River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-09-13

to Plimsoll, who stared at him half
comprehendng. For Gawd's sake,
what's happened here? Gimme
drink" He snatched at the bottle
and swallowed from the neck. Here,
you need swig. We got to git out
of here, pronto. Have you scragged
the gel?" He thrust the bottle at
Plimsoll, who drank, senses rallying
by the urge of danger that emanated
from the cook like the sweaty stencil
of frightened animal.
"Brandon's gang has come back"
said Cookie. ''It's the d-dest streak
of luck. They must have fell in with
Wyatt or some Of his pals. They must
have been to the ranch. They cut Off
the boys and the horses over by Sand
crick! Reynolds got clear. He saw
them comm an streaked it. They
were shootin' like hi, he said. Hahn
an Butch has gone up to the lookout
to Hear that?"
That was single rifle-shot. fol-
lowed by the others, the last almost
as one.
"H-l!" cried Plimsoll. they've got
us this end. It's Wyatt. Just my
id luck for him to meet up with
Brandon"
Cookie ran outside and Plimsoll fol-
lowed TO the door, lethargy leaving
him in the face of disaster, though he
could not think fast or clearly. Hahn
came gathering over the rocks on his
horse, his face chalky white
eco get him slug of whisky"
Plimsoll ordered Cookie.
But Cookie, his face twitching with
fright, jumped for his own mount and
went galloping down the valley to the
south.
Plimsoll sent curses after him,
reaching for his own pistol before he
remembered it was inside, dragging
Hahn's half out of it's holster and
then quitting as the fleeing cook tam
gented and disappeared behind some
timber.
The handkerchief about PIimsoll's
wounded wrist was now a sodden rag,
but the loss of blood had cleared his
BRAIN He set his left arm about
Hahn and helped him into the cabin.
Molly was stirring and Plimsoll
scowled blackly at her. He gave
Hahn drink.
pened? / know about Reynolds. /
mean at the lookout"
"We no more than made the look
out" said Hahn, before six men
came riding along, heeled for trouble.
One of them was the black-bearded
guy from California who was here
with that Brandon, first time they
came nosing around. And another
was Wyatt Wyatt was just starting
to point 'em out the entrance when
Butch lets him have it. Hits him
smack in the forehead. Before he
could show 'em the way in. He may
have told 'em about it on the way up.
But Blackboard must have caught the
shine of Butchs barrel. He fires
back-they all had their rifles handy
cross the pOmmel-the bullet goes
plumb through the tree and knocks
He falls against me and I show In
the open, sliding on that Id slippery
bowIder, sliding inside and out OF
range, but they got me.
They'll be through any minute,
Plim. You can't tell how much Wyatt
told 'em on the way up. They've got
me. l can't ride. My lungs are filling
up. Butch is paralyzed-if he amt
dead. A HI of wind-up! You can
make it out the way Reynolds did.
None Of the gang that left with Wyatt
knows about the side-trail by Spur
rock. But you'd better beat it. Me,
I've turned my last card. The case
is empty!"
His head fell forward onto his
arms. A trickle Of scarlet came from
the corner Of his mouth. Plimsoll
looked at him calculatingly Hahn
could not ride. But he wouldn't die
for while To leave him here where
the raiders would find him might