Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-08-12

: upon reaching the shelter of the trees
that lined the banks or the river with
out being seen. The stream here was
more than fifty yards wide; this was
Blue Cat shoals. The two lines of
trees stood back a rod or so from the
water, making the final shooting dis
lance some seventy yards.
Drawled Heck: Les set down here
and watch it; hey?"
Dale was silent The very air was
filled with the spirit of tragedy. The
farof tinkle of a cowbell seemed
tragic; tragic, too, sounded the song
of a bird somewhere in the tree
! branches overhead.
Did ye hear me. Bill?"
81 think" Dale muttered, that I'd
better not go away until tomorrow.
can't leave matters like this. DO
you know of any way to stop that
down theFe?'
BY Heck shrugged his shoulders.
do you know O. any way to stop
the risin' and settin' o. the SUM-" he
grinned.
They went back to John Moreland's
cabin.
1t was altogether by accident that
the Littleford chief found his weapons.
He had dropped a small coin through |
crack in the floor. Babe was quick |
to say that she would crawl under the |
house and look for the coin, although |
she had just put on a freshly laun-
dered blue-and-white calico dress. Her
anxiety showed plainly in her face.
Her father questioned her sharply, and
she stammered in spite of herself. Ben
suspicious were aroused.
So he came out from under the cabin
floor with his hands full of the steel
Of rifle barrels, and with the money
forgotten. He placed the rifles care
.ully on the floor of the porch turned
md caught his daughter by the arm.
who hid 'em?" he demanded gruffiy.
Il hid EN-" was the ready answer,
letiant and bitter-"I, mel What're
lou a-gOin' to do about it?"
Littleford flung his daughters arm
rom him. He was king, even as John d,
1oreland was king. His keen eyes
tared at the young woman's face as
hough they would wither it,
what made you hide emp" he /
rowled. Say, what made We do it,"
ITO try and save human lives, ats q
by !" Babe answered. THAT man a
ON the clty-what'll he think O. US d
dom this-away a-fightin' like crazy
ildcats?" c
EFF he don't like the way we do I
ere, he can go back home" retorted G
lie angry mOuntaineer. He amt tied.
hep"
Babe smiled smile that was some
NV pitiful. and turned off.
The amt no use in a-argyin' with
u, pap" she said hopelessly. II
lght' nigh wisht | was dead"
AT that instant the gate creaked
zen. Babe glanced toward it and saw
ming that black beast of a man.
lam Ball the Goliath, and he was
med heavily; in one hand he carried
new high-power repeating rifle. and
ound his great waist there was a
W belt bristling with long. bright
okeless cartridges fitted with steel
,keted bullets.
When Dale and his Communion
Iched the cabin, Aedie Moreland met
m. Anxiety was breaking her
irt.
Mr.. Dale" she pleaded, 81 want Won
go down thar to the river and see
the's anything We can do to sion
ifore it begins. You jest walk out
d in the open and We won't be shot
and I'll be obleeged to We. Oh. [
wv the amt but one chanst in ten
usand, but Pm a-prayin' yeIl strike
t one chanst."
bale knew that he could do nothing =
ard bringing peace, and he knew =
John Moreland would be angry
lis interfering. But he nodded and g
It toward the river He didn't have
heart in him to refuse. p
heu there came the keen thunder of
file shot.
ale halted for a moment. Between di
sycamores on the nearer side of af
river he saw a puff of smoke ris- de
lazily from behind a water oak on TO
farther side; a Bittleford had fired az
Dale went on, moving rapidly o. -.
trying to keep himself always IN
! view.