Evening journal., 1922-02-01


door
Never before had Dave noticed
that stairs creaked and groaned so
loudly beneath the pressure Of a soft .
footstep He did not hide the truth /
from himself. If Steeiman or his
men found him here looking for
Crawford he would never leave the /
house alive. His foot left the last I
tread and Mound the uncarpeted /
floor. As he moved forward his
stomach muscles t.ghtcned. At any
moment some one might come out
Of the room and walk into him.
lie put his eye TO the keyhole. Ad
Miller was sitting straddle a chair. |
his elbows on the back Another
man, one not visible 10 the cow
puncher was announcing a decision
and giving an order.
Hook up the horses. Shorty. He's
got his neck bowed and he won't
sign. All right I'll get the durn
fool up in tho hills and show him
whether he will or won't"
The range-rider grumbled an in
distinct answer. Dave did not make
out the words. and his interest in
For from upstairs there came the
sudden sounds Of trampling feet, OF
bodies thrashing to and fro in con-
hict. A revolver shot barked its
sinister menace.
Dave rose 20 go. At the same time
the door in front Of him was jerked
open. He pushed his forty-hve into
Miller's fat ribs
"Stick up yore hands-stick 'em
upi"
The boy was backing along the
passage as he spoke. He reached a
newell post in that second while
Miller was being flung aside by an
eruption OF men from the room. Like
a frightened rabbit Dave leaped for
the stairs. taking them three az a
time. Halfway up he collided with
a man flying down. They came to-
gether with the heavy impact OF
fast-moving bodies.
Sanders rose like a rubber ball.
The other man lay still. Dawes
head had struck him in the solar
piexus and knocked the breath out
of him. The young cowpuncher
found himself the active center Of a
cyclone His own revolver was gone.
lie grappled with a man. Selling him
by the wrist TO prevent the use OF a
iong-barreled Cot. The trigger fell
a bullet flying through the ceiling.
Dave clung close TO the man he
had seized. using him as shield
AGAINST the others. The pack sway
ed down the hall into the wedge OF
light thrown by the lamp In the
room
Jagged pain shot through his
head He stumbled and wont down
Heavy boots kicked at him. II
seemed TO him that bolts OF light
ming were zigzagging through him.
The pain ceased and he hoated
away into a sea Of space
CHAPTER VII.
Bob Hart waited tin his friend
had disappeared into the house be-
fore he moved.
He TOO. examined his gun before
he followed Dave through the dor
mer window and passed into tho
frowsy bedchTmber. None OF inc
details OF it escaped his cool, Keen
gaze. least Of an the sawed-om shot
gun In the corner.
"That scatter gun might come
handy. Reckon TN move 1t SOS 1T
know Just where it's at when l need
H." ne said TO himself. and carried
the gun TO the bed. whore he COW
cred il with a quilt
lie was about 20 open the door
when someone spoke. He recognized
the voice. II belonged to the mar
who wrote his pay checks. and Il
came from an adjoining room.
Always knew you was crooked a.
dogs hind laig. Doble. Some dal
IN certainly hang yore hide up e
dry for yore trcachery."
mo use TO get on the peck, Em
Maybe youll need a friend befor'
/. you're shet OF Brad"
"Ie relieves my mind some TO tel
YOU what a yellow coyote you are,
explained the cattleman.
Bob tried the door. The knol
turned In his hand and the doc
slowly opened inward.
= The rattle OF the latch brough
George Doble's sly. shifty eye round
The crook jumped TO his feet. tug
: ging at his gun. Before he could fire
the range-ridcr had closed with him
lne nuNcNel tiuNul MS IlEuN arm
The detected bullet pinged through
a looking-glass on a dresser near tn
foot Of the bed
one hundred and sixty pounds q
. steel-muscled cowpuncher landed o.
his midriff and the siX-shooter wen
Gathering away to a far corner O
the room
Fob dived for the revolver. Dobl
FOR the door a moment. and Han
had the gun. But whereas there ha
been three in the room there wer
now but two.
voice from the bed spoke in cur
command. ~Cut me loose" Bob ha
heard that voice on more than on
roundup. II was that of Emerso
Crawford.
From below came the sound Of
shot. the shuhling Of many feet
Crawford stretched his crampe
muscles licking and reneNing hi
p arms and legs. wen drift dow
and sit in"
Softly the two men padded dow
the stair treads and moved alon