Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-07-09


'FRONT.'"
over the summit, ready to report OBJ
servations to the marshal crouched
below.
"It's MOore's team, all right" he
whispered back, "and Matt is driving
them. There isn't anyone else on the
set, so / guess he must be alone"
1--WE can't be sure of that" returned
Brennan, wise In guarding against
surprises. "There was another fellow
with him on the out trip and he might
be lying down back In the wagon.
Wed better both Of us hold 'em up.
can hear the creak Of the wheels now,
so maybe you best slide down. Is the
outfit loadedT
Travelling light, should say" and
Westcott, after one more glance, crept
down the sand heap and Joined the
waiting man below. Both stood intent
and ready, revolvers drawn, listening.
The heavy wheels grated in the sand,
the driver whistling to while away the
dreary pull and the horses breathing
heavily. Moore pulled them up with a
jerk as two figures leaped into view,
his whistle coming to an abrupt pause.
Ills f1re" was all he said, staring
dumbly down into Brennan's face over
the front wheel. "Where in Sam Hill
did you come from2"
I'm the one to ask questions, son."
returned the little marshal, the vicious
blue barrel shining In the sunlight,
and the smarter you answer the less
reason shall have to hurt yer. Don't
reach for that gunl Are you travelling
aloneT
Moore nodded, his hands up, but
still grasping the reins.
"Then climb down over the wheel.
Jim, take look under that canvas;
Moore, here, is generally a genial sort
o. liar and we'd better be sure. All
right-hey? Then dismount Matt, and
be quick about 1t. Now unbuckle that
belt and hand the whole outfit over to
Westcott, then we1l talk business to-
gether."
He showed his own weapon back into
its holster and faced the prisoner, who
had recovered from his first shock of
surprise and whose pugnacious temper
was beginning to assert itself. Bren-
nan read this I'm the mans sulky, de-
FAINT glance, and his lips smiled
grimly.
Getting bullish, are you, Matt?" he
said, rather softly. "Goin' ter keep a
close tongue In yer head; so that's the
game? Well, wouldn't, son, If was
you. Now, see here, Moore" and the
marshal's eyes were like fiints. You
know me, reckon, an that l amt
much on boys play. You never heard
tell o. my hittin' anybody just fer fun,
did yerT
There was no answer.
AN yer never heard no one say"
went on Brennan "that 1 was afraid
ter hit when needed to. 1 reckon also
yer knows what sorter man Jim West
colt Is. Now the two ov us amt out
here In this Id Shoshone desert
fer the fun of it-not by jugful. Get
til bring yer some sense. Do yer get
ne2
"Yes," sullenly and reluctantly.
but yer haven't got nuthin' on me-"
"Oh, haven't II You drove young
woman out here from Haskell night
ifore last for Bill Lacy. Amt abb
iuction no crime? An that's only one
tount. I've had an eye on you for
nOre'n six months, an Lacy's been
making a cat'spaw out Of you all that
line. Well, Lacy is playin' his last
land right now, an I've got the
ards" The marshal paused, fully
iware that he had struck home, then
added quietly: at alters struck me.
Matt, that naturally you was a pretty
iecent fellow, but had drifted In with
I bad crowd. I'm Offering you now o
.hance to get straight again." He
brew back his coat and exhibited his
tar. yer see, amt just talkin' ter
yer as Dan Brennan-rm the law"
The boy, for he was scarcely more
han that In years, shuffied his feet
ineasily, and his eyes wandered from
Brennan to Westcott. The look Of sui
en- defiance had vanished.
"Wotcher wanter askf'
who was with you the out-trip,
long with Miss DonovanT
"Joe Skies"
"And yer left him back there, guard
ng the girl7'
He stayed; them was the orders,
While l was to bring back the team;
Tut I reckon he won't need to do no
uardin' to speak of, fer we run inter
. bunch O. fellows"