The Snowflake herald., 1923-05-11

looked at LnoSe placeS cIOSely, IfOWn-
ing as he gave his verdict
"Some one monkeyin' with this In
side of the last month";" he announced
Like as not it was that bunch Of East.
erners. They'd figger the camp was
abandoned an consider themselves
justified as philanthroplsts into bu'stn'
open anything that looked good-like
this tunnel Yes, sir" Sandy went on.
warming to his own theory, at w'udnt
surprise me If this warn't the mine
they sampled which Plimsoll finds out
is the real stuff an clamps on
"Well," said Mormon, "we'll have n
chance to ask him in minute. He's
comm up with that crowd of his
rangin erlong an their ha'r liftin'."
The three partners met the jumpers,
now headed by plimsoll, OF the border
| Of the claims. The gamblers face was
liyid 'You four-fiushers get off this
ground" he clustered you're claim
ing to represent Molly Casey's rights
after you've kidnapped the girl and
sent her out of the state. It won't get
you anywhere or anything. I've got a
half interest in these claims and I've
plenty of witnesses to prove it,
"I don't believe yore witnesses are
half as vallyble as they might have
been before politics shifted in Hereford
county" said Sandy. You amt got a
written contract an it w'udn't do you
a mite of good If you had. fur as I'm
concerned. Because I've been duly an
legally app'inted guardeen to Casey's
daughter Molly an I'm here to repre-
sent her interests, likewise mine. I've
rot my guardianship papers right with
me-"
"A HI of Tot of good they'll do
you in this camp" sneered Plimsoll.
| Representa- her interests. III say
you are an your own along with
en-" A laugh from his followers
heartened him. "If the camp ever
hears the yarn of your running off
with the girl and now. with her tucked
away, coming back to clean up, I've n
/ notion they'd show you four-fiushers
where you've sat in to the wrong
game. Why -
| Something in Sandy's face stopped
/ him. 1t became suddenly devoid of all
expression became q thing of stone
out of which blazed two gray eyes and
a voice issued from lips that barely
moved.
"Ive got notion. too, Plimsoll. a.
notion that it 'ud be Ii good days work
TO shoot you fo' f0ul-mouthed, lyiu',
| -4n I;,,,
fo'-fusher twice, an the ony wa" to
prove fo'-nusher is to call 70 Stow
down. I'm doin it,
The words came cold end cen.
backed by grim earnestneSs that I'M
printed itself on the lesser manhood
of the jumpers as finger leaves its
print in clay. They shifted back a
| little from Ilimsol, circling out as
they might have moved from main
marked by pestilence He stood trying
TO outface Sandy, to keep his eyes
steady.
y ou pack yore gun under yore coat
! Flap" said SANDY 81 don't know how
quick you can draw but aim to find
out"
He handed one of his own guEs to
Mormon. announcing his action lest
Plimsoll might mistake it,
"Now then" he went on. 81 once
told you | looked to you to stop any
gossip about Molly Casey. Same time
Burch Parsons an Sim Hahn got huht.
You don't seem able to sabe plain talk
an I'm tired Of talkin' to you, FIN
Piimsoll. Me. I'm goin' to roll me
cigarette. Any time you want to you
can draw. I'm givin' you the aidge on
me. lf you don't take that aidge. Jim
Plimsoll, I'm givin' you till sun-up ter
mOrrer mOrnin' TO git plumb out of
camp. An to keep driftin'."
Deliberately Sandy took tobacco
sack and papers from the pocket of
his shirt. his fingers functiOning auto
matically. precisely, his eyes never
shifting from Plmsoll's face. measur.
Ing by feel the amount of tobacco
shaken into the little trough of brown
paper.
The group gazed at him fascinated.
Plimsolfs face beaded with tiny drops
of sweat his hands moved SLOWLY up
ward toward his coat lapels. touched
them as Sandy twisted the end of the
cigarette. stayed there. shaking slight
| ly with what might have been eager
ness-or paralysis. For the look In the
| steel-gray eyes of Sandy Bourke. half
| mocking. all confident. spurred the
doubts that surged through the gam
| bler's chanee-calcuiating mind, while
he knew that every atom of hesitation
lessened his chances.
His own hands were close to his
chest. His right had but a few inches
to dart. to drag the automatic from It's
smooth holster. Sandy's hands were
high above his belt. rolling the ciga-
rette They had four times as far to
go. However, Plimsoll knew that II
anything went wrong with his perform