Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-05-20

AT ease. Inc other watched him
malevolently. His fingers caressed the
handle Of a revolver that protruded
from the holster at his side. He would
have liked nothing better than to have
drawn it and sent a bullet crashing
into the unperturbed brain of his pris-
Oner.
There were reasons Of policy why
1t were better to curb this fascinating
desire, but sometimes the impulse to
kill surged up almost u~ncontrollably.
On these occasions Luck Cullison was
usually "deviling" him, the only diver
sion that had been open to the ranch
man for some days past.
From time to time as Luck read he
commented genially on the news.
Blackwell merely scowled. Given his
way, Cullison would not be here to
read the Sentinel. But the brains Of
the conspiracy had ruled otherwise
and insisted, too, upon decent treat
ment. With one ankle securely tied to
a leg Of the table there was no danger
in freeing the hands of the cattleman,
but his hosts saw that never for an in
slant were hands and feet at liberty to-
gether. For this man was not the n
with whom to take chances.
Cullison read on:
"'Lieutenant O'Connor of the Ari-
ona rangers left town today for a
short trip into the hills, where he ex-
poets to spend a few days hunting
Hunting what, do you reckon? Or
hunting who, I should say. Ever meet
Bucky O'Connor, Blackwell? No, l
reckon not. He's since your time. A
crackerjack, too! Wonder if Bucky
amt after some friends of miner"
"Shut up" growled the other.
"Sure you'll shut up-when Bucky
lands on you," retorted Luck cheerful
ly. Then, with a sudden whoop:
"Hello, here's a personal to your ad-
dress. Listen. The friends of l.. G.
serve notice that what occurred at the
Jack Of Hearts is known. Any violence
hereafter done to him will be paid for
to the limit. No guilty man will es-
cape So the boys are getting busy.
L uSufeu they WOulu NC.
The former convict leaned forward
angrily. "Lemme see that paper"
His guest handed it over, an index
finger pointing out the item. Large
as life, Blackwell. No, sir. You CO.
tainly didn't ride herd proper on that
opportunity"
Don't be too sure it's gone, Mr.
Sheriff"
"They've got you dead to rights
Read that personal again. Learn ii
by heart. The friends Of l.. G. give
warming You better believe they're
rounding up your outfit. They know
I'm alive. They know all about the
Jack of Hearts. Pretty soon they'll
know where you've got me hidden"
you'd better pray they won't. Fol
if they find the nest it will be empty
Look out Of that window behind you
Luck turned. The cabin was bull
on a ledge far up on the mountain
side. From the back wall sloped fol
q hundred feet an almost p%erpendic
ular slide Of rock.
There's a prospect hole doWI
there" Blackwell explained savagely
you'd go down the Devils Slide
what's left Of you, I mean-deep into
that prospect hole. The timberings
are rotted and the whole top Of the
working ready to ave in. When yOul
body hits it there will be an avalanche
with Mr.. Former-Sheriff Cullison a
the bottom Of it. You'll be buriet
without any funeral expenses, and
reckon your friends will never know
where to put the headstone."
The thing was devilishly simple ant
feasible. Luck. still looking out o.
the window, felt the blood run colo
down his spine, for he knew this fel
low would never stick at murder i.
he felt it would be safe.
$50 you see I'm right; you'd better
pray your friends won't find you
They can't reach here without being
heard. If they get to hunting these
hills YOU sure want to hope they'll
stay cold, for just as soon as they ge
warm it will be the signal for you tt
shoot the chutes."
Luck met his triumphant savager.
with an impassive face. Interesting
if true. And where will you be wheI
my friends arrive? I reckon it won
be a pleasant meeting for Mr.. Black
we'll"
"Ill be headed for Mexico. 1 tel
you because you amt liable to e
around spreading the news. There:
a horse saddled in the dip back Of the
hill crest. Get it?"
From far below there came through
the open window the faint click of {
horses hoofs ringing against the
stones in the dry bed of a river wash
Swiftly Blackwell moved to the door
taking down a rifle from it's rack as
he did so. Cullison rose noiselessly il
his chair. If it came to the worst hi
meant to shout aloud his presence ant
close with this fellow. Hampered az
he was by the table, the man would
get him without question. But if hi
could only sink his fingers into tina,
hairy throat while there was still life