The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-24
continued From our Last Issue

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was coming back.
slike tammed his Winchester
INTO one Of the empty scabbords
and united the bride reins Of the
horses Holding the reins in one
hand, he gripped a saddle horn
ind simultaneously stuck to in
stiFrtps Ensued then a mighty
treak OF saddle leather, a snort.
and SItke found himself on his
back on the ground with one foot
higher than hts head4 A gun bar
rel sinotel him smartly over the ear.
When slike emerged into the full
possession Of his senses, he was
the most disgusted man in the
tefritory
DO you feel like admitting that
the district attorney helped you
break jail?T asked Billy.
Nothing to say" declared Dan
Slfke. the unrepentant.
They found the body OF the man
With his face in the water. Billy
dragged out the body and TURNED 1t
ullttL9i UaChs
This Teller amt Jack Murray"
cried The perplexed Mr.. Wingo.
ITS Skinny Shindle. Where's Jacit
Murray7r
They left Skinny shindle lying
beside the little creek and went TO
the other dead man beside the
branding fire.
Billy turned the dead man face
upward. He whistled. Here's an
odd number. This Teller is Simon
Reelfoot's foreman. Conley. I'd
sure like to know why he's riding
for the T o."
Game then a puncher riding on
his occasions.
4 know him." said Dawson.
G'mon Tommy. It's me, Johnny
Dawson.
70 Johnny" Tommy said with
q straight mouth. did that man
With his arms tied kill Daley?"
us that his name?" asked Billy,
fiieking his thumb toward the dead
man.
Jim Daley said Tommy.
Did he?s
Sure, / killed him" slike trucu-
1ently answered the question.
eThis Is sure hard on Daley"
observed Tommy. HE told me he
came north for his health"
Yeah, couldn't strnd the eli
mate In Arizona, he r''d" ampli.
tied Tommy. "He only TONED the
outfit last week. Let's so see II I
know the other feller."
Sure, I know him." declared
Tommy; after one look at the dead
face. Hes named Brlndley-been
with the Horseshoe since Febru-
ary:"
Toward dawn the next day the
horses showed signs OF firing.
Mine won't last another five
miles said Johnny Dawson.
They were making camp when
Billy stopped to examine a but
cher knife taken from Slike. He
caught his breath. On the handle
of the butcher knife the letters T
w were cut deep into the wood.
How many butcher knives did
you take from Walton's?" he de-
manded.
"one," replied slike.
.swhy, hells bells!" exclaimed
Billy, then you didn't kill Rafe
Tuck1eton."
'!First I knew he was dead
slike said thoughtfully. "As a
rule. I don't kill my customers. :
"she said he only took one
knife Billy told himself stupid
He was no nearer the solution Of
the Tuekleton murder. His theory
that slike had killed Tuckleton
was smashed to smithereens by tho
discoyery OF the Walton butcher
knife in slike's bootleg. Unless
Slike had taken two knives. But
EIike had not taken two knives.
Early one morning several days
later the sheriff pro TEN Of Croker
county was reused by rappings on
the office door. Shotgun Shillman
did not open the front door. He
went round tho back way with his
gun In hand and, on clrcling the
house, he found at tho front door
a hatless Dan Slike fiat on his
back In the dust, tied hand and
foot, and with a gag IN his mouth.
Later In the day Guerilla Melody
called on Nate Samson, asked the
atorekeeper several apparently
aimless questions and !oated
through tho cutlery pages Sc Mates
hardware catalog. Still late- Ia the
day Johnny Dawson rodo out Of
Golden Bar. Only two people be-
sides himself knew that he was
bound for. the railroad and telc-
graph line.
CHAPTER XVI.
There's a lot Of this stuff I
don't understand" said Guerilla
Melody after Dnwsun's return.
why did Conley go south? Conley
amt committed any crime round
here that I know Of"
I'm betting he did, ALA same"
said Billy cor else why was he so
particular 10 tell those T. U, boys
he was from Arlzora?"
Guerilla looked b%ewildered.
what did Coniey have against
Ttp2r
q don't know" said Billy, "But
maybe friend Simon can tell us
somethin',."
Simon Reeltoot, riding the range
hat day, met a strange horseman.
Did Simon know where Park Val.
ley VAST Simon knew
aShuexs," said the strayman
Here's a envelope and a pencil.
MaksIa III map like, will your"
Here" said Simon. holding out
the envelope, "This ought to fix