Williams news., 1922-12-15

session simon suggested slowly, when your
 gun was damned. Of course, he took the gun. Whats the use of trying to lie to me-"
 He dId What could I dO?''
 And now you want him potted- from ambush"
 Whats the use of waiting? Who'd
 know?' The two men stood face to face in the quiet and deepening dusk of the barn; and there was growing determination on each face. Every day our chance is less and less,' Dave went on. with this land behind him, he'd be in a position to pay old debts, I'm telling you. We should have met him on the trail and let the buzzards talk to him.
 'Yes,'' Simon echoed in a strange half-whisper. Let the buzzards talk to him.
 Dave took fresh heart at the sound of that voice. No one would have ever knosed it." he went on. NO one would ever know it now. They'd find his bones, some time, maybe, but there'd be no one to point to. They'd never get anything against us. I tell you-it's all the way, or no way at all. Tell me to wait for him on the trail"
 Wait. Wait a minute. How long before he will come?"
 'tAny time now. And don't postpone this matter any more. We're men, not babies. He's not a fool or a cow ard, either. And he's a shot-I saw that plain enough-and how'd you like to have him shoot through your windows some time? Old Elmira and Linda have set him on, and he's hot for it.
 "I wish you'd got that old heifer when you got her son. Simon said. He still spoke calmly; but it was plain enough that Dave's words were having the desired effect "So he's taken up the blood-feud, has he? I thought I gave his father some lessons in that a long time since. Well, I SUD- pose we must let him have his wayI'
 And remember, too," Dave urged, what you told him when you met him in the store. You said you wouldn't warn him twice."
 T remember" The two men were silent, but Dave stood no longer mo- tionless. He was shivering all over with malice and fury.
 linen you've given the wordT' he asked.
 i've given the word, but I'll do 1t my own way. Listen, Dave" Simon stood, head bent, deep in thought. "Could you arrange to have Linda and the old hag out of the house when Bruce gets backf'
 "Yes-''
 We've got to work this thing right. | We can't operate in the open like we used to. This man has taken up the the thing to do-is to let him come to us"
 ''But he won't do it. He'll go to the | courts first.''
 Simon's face grew stern. "I don't | want any more Interruptions Dave. I mean we will want to give the impress sion that he attacked us f1rst-on his | own free will. What if he comes into l our housea man unknown in these | parts-and something happens to him therein the dead of night? It wouldn't look so bad then, would it :? | Besides-if we got him here-before the clan, we might be able to find out where that document is. First, how can you tell when the's going to .oIne?"
 "He ought to be here very soon. The moons bright and I can get up on the ridge and see his shadow through your field glasses when he sfOSScS LLC UiS SoulH 4hdt will give me a full half-hOur before he .omes.''
 Its enough. I'm ready to give you vour orders now. They are-just to Ise your head. and on some pretext get those two women out of the house 70 that Bruce can't find them when he eturns Don't let them come back or an hour, if you can help it. If it right. If it doesn't, we'll lse more direct measures. I'll tend to he reSt.''
 He strode uo the wall and took lown a saddle from the hook. Quick y he threw it over the back of one of he COW ponies, the animal that he had punished. He put the bridle in Dave's and. "Stop at the house for the ,lasseS, then ride to the ridge at nce" he ordered. Then keep watch"
 CHAPTER XVII