Evening journal., 1922-03-18

fuses n
note signed by Hazel requesting him !
to come at once 20 the Walton ranch |
He Us suspicious and forces Judge
Driver TO wear his clothes and ap-
proach the house on horseback. Billy |
crawls 20 a window and sees Tom |
Walton dead on the floor.
He continued to stare unbllnkingly |
into the room and after a time he
made out the dim lines OF another
mans figure sitting on the table be
side one OF the front windows. The
head OF this other man was turned
away from Billy. He was watching
the draw through the front window
on account Of the soft snow Billy
did not hear an approaching horse
until II had almost reached the ranch
house door. When the horse stop
ped the man inside the ranch house
moved quietly to the door and stood
at one side OF IT, His hand moved
to his leg and came away.
The rider dismounted. Billy heard
him rattle the latch OF the door.
Don't shoot" he heard him say
in an agonlzed whisper. Don't
shoot. for Gawd's sake"
Billy. watching al the window
saw the man In the room fling open
the door For an instant the tall
and hatiess form OF Judge Driver
showed black against the expanse Of
snow framed IN the doorway. Again
came the plea for mercy-a wild cry
OF Don't shoot, Don't shoot It's
mel Drlverl" as the judge. realizing
only too we'll that any such outcry
was tantamount 20 a confession OF
guilt. plunged into the room. Obvi-
ously his purpose was TO escape the
fire OF the avenging rifles that ne
had every reason 10 believe were
somewhere in the brush along the
draw.
Thank Gawd, Thank Gawd."
babbied the Judge. sinking back
against the door, Il thought you'd
shoot me-"
Il damn near did" remarked the
man. whose voice Billy now recog-
nized as that OF a late arrival In
town. named Slike. III you hadn't
ierked your hat off SOS I could see
YOUR face. I would have. When will
Wingo get here. and didja get him 20
come by himself all right? BY Gawd.
you're wearing his clothesl Where
is he?"
Hes herel" gurgled the judge.
.'Then YOU did lead him here. damn
your soul! You white-livered cur do
you think I'm gonna hang on your
account? What did you tell him
To the accompaniment OF string
OF most ferocious oaths. Slike shook
the Judge as the terrier shakes the
rat. o,,
How many's he got with him ~
"One-two."
Wen shoot it out with 'em here
said. I amt kicked all the fight
ing blood out OF you. have II Ger
me run off that feller I downed. It's
on his leg yet. You can gamble
you'll tight, It's you or them re-
member"
"supnose he comes Dustin in the
hack wav?" quavered the Judge.
Wen try to take care OF MIN,
But he'll come the other way
guess"
Put slike guessed wrong. for Billy
wingo. Judging that the psyohologi-
cal moment had arrived. showed MS
gun hand through a window pane
and shouted. Hands up
"You dirty Judasl" yelled SNke
and. firing from the hip, he whipped
three shots into the judge before ne
himself fell with four Of Billy
wingo's bullets through his shoulder
and neck.
shot through and through, Judge
r,t.- a.,..,,a Ia a huddle and died.
CHAPTER Y
"This." said rafe Tuckleton, "i'
a helluva note
IT'S all -FOUR fault" the dstric'
attorney recriminated bitterly.
"Weu. the first part worked all
right" protested Rafe Tuckleton
"Dan downed Walton without any
trouble How could 7 tell Driver
would slip up on his part? I'm gla'
snke downed him. Served him righ
for being fool"
How do we know what happene'
before the fracas at Walton's? W.
don't. We don't know anything eN
cent that Tom Driver is dead. Dai
Slike wounded In the calaboose. an'
skinny Shindle has skedaddled."
"Sh-sh." cautioned Rafe. "Some
body coming-oh. it's you. Tip. To.
yeah. it's me. Tip" said O'Gor
man. closing the door carefully
Look here. Rafe, what did tel
YOU about downing Tom Walton"
'I ain't downed Tom Walton" de
MED Rafe sullenly.
"You had # done" insisted o'Gor
man.
How do you know did7" dodge'
Rafe.
you don't even seem able TO obe,
orders any more" said TIP o'Gor
oan.
"Go easy. you twol" snapped IN
district attorney. as a dog in tn
next room began TO bark. There
somebody comm up the path"
Billy wingo opened the door an
strobe without ceremony into tn
office. He was followed by Rile
Tyler. The latter slammed tn
door behind and set his back agains
IT,
It hope you boys are feeling gen
erous tonight" remarked Billy.
THE fact is" went on the cain
voice. I'm takin' up a collection