The Lamar register., 1920-05-26


| the bartender's face menacingly, his
eyes searching the maddened crowd.
"Wait a minute, you" he command
ed sharply. ~ reckon I've got some
thing to say bout this. Put down that
axe, Mike, or yen never draw another
glass o. beer In this camp. You know
me, lads, an never draw except fer
business. Shut your mouth, Lacy;
don't touch that gun, you fool! am
in charge here-this is my job; and If
there is going to be any lynchlng done.
1t will be after you get me. Stand
back, now; all OF you-yes, get out
into that barroom. l mean you, Nike
This man is my prisoner, and I'll de-
fend him. Ayl ~ do more I'll let
him defend himself. Here. Westcott,
pick up your gun on the floor. Now.
stand here with me- We're going out
through that bunch. and If one of
those coyotes puts a paw on you, let
him have It'll"
The crowd made way, reluctantly
enough, growing curses, but with no
man among them sufficiently reckless
to attempt resistance. They lacked
leadership for the little marshal new
er once took his eye Off Lacy.
At the door he turned, walking back
ward. trusting in Westcott to keep
their path clear. both leveled revolvers
ready for any movement.
He had but one object before him
TO get his prisoner safely outside Into
the open. Beyond that he would trust
to luck, and II fair chance. His grey
eyes We're almost black as they gleam-
ed over the leveled revolver barrels.
and mis- clipped mustache fairly bris-
tied.
They were far from free even out
side the swinging doors and in the
sunshine. Already rumOr OF what
had occurred had spread like wildire,
and men were on the street. eager
enough to take some hand in the af-
fray. few were already about the
steps. while others were running rapid
ly toward them. excited, but uncertain
II was this uncertainty which gnve
the little marshal his one slender
chance. His eyes swept the crowd
but there was no face visible on whom
he could rely In this emergency.
There was scarcely an instant Of hesi- /
fancy, his quick searching eyes survey /
ing the scene. and then seeking the
face of his prisoner.
"Willing to fight this out, Jimi" he /
asked shortly.
You bet. Dan; WHAT'S the planf"
The big rock In Bear creek. We
ean hold out there until dark. Per-
haps there'll be some men to help us by
that time II not, we might crawl away ]
In the night. Take the alley and turn |
at the hotel. Don't let anybody stop
you. Christopher Columbus, hate to
run from such cattle but it's our only
chance"
There was no time to waste. They
were not yet at the mouth of the al
ley when the infuriated pursuers burst
through the saloon doors. curslng and
shouting.
There were dozen shots, but the
two runners plunged about the corner
Of the building and disappeared, ap-
parently untouched. Twice they turn
ed and fired, yet at that. hardly paused
in their race. Westcott held back, re-
tarded by the shorter legs of his COM
"tIt
a hundred feet In advance OF their
pursuers when they reached the hotel.
In spite OF Lacy's urging the cowardly
crew exhibited small desire to close In.
The marshal glanclng back over his
shoulder. grinned cheerfully.
We've got EN- beat, Jim," he pant
ed, less thar's others headin' us OF
run like a whitehead; don't mind me-"
The road ahead was clear, except
for the speeding cowboys, and the mar
shall made extremely quick work Of
them. There was fusillade of shots,
and when these ended, one rider was
down In the dust. the other galloplng
mndly away, lying fiat on his pony
with no purpose but to get out Of
range The two fugitives plunged into
the bushes opposite. taking the rough
est but most direct course to where
the rather preclpitous banks dropped
OF to the stream below. The marshal.
pauslng for nothing, flung himself bodi-
ly down the steep bank, unclasping his
belt, as he half ran, half rolled TO the
bottom.
Here, take these cartridges" he
said, land hold 'em up. Save yer own.
too, fer we're going to need EN-. That
water out thar Is plumb up to my