New Britain herald., 1922-03-24
Continued From Our Last Issue

Continued From Our Last Issue
 Soon they heard q scramble and splash ip the creek. Dan slilsc was coming back.
 Slike jammed his Winchester into ore of the empty scabbards and un- tied the bridle reins of the horses. Holding tho reins in one hand, he gnpped a saddle horn and simultane- ously stuck toe in stirrup. Ensued then mighty creak of saddle leath- CT, snort, and Slike found himself on bis back on the ground with one foot higher than his head. A gun bar rel smote him smartly over tho ear.
 When Slike emerged into the full possession of his senses, he was the most disgusted man in the territory.
 Do you feel like admitting that the district attorney helped you break 1ail 2" asked Billy.
 'Nothin' to say" declared Dan Bike, the unrepentant.
 They found the body of the man with his face in the water. Billy dragged out the body and turned it on it's back
 This feller ain't Jack Murray" cried the perplexed Mr. Wingo. Its Skinny Shindle. Where's Jack Mur" ray?"
 They left Skinny Shindle lying be- side the little creek and went to the other dead man beside the branding fire.
 
 Billy turned the dead man face up- ward. He whistled. Here's an odd number. This feller is Simon Reel foot's foreman, Conley. I'd sure like to know why he's riding for the T. IT."
 Came then a puncher riding on his occasions.
 T know him. said Dawson. Cmon, Tommy. It's me. Johnny Dawson"
 "'Lo Johnny" Tommy said, with a straight mouth Did that man with his arms tied kill Daley?'
 "Is that his name?"' asked Billy, flicking his thumb toward the dead man.
 Jim Daley" said Tommy. Did he?"
 Sure. I killed him." slil1e trucu- lently answered the question.
 This is sure hard on Daley" ob- served Tommy. He told me he came north for his health.'
 "North?"
 Yeah, couldn't stand the climate sn Arizona, he said" amplifed Ton- my, He only joined the outfit last week. Let's go see if I know the other feller."
 Sure, I know him." declared Tom my, after one look at the dead face Hes named Brindley-been with the Horseshoe since February"
 Toward dawn next day the horses showed signs of rring. Mine wont last another five miles," said Johnny Dawson.
 They were making camp when Billy stopped to examine a butcher knife taken from SIike. He caught his breath On the handle of the butcher knife the letters T. w. were cut deer into the wood.
 How many butcher knives did you take from Waltons?" he demanded
 "One," replied sike.
 "Why. hells bells!" exclaimed Billy "then you didn't kill Rafe Tuckleton.'
 First I knew he was dead" Slike said thoughtfully. "As rule, don't kill my customers"
 "She said he only took one knife, ' Billy told himself stupidly.
 He was no nearer the solution of the Tuckleton murder. His theory that Slike had killed Tuckleton was smashed to smithereens by the dis covery of the Walton butcher knife in Slike's bootleg. Unless Slike had taken two knives. But Slike had not taken two knives.
 Early one morning several days later the sheriff pro tenn of Crocker county was reused by rappings or the office door. Shotgun. Shillmar did not open the front door. He went around the back way with hi, gun in his hand and, on circling the house, he found at the front door a hatless Dan Slike flat on his back ir the dust, tied hand and foot, and with gag in his mouth.
 Later in the day Guerilla Melody called on Nate Samson, asked the storekeeper several apparently aim less questions and leafed through the cutlery pages of. Mates hard ware catalog. Still later in the day Johnny Dawson rode out of Colder Bar. Only two people besides himself