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'twixt here and the railroad knows
that De Spain and Nan Morgan have
fastened up to each other for the long
ride down the dusty trail together.
That. take II. is their business. But
her uncle. old Duke. and Gale, and the
whole bunch. hear. turned dead sore
on 1t. and have fixed II up 10 beat them.
You all know the Morgans. They're
some bunch-and they stick for one
another like hornets. and all hold to-
gether In a fight. so / don't want any
man 20 ride In there with me thinking
Ee's going to a wedding. He isn't. He
may or may not be going TO a funeral,
but he's not going to shlvaree."
Frank Elpaso glanced sourly at his
companions. Il guess everybody here
Is wise, John"
II know you are. Frank" retorted
Lefeyer testify; that's all right I'm
only explaining. And don't want you
TO get sore on me II I don't show you
fight" Frank Elpaso grunted. Il
am under orders" John waved his
hand. "And can't do anything
"But talk" growled Frank Elpaso,
not waving his hand.
Lefeyer started hotly forward In his
saddle. 'NOw LOOK here, Frank" He
pointed his finger at the objectlng
ranger. I'm here for business, not for
pleasure. ANY time I'm free you can
talk 10 me"
"Not till somebody gags you, John"
interposed Elpaso moodily.
Look here, Elpas6." demanded Le-
fever, squirting his horse smartly to-
ward the Texan. "are you looking FOR a
| fight with me right here and nowf'
ayes. here and now" declared FL
paso fercely.
cor, there and then" interposed
Kennedy, ironically, "some time, some
where. or no time, nowhere. Having
heard all Of which, hundred and fifty
times from you two fellows, let US have
peace. You've pulled It so often, over
at Sleepy Cat. they've got 1t in double
faced. red-seal records. Let's get
| started"
Fright you are, Farrell" assented
Lefeyer. "but-"
second verse. John. You're boss
here; what are we going TO do? That's
all we want TO know"
"Henry's orders were 10 wait here
/ till ten O'Clock this morning. There's
been fring inside twice since twelve
/ o'clock.lnst night. lie told me TO pay
no attention TO that. But IL the whole
/ nj ~ oil
night, Ia have gone In, anyway. This
last time II was two hlgh-powered
guns, picking at long range and, If I'm
any judge of rifles and the men prob
ably behind them, someone must have
7 got hurt. It's all guess-but I'm go
ing In there. peaceably II can. to lool;
for Henry de Spain; II we are fred on
we've got to fight for 1t. And If
there's any talking 10 be done"
"You can do IT," grunted Elpaso.
'Thank you, Frank. And will do II.
4 need not say that Kennedy win ride
ahead with me. Elpaso and Wickwire
with TomTnie aieggeson."
Leaving Scott In the trees, the little
party trotted smartly up the road
picking their way through the pools
| and across the brawllng streams that
tore over the trail toward Duke Nor
gan's place. The condition of the trail
broke their formation continually and
Lefeyer, In the circumstances, was not
sorry. His only anxiety was to keer
Elpaso from riding ahead far enough
70 embroil them In quarrel before lac
himself should come up.
Halfway 10 Dukes house they found
n small bridge had gone out. 1t cut on
the direct road, and, NJ Elpnso's sug
gestion, they crossed over 20 follow thC
ridge up the valley. Swimming thell
horses through the bacl,water that GOV
cred the depression to the sou;h, they
gained the elevation and proceeded
unmolcstcd, on their way. As they
! approached Sassoon's place, Elpaso
riding ahead, drew up his horse and sal
n moment studying the trail and cast
ing an occasional glance in the dlrec
ton OF the rnnch-house, which lay un
der the brow OF hill ahead.
When Lefeyer rode up TO him, h,
saw the story that Elpaso was fDg'in.
in the roadway. II told Of n man s..u
In his tracks as he was running towarJ
the house-and In the judgment OF
these men, fatally shot-for, while his
companions spread like n fan in from
OF him. Lefever got or his horse and
bending intently over the sudden pag,
torn out of a mans life, recast III,
scene that had taken place, where h,
! stood, half an hour earlier. Some LITTLE
time Lefever spent patiently decipher
ing the story printed in the rutted road
and marked by n wide crimson splasl
in the middle Of II. He rose FROM hi
strdy at length and followed back th'
trail of the running feet that had beer
! stricken at the pool. He stopped il
| front of fragment Of rock juttlng u;
beside the road, studied II a while End
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