Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-11
'DoC!''
BY
BY HAROLD TITUS.
Author OF ITO the Victor"
Copyright
The Frank A. Munsey Company
The Frank A. Munsey Company


Twice Hardy called on the others
10 help him move the unconscious
figure on which he worked, and each
time after they had given their as.
s:stance he ordered them away with
IN uneQuivocal sharpness which, be.
sides sending them promptly into the
shadows and out of his way, made
them understand that this chap was
In some way beyond their experience,
quite different from any they had ever
encOuntered--and secretly each OF the
three wondered about him.
The task progressed; the night
aged. The man in whose cabin the
bandits had sought refuge stood be.
hind the stove smoking a pipe, re-
moving the stem from his lips. and
holding 1t in his hands for long inter.
walls while he watched the soft fin.
gers of Ellis Hardy manipulate the
wound.
Sam Dey0rt leaned against the
rough wall Of the log house. motion.
less. as though hypnotzed by the
physicians nimble movements. The
other, who was addressed as Texas,
sat on a backless chair. elbows on his
knees, opening and closing knife
with one thin hand.
On him Ellis Hardy turned. straight
ening slowly to ease the muscles of
his back; then. squaring. his shoulders
as though in lief at gaining Gesr.
ed poin; he id.
That's all can 10 fer the time
being. I'll stay here an hour more
and watch him But have something
to say to YOU"
He fairly snapped out the words
and walked toward Texas with men
acing deliberation.
The outlaw looked up as though
astounded, for the manner of speech
was Enthusiastically aggressive
you lied to me. You led stern
ly, as though he tried to keep passion
from his voice.
you told me that you wanted me
to come here and care for your wife.
Instead of that you bring me here to
care for Bart Sears-a man wanted
for murder and highway robbery, a
man who is being hunted by this
whole reservation"
He had stopped with intenseness. As
he finished speaking he Strengthened
and every line of his figure bristled
Indignation.
cit was my place 10 come he went
on. Il wouldn't refuse help to a--to
y yellow dog But you iricked me
more than that, you lied.'
His voice fell again as though the
accusation were the worst he could
make against fellow men,
''Why couldn't you be honest with
me? You were going to give me your
confidence anyhow by bringing me
here; why couldn't you be open and
frank with me in my Office?
mo man likes to be tricked. You
know what every honest man thinks
Of you fellows anyhow" with a sweep.
ing gesture. why make it worse by
lying when you could tell the TRUTH"
He stopped, hand still extended;
then let it slowly fall to his side. His
gaze still bored into Texas.
well" the man mutteltd, whats
the difference"
Difference Why
ooh, you can't understand"
And with the contemptuous declar-
alton he wheeled and walked to the
bedside to sit on the blankets--his
back to them, choosing to ignore rath.
Or than to condemn further or to ar
que!
None moved. They remained there
the one behind the stove holding his
pipe; another against the wall, stolid
as a statute; the third on backless
chair, eyes glittering, no longer opens
ing and shutting the knife
outlaws they were - of that clan
which terrorized the border; one OF
them crafty and expert in the In.
tricacies Of deception, the other two
bold almost to a point of mania; men
who had instiled the dread which
Hardy had come to understand.
Their names were things to be con.
jured with throughout the country,
like the names OF gr0wn.up COLLINS;
and to them attached heinous crimes
in appalling numbers.
They were as bad, as ruthless, as
men become, with prices on their
heads, a short life before them. and
stirred 10 that point Of ferocity where
they would 60 their aggressive way
,->testlns daring ta.the end.
But when that end came they would