The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-10-09
CHAPTER Xxx

As Bruce waited his ewes slowly be-
came accustomed 70 the darkness lie
hegan 90 SEX the dim outlines of his
fellow occupants of the room-fully
seven hrawny men seated Ia chairs
about the walls lets hear you drop
Your rifle. one 81 them said
Rruce recoguized the grim voice as
Slmons-heani on cue occasion before.
lie lc, his rife fall from his hands. lie
knew that only death would be the
answer 90 any resistance 20 these men.
Then Simon scratched a match. and
without looking al him. bent 10 touch
Il 70 the wick of the lamp.
The tiny flame sputtcred and flick
cred. filling the nom with dancing
shadows Bruce looked about him
Simon sat beside the fireplace. the
lamp az his elbow. As the wick
caught. the Hight frightened and stead
led and Bruce could see plainly. on
each side of him. In chairs about the
walls. sat Slmons brothers and his
blood relations that shared the estate
with him. They we're huge gauni
men, most Of them dark bearded and
sallow.sklnned. and all Of them regard
ed him with the snine gnze ~ specula
tive interest.
Bruce dld not finch before their
gaze lie stood erect as he could IA.
Niinciivcly defiant
"our guest L. nther early" Simon
began. Dave hasn't come yei. and
Dave Is the principal witness"
A bearded man across the room m.
suercd him. "But guess NE alnt
goln to let the prisoner go for hack
~ evidence"
The circle laughed then-a harsh
sound that was not greatly different
from the laughter of the coyotes on
the sagehrush hills Bui they sobcred
when they saw that Simon hadn't
laughed His dark eyes were glowing.
"iou. by no chance. met him on the
way home. dld YOU" he asked
Il wish ] had" Bruce replied "Bui
didn't"
Il don't understand your eagerness
You didn't seem overly eager 70 meet
uS"
Bruce smiled wanly These wilder.
hess men regarded him with fresh IN.
fercsi. Somehow. they hadn't counicd
on his smiling. II was almost as n ha
we're Of the wilderness breed himself.
instead of the son Of cities. I'm here.
nm notT' he said. II isn't as N You
came 20 my house frsi."
Yes. you're here. simon confirmed
~And I'm wondering n Won remefnber
what told you Inst as you left Mar
tins store that day--ihat ! gave no
man two warnings"
Il remember that Bruce replied. |
4 saw no reason for listening 20 YOU.
don't see any reason now. and ]
wouldn'i n i wasn't for fhat row Of |
guns"
simon studied his pale face per.
haps you'll be sorry you didn't listen.
before this night Is over. And there
are many hours ye, In Il Bruee-you |
rnme W here 70 these mountains to
otpa old wounds
"Slmon. came NJ here 70 right
wrongs-and you know r. Tf old
wounds are opened. I-cau't help g."
-And tonight Simon went on a. n
he had nof been answered. you have
rome unhidden into our house II
would be all the evidence the courts
would need. Bruce-that you crept In
10 our house IN the dead Of hight. N
anything happened 70 you here. no
word could BE- raised against Us You
we're a brave man. Brg4e."
so I can suppose you left the
l0;er
The circle laughed again. but Simon
silclced them with a gesture You're
Fery keen be said.
Then where is Lndaf- Bruceis
yes hardened. 4 an more interested
n her whereabouts than 10 this talk
With you.~
The last seen Of her. she was going
- bill with Dave. When Dave re-
urns yog can ask him
The bearded man opposite from
Simon uttered q short syllable Of a
zuxh ~And II don't look ike he's 20
ng % return be said. The knowing
ook On bis face was deeply sbhorrenf
o Bruce. Curi0usly. SiEnon's face
lushed. ard be vhirled IN bis chair. Z
DO you mean anything IN partic1-
ar. Old BmT be demanded.
IT looks 20 ne ike maybe Dawes
orTot let Of things y0s told him.
nd he and Linda are havin' 6 little
T1rkin' tine together cut In the
rush
The idea seemed 70 please TIE clan
,uf cimou's eres gioued. and Bruce