Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-10-06


hollow of his arm, cost only about six
cents. The net gain would be-the
figures flew quickly through his mind
ninety-nine dollars and ninety-four
cents; quite a good piece of business
for Dave. But the trouble was that
Simon might find out. The word had
gone out, for the present at least, to
''go easy" Such little games as oc-
Cured to Dave now-as he watched
the trapper in the freight with one
hundred dollars of the clans money
in his own pocket-had been prohibit
ed until further notice.
The thing looked so simple that
Dave squirmed all over with annoy
ance. 1t hurt him to think that the
hundred dollars that he carried was
to be passed over, without a wink of
an eye, to this bearded trapper; and
the only return for 1t was to be a
promise that Hudson would not tes-
tify in Bruce's behalf And a hundred
dollars was real money! Just little
matter of single glance down his
rifle barrel at the figure in the silhou-
cite of the fire glow-and a half-ounce
of pressure on the hair trigger. Half
jesting with himself, he dropped on
one knee and raised the weapon. The
trapper did not guess his presence.
The blood leaped in Dawes veins
But he caught himself with a
wrench. He realized that Simon had
spoken true when he said that the old
days were gone, that the arm Of the
law reached farther than formeyt5
and it might even stretch to this far
place He remembered Simon's in
structions "The quieter we can do
these things, the better" the clan
leader had said "If we can get
through to October thirtieth with no
killings. the safer it is for us. Go
easy, Dave. Sound this Hudson 6dx.
If he'll keep still for a hundred, let
him have it in peace"
Dave slipped his rifle into the hol-
low Of his arm and continued on down
the trail. He didn't try to stalk. In
| a moment Hudson heard his step and
| looked up. They met in a circle Of
| freight.
1t is not the mountain way to frater-
nize quickly, nor are the mountain
men quick to show astonishment.
Hudson had not seen another human
being since his last visit to the settle
ments. Yet his voice indicated no
surprise at this visitation.
"Howdy," he grunted.
"Howdy," Dave replied. "How about
grubY
Help yourself. Supper just ready"
Dave helped himself to the food Of
! the man that, a moment before, he
would have slain; and in the light of
the high fire that followed the meal,
he got down to the real business of
the visit.
II suppose you've forgotten that
little deed you witnessed between old
Mat Folger and Ross-twenty years
ago." Dave began easily, his pipe be-
tween his teeth.
Hudson turned with cunning gilt
ter in his eyes. Dave saw it and
grew bolder. "Who wants me to for
get it?" Hudson demanded.
Il amt said that anybody wants
you to-" Dave responded. II asked
you if you had"
Hudson was still a moment, strok-
ing absently his beard. IF you want
to know" he said, II amt forgotten.
But there wasn't just deed There
was an agreement, too"
II know all about that agreement"
Dave confessed.
"You do, eh? So do !. I amt likely
to forget"
Dave studied him closely. "What
good Is it going to do you to remem-
oer?" he demanded.
II amt saying that it's going to do
me any good. At present 1 amt got
nothing against the Turner's. They've
always been all right to me. What's
between them and the Rosses Is past
and done-although I know just In
what way Folger held that land and
no transfer from him to you was le-
gal. But that's all part Of the past.
AS long as the Turner's continue to be
my friends l don't see why anything
should be said about it."
Dave speculated. It was wholly
plain that the old man had not yet
heard of Bruce's return. There was
no need to mention him. Were glad
you are our friend" Dave went on.
"But we don't expect no one to stay
friends with us unless they benefit to
some small extent by it. How many
furs do you hope to take this year?"
mot enough to pay to pack out.
Maybe two hundred dollars in bount-
les before New Year-coyotes and
wolves"
"Then maybe fifty or seventy-fve
dollars, without bOthering to set the
traps, wouldn't come In SO bad"
'Tt wouldn't come in bad. but 1t
doesn't buy much these days. A hun.
dred would be better"
"A hundred 1t is," Dave told him
with fnality.
The eyes above the dark beard
shone in the freight. The money
changed hands They sat long time,
deep In their own thoughts.
| "All we ask" Dave said, 'is that