The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-11-24
cnAP1ER xIII-cen,Inusa.


awake and on guard until midnight.
and the other was 20 so on duty from
midnight until dawn. The second
watch. with which was the factions
leader, had a nightcap Of the vitriolic
WHISKY. tiung itself sprawling on the
ground and siaightway went TO slcep.
The first watch sat around the
cackling hruShwcod fire and played
cards for ehews ~ tobacco, cartridges
aud pocket knives. sang strange and
outlandish songs and drank more
whisky. one very drunk Torrey gam
hied away all his tobacco. all his cart.
ridges. his knife. his rife and his bel
his coat and his hat. his boots and his
shirt-and offered 20 bet his trousers
and his ears on the turn Of single
card II was funny. and u was dis
Eusting. too. II was eli the work OF
whisky. which Bin Dale had always
hated because Il made men fools. made
them mouth theiy secrets and made
them commit murder.
After some two hours OF these worse
than bsechanalian orgies the first
watch. heavy with drink. stopped play
ing cards and singing outlandish
songs. forgot all orders and began 10
nod. Then Il was that Dale thought
Of the man who had been his faithful
guardian for many days. the lanky
BY Heck. Why hadn't he thought OF
Heck before7 He wondered II Heck
had followed him TO the trap. u Heck
was near him even then. II Heck had
gone for help.
By Heck had not followed Bill Dale
TO the little basin. But he had fol-
lowed Henderson GOfr, and Henderson
Con had followed Dale To the little
basin. Con had returned TO the Big
Pine Mountain country only that day
and he knew nothing Of the plans OF
the Ball-Torrey faction until he. wit
messed the mOckery OF trial. Con
was now crouching In the darkness on
the low line of cliffs TO the eastward
from the walnut tree: and not far
behind him. well hidden in the Mack
laurels. watching him and watching
Bin Dale, crouched by Heck.
Dale's guardian had not gope for
help. because he feared 10 leave Dale
utterly unprotected In the hands OF
the gang OF cutthroats. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself.
when the first watch became a little
more drowsy, he would steal up be-
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope.
Then he realized that Con had dis
appeared entirely. He crept forward
silently, his eyes alert. and a moment
-. ..,fv ny-N ~,
walnut tree. He climbed noiselessly
down over the face Of the Cliff and
followed Con like a shadow. When
Gofrs hands touched the tree. BY Heck
was within ten feet Of II. Heck made
sure his rifle was ready and took an
other step forward. watching. listen
ing.
The shyster coal man leaned around
the tree to the left. In the glow OF
small knife in his hand cleaned dull
red He whispered cautiously:
you're In a ix. Dale And It's
none OF my doing. either. Give ms
your word that I'll get that coal prop
erty for fifteen thousand, and IN slash
the rope. How about Il? Sick o.
this country. aren't your"
There came few seconds Of silence
save for the lusty snoring OF the sleep
ers and the musical tinkle 81 the litt!'
creek. after which Coz muttered dis
sppointedly:
well. then. hang"
And Heck knew that Dale had re
fused 10 sell the Moreland coal for I
song even TO save his life. As Go1
stepped backward. the muzzle ~ N,
tall hillman's rife went against III
small Of his hack. and the tall hillmaI
whispered hoarsely. through ieetl
tightly clenched:
slash at rope. d-n yore soul
Slash at rope. or wisht ! may dral
dead ef l don't shoot yore backbon,
into four thousand pieces, igod! SlaSl
81"
GoT stralghtened in surprise Tn,
rifles muxzle went harder against hi
back and he knew II for exactly wha
il was. He moved hand upward
then downward and the cotton rop'
was severed IN half dozen places.
"Stiddy thar. now" whispered r!
Heck, and he began TO back away
~Come along WI me, We dadslstted
banyer-bellied skunk Bill he'll foller.'
The three Of them hurried into n,
deeper shadows soon Heck halteS
Coz and turned 10 Dale
''S'arch him fc' q gun. Bill, old boy
Dale lifted from Henderson Gos-,
rfsrhf-haDd r0st-nneker a hif,aS an
srub-nOsed magazine pistol.
Dang my eyes and hast my for
rard." Heck exclaimed in a mufiet
voice Hes plumb death on then
little porguns. sin't he's Say. COT
81 ever ye shoots me with a thing lik,
that ard find II out. dansed ef ! dom
spank ye Ontel yore nose nlo.sds; Now