The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-05-17
CHAPTER xn--continued.

Sandy. with Mormon and Sam, stood
bench that furnished the floor for the
tent. Sandy's hands rested lightly on
his hips. his thumbs hooked in his
belt, fingers grazing the butts of his
guns. There was a smile on his lips
but none In his eyes. His tone and
manner were easy.
SAW his stencil on the tent he
said. u. r. In a diamond. Same
brand he uses To- his hawsses. Or
mebbe you found IT.
His drawing voice held a taunt that
brought angry Pushes of color to the
faces Of the men opposing him. vet
they made no definite movement
toward attack. There were seven
against three but. when the odds are
SO big and the minority faces them
with a readiness and an assurance that
shows In their eyes, On their lips. VI
brates from their compacted alliance.
the measure Is n Of viii. rather than
physical and merely numerical su.
periority. and the balance beam
qulvers undecidedly.
One Of the crowd clustered. ''Tm
giving you men two minutes TO clear
out Of here" he said. "No ~two-gunned
c%owpuncher can throw any blum round
here, II that's what you're trying TO
do
Sandy laughed ioyously.' The smile
was In his eyes now.
IF ! hgger a mans THROWN n
huff" he said, Il usually fgger to call
him, not to chew about it. Now, I'm
tHlkin', These claims are duly regis
tered In the name Of Patrick Casey,
his heirs an assign. Here's the pa
pers. The assessment work is all done.
Pats daughter owns 'em now. We're
representa- her. An I'm servin' you
notice 20 quit, Wen take the same
two minutes you WIS talkin of. Then
staht yore III demonstration, gents.
rroyidin' ! don't beat you to IT," He
started to roll a cigarette with hands
skillfnl and steady. Back Of him Sam
and Mormon stood like dogs ON point.
watchfui, unmoving. but Instinct with
suppressed motion.
"rle girl may be his heir" said the
man who had spoken. but Piimsoll liz
assignee. Pllmsoll staked him an
these claims are half his"
$50 j. p. was hIrin' you to do HIS
dirty work" said Sandy, his voice cold
with contempt. "You go back To him.
the whole lousy pack OF you. an tell
him from me he's a yellnw-spined tar.
Git. Take yore stun with you ar send
back 10 II. Now, git or this property"
IL a mar Fan make movements with
his hands so swiftly that they are COW
cred in less tnan u tenth of u second,
ordinary human sight cannot register
them. He has achieved the magician's
s~logan--the quickness of the hand de-
ceives the eye. II takes natural apti-
fude and long practice. whether n Is
Juggling gilded balls or blned-steel re.
volvers. Sandy could, with Il circ,inp
movement or his wrists. draw his gun
from their holsters and bring them IL
bear directly upon the target "a which
his eyes shifted. Glance. twist al
wrist. arrest Of motion. pressure ~
finger. all co-ordinaied. One moment
his hands were empty. his glance care
lessly contemptuous. the veriest move
ment or a spllt-secoifJ stop-watch aud
me gun In hfs right hand slai ARE. the
gun In his left swung IN an arc that
menaeed flie five card PLAYERS.
Tie either two we're STRUGGLING he
nenfh tbe crumpied fields nf \ ra
laoxed tenn. vrieriing frinticn1v l'ke
fhe stage hands wi,o Simulate waves