The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-04-11
CHAPTER ~.
First Blood at Calabasas.

general one along the line. His stage
was singled ont and ridden ar times
both by Sandusky and Logan-the
really dangerous men of the Spanish
sinks-and bv Gale Morgan and Sas-
soon to stir NJ trouble.
All C~alabasas knew that Elpaso, if
he had 10, would fight. and that the &C.
centric guard was not actually to be
cornercd with impunity. Even Logan,
who, like SanduSky, was known 10 be
without fear and without mercy, felt
at least a respect for Ejpaso'S short
ened shotgun. and stopped this side
actual hoStliitles with him. SaSSoon,
however, nouriNhed n particular griev-
ance against the medltaiive guard. ana
his was one not tempered either ny
prudence or calculation. HIS nance
came one night when LIpa~o had IN
wisely allowed himself 10 he drawn
into a card game at CalabaNaS Inn. IL
paso was VIGOROUSLY a stlchIer Tor a
square dead az cards. a dispute found
him without a friend in the room. s.
soon reached To- aim "i'' eLite.
McAlpin was the first ~ Set the
news al the barn. lie gave first aid 10
the helpless guard and, without dream
ing he could he se' 10 g surgeon alive.
rushed him IN q light wagon to the
hospital az Sleepy Cat. where 1t was
said that BE L have more lives than
q wildcat SaSSoon, not caring 10 brave
De Spain's anger in town, Went tenn
porarily into hiding. ElpaSo. in the
end. justified his old reputation by
making a recovery-halting!y II is
true. and with perilous intervals OF
sinking. but a recovery.
II 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 vas like a bubbling
spring TO a thirsty man. His face
beamed, he frightened his belt, shook
out his gun, and looked with benevo-
lent interest on De Spain, who stood
bordering. IF you will stay right here.
Henry" he ayerrcd conv!ncinSly. II
viii 20 over and get Sassoon."
The chief s~tage-guard. Bob Scott.
the Indian. was in the barn. He smiled
at lefever'a enthusiasm. "Sassoon"
said he. "is 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. eve still have some little
reputation to maintain along the sinks.
Don't let US make II n posse for Sas-
soon" No one opposed him further,
and he ode away alone.
1T won't be any trouble for John
to bring Sassoon in" murmured Scott.
who spoke with a smile and I'm the low
tone and deliberate manner of the In.
dian, III he can find him."
Lefever rode down to the inn with
out seeing a living thing anywhere
about IL. When be %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 II empty. He noticed
however. that the sash of the low win
dow on his left. which looked into the
patio. was omen. and two beelmarks in
the hard clay suggested that a man
might have iumped 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 n minute con-
firmed their belief that Sassoon must
have escaped by the window. He then
took the two men out to where m
one, within a few minutes, had mount
ed a horse and galloped off.
"But where has he gomez" demanded
Lefever, pointing with his hand.