The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-02-04

looking-Fisss on a dresscr mar the
foot Of the bed.
Go 90 IL. SOM, Grab the gun ana
bust his haid wide opcnr' an excited
voice encouraged Hart
HUT pobie chung to hts weapon
as a lost COW does TO 'doh- water
hole In the desert. Rob got a grip
ON hts arm and twisted tiu he
screamed with pain. lie did a
head spin and escaped. One hun.
dred and sixty pounds OF steel
museicd eowpunchcr landed on his
midriff and the slx-ahootcr went
gathering away 10 n far corner OF
the room.
Bob divcd for tho revolver. Dohie
for the deer. A moment. and Hart
had the gun. Hut whereas there
had been three In the room there
were now but two.
A voice from tho bed spoke In
curt command. Cut me loose" Hob
had heard that voice ON more than
enc roundup. II was that OF Elm.
erson Crawford.
The rangc-ridcr's sharp knife cut
the ropes that tied the hands and
feet Of his employer lie worked
In the dark and IL took time
Nv no are your Howcome you
here demanded the cattieman.
Vim Bob Hart. Its quite a story.
Miss Joyce sent me and Dave San.
ders,s answered tho young man.
sim busy with the ropes.
From below came the SQUAD Of
shot. the shutting OF many feet
Must be him downstairs
II reckon. Thcy's a muiey sun
In the hall"
Crawford stretched his cramped
muscles. ricxing and rcflcxinE his
arms and legs Get H. son. Wen
drift down and sit in"
when bob returned he found the
big caftleman examining Doble's re.
voiver lie broke the shotgun 20
make sure - was loaded.
Then. wen travel he Saii
coolly.
The battle sounds below had died
away. From the landing they
looked down into the hall and saw
bar Of light that came thru
partly open door. Voices were
lifted In excitement
'-Ons 90 Em Crswford's riders
some one WAS saying. "A whole
passed OF EN- must be round the
place. -
Came the thud % boot on some.
thing soft. Put the damn SPY outa
business. 1 say" broke in another
angrily.
Harris gorge rose -T'ha'a Miller
he whispered TO his chief. Hes
kickin' Dave now he's down cause
Dave whaled him good
Softly the two men padded down
the stair treads and moved along
the passage.
who's that demanded shorty
thrustinT his head into tho hall
stay right there or III shoot
"oh. no. you WON'T answered the
catilemsn evenly. Tin comm into
that room 20 have settlement
There1i Be no shootin'--hniszs do
1t
Ills step did not faitcr. He moved
forward. brushed shorty aside and
strobe into the midst Of his enc
mics.
Dave lay on the floor. His hair
was ciottcd with blood and n thin
stream OF II dripped from his head
The men grouped round his body
had their eyes focused on the man
who had just pushed his way in
All OF them were armed. but not
one Of them made move to at.
tack.
For there IL something about
strong man urafrsid more potent
than a company OF troopers. Such
ufsn was Emerson Crawford now
His life might be hanging In the
balance OF his enemies fears. but
he gave no sign OF uncertainty. His
steady gray eyes swept the circle
rested on each worried face. and
fastened on Brad steeiman.
The two had been enemies for
years. rivals fer control OF the
range and for ieaderHrfp in the
community. Before that. as young
men. they had been candidates for
the hand OF the girl that the better
one had won. The sheepman WIS