The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-07-26

Copyright 1922. by J. Allan Dunn
CHAPTER Xxl-continued.

Inc mare look the cOiu river Watel
about her fetlocks with a little shiver
wading In to the girths, sliding 10 6
deep pool where she had to swim g
few strokes before she found grave
under her hoofs and scrambled out
Suddenly, while Sandy hesitated how
best to arrange his patrol, a horse
came laundering out of the pines less
than a quarter of a mile away, a black
horse, shining with sweat, tired to its
limit, staggering In It's stride, the
rider hunched in the saddle more like
a sack of meal than a man.
Before Sandy could turn the mare
toward them three riders burst from
the trees like bolts from a crossbow,
squirting their mounts, the two In the
lead swinging lariats. They divided,
n 70 either side Of the laundering
black stallion. One nj the rear. gain
Ing, angling in. The ropes slIthered
out. the loops seemed to hang like
suspended rings of wire for a second
before they settled down, fair and
true, about the neck and shoulders of
the blacks rider. They frightened, the
lariats snubbed TO the saddle horns.
the horses sliding with iattened pas
terms, The black lunging on, pitched
forward as ii was relieved OF q sud
den weight and It's rider jerked
hideoUsly from the saddle, hands
clawing at the ropes that choked his
gullet, %wrenching, sinking deep, shut
ting off air and light with a horriG
taste OF blood and the noise Of thun-
dering waters.
The ropers wheeled their MOUNTS
and galloped back toward the woods.
the limp body of their victim drag
ging, Bouncing over the ground. The
third rode to meet Sandy. 1t was
Brandon. He hailed Sandy with sur
prise.
How'd you happen here this time
of night. Bourke? Not looking for
me?"
NO. ! was looking for the man
you've Just caught. l was about a
minute too late"
Brandon glanced c~urlously at San
dy. caught by the grim note in his
voice. But he made no comment.
Sorry If | spoiled your private
vendetta, B0urke. You can have him
what's left OF him, II you want. We
We're going to swing him from n tree
with a card on his chest presenting
him 10 Hereford county, with our
compliments. AS II Is, Bourke. I'd be
relieved If you'd keep out of this en-.
tirely. Even forgetting you'd met us.
We're within u rights. but we've
done some cleaning up tonight thar
we might have to explain If we. slaves
too long In the state. We got the
goods on Plimsoll one of his men
whose girl Plimsoll had stolen helped
us to pin them on him. We met him
at Hereford. I'm going to send the
facts and proofs to your authorities.
They may not approve of lynch law
these days. but they wouldn't act
aud we did. don't fancy they'll
bother us any. He wasn't worth the
ropes he spoiled. Just as well you
kept out OF the mix-up."
Sandy said nothing. There was no
need TO mention Molly's adventure.
"Want to be sure It's him" asked
Brandon.
The body Of Plimsorl lay at the
soot of a big pine. The loops were
stili tight about his neck. One of the |
ropes had been tossed over a bough. |
The two men had ~dismounted. They
nodded TO Sandy as he came up with
Brandon. They were horse owners. |
responsible men, who considered they |
had administered Justice. who felt no
more qualms concerning the dead man
than n his body had been the carcass
Of a Slaughtered steer.
waiting for the rest Of the BOYS
10 come up" said Brandon. "weTl hit
the trall home tonight. Bourke wants
to identify the body, boys"
Sandy looked down at the comfort
Cd, b~iackened face. and his disap.
polntment at having been forestalIed.
down. The gamblers fea.
lures had not been made placid by
1eath they still held much Of the
OF the last moments OF that
chase. his horse failing I'M
Ter him, foreknowledge OF sudden
Ieath and then the whistling ropes.
he Jerk into eternity . . i II was
thing to be forgotten. a nightmare
hat had nothing to do with the new
Iay ahead.
aIt,s PiImcoil.' said Sandy shortly.
I'm ridin' PACK TO Three Star.