The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-02
CHAPTER VII.

IlOuSlUH anu Love Tree! p tEr.' |
The thing l had been dreading and
expecting for six months came now
with a shock that sent a cold fury of
resolution through me, l knew that /
would have to do deliberately what l
should have done in passion.
1t was not blood-lust, but raging vim
dictiveness that spurred me on the 75-
mile ride to my fathers house,
THE hoofbeats stopping at his door
aroused him. When he saw me, he
stood as one petrified.
10, your honor" I put out my
hand. He did not take 1t. 4
What have you been doing Never
What does this mean" He reached
into his pocket, took. out a folded hand
bill and opened it for me to read. q,
Reward for the apprehension of Al
jennings" 1t said, wanted for the
robbery Of the Santa Fe express"
l saw 1t in a moment. This was the
work Of Houston and Love. They
would get me out of the way. They
would ave their cringing hides by am
other cowardly attack.
Il had nothing 10 do with II. I'm
damn sorry I dfdn't-"~ l -, urled the
words at my father. Anger caught me
by the throat and was. choking me.
Damned II | had anything to do with
1t. BY he'll, they'll pay for IT." r
'"1f You had nothing to do with it,
give up and clear yourself. That s the
way to make them pay"
One Of those sudden shifts from COM
mand to appeal softened my fatheris
face. do you want to bring disgrace
on the name?h he asked
THE name be damned and the law
and everything connected with 1t. l
hate It," NJ Z
'Tf you don't come in and clear your
self, I'm finished with you"
II can't clear myself" told him.
The Harliss range harbors outlaws. ]
can't bring them in to prove an alb
for me, Harliss wasn't there at. the
time. IL l did give UP, ! couldn't es-
tablish my innocence" f..
Then you're guilty?"
Not in all the ~lawlessness of my early
life, nor in all the frenzy Of sorrow
and revenge after the murder, had such
a fNN tide Of storming violence heater
dowFl the discretion of my nature. II
he dlstrusted me what had | to expect
from enemies?
l went out from my fathers house
dashed with a desperate, unappeasabli
fury. l wanted something to happen
That once and for all would put me be.
yond the pale.
l slept out on the range and the mex
morning rode toward Arbeka. I hat
eaten nothing the day before. On tn.
public road through the timber on tn,
old trail west from Fort Smith was {
little country store. l could have car.
ried off Its contents in my slicker.
Five men were lounging on the bench
near the horse rack when / threw m,
bride over the pole. Their horses wer,
tied. l couldn't tell whether they wer,
marshals or horse thieves from the Loo
OF them. Whatever difference there h
favors the horse thief.
bought some cheese and crackers
/ Whnn / ANNA ont a y hArro
Horse Turned Loose.
Where's my horse?" The fellow fell
the hot blast of anger in the Challenge
Ran away he answered. :.
Ram snapped at him, Some O
you fellows turned him loose"
In the glade about 10 yards distant
saw my horse nibbling grass. ra,
down, mounted and was iust g~allopinI
Off when a shot whizzed past. then
clash, a volley and the e moment tn,
mare lunged Sidewalks and thumped L
the; ground pinning my leg under her.
They, We're possemen out to get m
on the holdup. They were five to on
and they didn't even try to take m
on the porch, They fired without call
ing for a surrender, 1t was better t
get a suspected train -robber dead tina,
alive. The question of guilt and TN
surety or reward were then settled be
yond dispute. -
l pulled myself free, started firing lik
q mailman, and saw w OF, them drol
! hid behind a tree, plugged UP aEaf
and went for the porch, shooting as
went, Two OF them ran INTO the tim
Der,
AS | got to the store the fifth tumble
over into the brush. | ran inside, too
up an ak and smashed the place t
pieces, The owner crawled out fror
behind an empty cider barrel. II
| lNCInA Hkn a han rAn va kutth ht, -,
checks putting out above his parte
black whiskers. | didn't care what
did. The v~iciousness OF their attac
Infatuated me-. / busted one at him a
! he slid off the porch.
, The drawer in the counter was oper
: There a $3.50 In 1t. l took it.
! needed no money but the theft file
me with happiness. l had taken a DEF
/; mite step. l was a criminal now, M
choice was made. ! was one with tn
: death, felt at peace. ! knew that
! would have a gang with me now I
! the end.
The big iron gray horse that had stoo
~undisturhed during the rucus, | mounte
, and started back to the Harliss rancl
my boot, | looked down.
The shoe was filled with blood. Or
. of the bullets had struck through tt
muscles above my ankle. | picked it OF
with my pen KNIFE and stuifed the no
; with a puff ball weed,
When l got to the range l did n,
stop at the house but made for II
: cover In the timber. As l came near
Q pang of fear shot through me. 1t WI
r long past midnight, but they had a iii
5 bla zing, One Of the men raised stealth
$ " and glanced toward me,
: He nodded,
Elation Ends.
. The sudden elation at the store w,