The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-16
Episode Flyt.
OWNED VALLEY.
cHAPTER L

lSioony the hootch runer, and Ear
Leyerett trap thief, came to
Drowned Valley.
They were SIN a mile distant
from the most southern edge Of that
vast desoiation, but already lamar.
eciss appeared IN the beauty OF their
burnt gold; little pools glimmered
here and there; patches Of amber
sphagnum and crimson pitcher.
plants became frequent; and once
or twice Kloon's big boots broke
through the crust Of fallen leaves,
soaking him to the ankles with
black silt.
Leyerett, always a coward, had
pursued his devious and 1arcenous
way through the world, always in
deadly fear OF sink holes.
His movements and paths were
those Of q weasel, preferring always
solid ground; but he lacked the
courage Of that sinuous little beast,
though he possessed all OF Its fe.
foeity and far more cunning.
He1ooked at the back OF Kloon's
massive head: One shot would blow
that skull into fragments, he
thought; shtvering.
onelshot from behind-and TWEEN
~ thousand! dollars-or, IL It proved
q better deal. the contents Of the
packet; For, II Quintana's bribery
had dazzled them. what effect
might the contents Of that secret
packet have X revealed?
There might easily be half a
million In bills pressed together in
that heavy, flat packet. Bills were
absolutely safe plumber. But Kloom
had turned a deaf ear to his sug.
sestinns Kloon, who never enter.
tanned ambitions beyond his hootch
rake.off whose. miserable imagin-
nation stopped at a wretched per.
centage, satisfied,
Tamaraeks, sphagnum, crimson
pitcherplants grew thicker; wet
woods set with little black pools
Htretched away on every side.
II was still nearly a mile from
Drowned Valley when Jake Kloon
halted In his tracks and seated
tlimself on a narrow ridge Of hard
ground. And Leverett came lightly
up ant, after nosing the whole vi.
ctnity, sat down cautiously where
KIoon would have to turn partly
around TO look at him.
Where the hell do we meet Up
with Quintana?" growled Kloon,
tearing q mouthful from a gnawed
tobacco plug and showing the re,
mainder deep into HIS trousers
pocket:
I'VE gotta travel a piece, yet.
Say, Jake. be you a man or
be you poor dumb critter what
amt got no .spunk?"
KloonI chewing on his cud
turned and glanced at him. Then
he spRt, as answer. =
IF you got the spunk Of a chip.
intnk you and nell take a peek
at that there packet. I bet YOU
itss thousand.dollar bills-more'a
aSbillion million dollars. likely"
Kloon's dogged silence conttn-
,ued. Leyerett licked his dry lips.
HIS rifle lay on his knees. Almost
imperceptibly he moved It, moved
itS again, froxe stiff as Xloon spat,
then by intinitesimal degrees con.
tlnned to edge the muzzle toward
Kloon.
'Jake!e
Aw. shut your head" grum-
blsd ,Kioon disdainfully. "You allus
was q dirty rat-you sneakin' trap
robber. Enough's enough. ! amt
cot no use for no billion million
dollar bills. Ten thousands buy
me All 4 cal1ate to need till I'm
planted. But you're like a hawg;
yof amt never had enough O.
fiothin' and you won't never git
enough pelther-not II you wuz
God almighty you wouldn't"
sTen thousand dollars hatn't
nothins TO a billion million, Jake. "
Kloon squirted a stream Of to.
bacco at a pltcher.plant and filed
HE cup. Diverted and gratifIed by
the accuracy OF his aim, he took
other shots at intervals.
Leverett moved the muzzle Of
his rifle d hairs width to the left,
stiyered, moved It again. Under
his soggy, sun.tanned skin a pal
Tor made his visage sickly gray.
Iake?r
No answer.
ssay, Jake?"
No notice.
sIake,I wanta take peek at
them bills
Merely another, stream of tobac.
60 soiling the crimson pitcher.
Iim-Im despirit. I gotta take a
peek. gotta-gotta-"
Something in Leveretts unsteady
voice made Kloon turn his head.
YOU gol rammed fool" he said,
what you dom with your ,
The loud defamation OF the rifle
punctuated Kloons inquiry with a
final period. The big, soft-nosed
bullet struck him full in the face,
splitting his brains and part Of his
sknIi down his back, and knocking
him nat as though he had been
dubbed.
Leyerett, stunned, sat staring,
motionieSS, clutching the rifle
from the muEzle OF which a deli
cate stain Of vapor foated and dis
appeared through rosy bar '.oF
sunshine.
In the intense stiffness Of ia
place. suddenly the dead mdg
made q sound; and the traprobGe
nearly tainted.
But It was only air escaping
front the slowly collapsing lungs;