The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-07-05
CHAPTER XIX
The Hidsout.

trouble between PlimsoIl and Wyatt,
had brewed steadily. There had col.
lected, besides Plimsoil's riders. Butch
Parsons, Hahn and others Of Pllm-
soils following who had been forced
from their livelihood as gamblers.
They still hung together, waiting for
Pilmsoll TO make O cleanup of his
horses and move TO places where they
were less d~iscredited.
Plimsoll had lost caste as a leader.
His moods were morose or Dragging.
His ascendancy was gone. The crowd
chung TO him like so many leeches,
waiting for a split Of the proceeds of
the sale Of horses that no one APP
peared eager to buy in quantity.
Ready cash was short. There We're
frequent quarrels through II all there
worked the heaven of Wyatt's jeal-
ousy, fermenting steadily.
When the split anne. after an all
night session With cards and liquor
following the refusal Of a dealer TO
buy the herd. II was not merely a
matter between Wyatt; and Plimsoll.
Sides were taken and the weaker
driven from the ranch. Preparations
were made for departure.
SITS a rotten mess Butch Parsons
told PlimsoIl. wyatt or one Of the
others'l tell all they know. Wen go
South. That's my plan. You can find
a buyer In Tucson. Put the horses In
the Hideout. There's grub there and
a safe place 10 lay low If anything
goes wrong. They'll have a fine time
proving up the horses are stolen.
We've got to take a chance. There's
a good chance Of a sale in Tucson"
Within an hour the herd, already
corraled for the chance of a quick
sale, was being driven To the glen
known as the Hideout, a little noun
tain park with water and good feed
where PHmsoll placed the horses that
his men drove off from far-away
ranches, or Plimsoll bought from 9th
err horse dealers of his own sort, keep
Ing them there until their brands were
doctored and possible pursuit died
down. There were two entrances to
the Hideout, one through a narrow
gut almost blocked by a fallen
bowlder, with only q passage wide
enough to let through horse and rider
single file. a way that could be easily
barricaded or masked so that none
would suspect any opening in the cliff.
The second led by a winding way
through a desolate region, over rock
that left no sign and wound by twists
aud fafrya1 fhut mana htlf fha fnfffQfad
could follow. The place, accidentally
discovered, was perfect for Its pur-
pose. There was feed enough for the
entire herd for a month. There was
q cabin In a side gully OF the park,
near the blocked entrance, the whole
place was honeycOmbed with caves,
In the towering sidewalks aud under
ground.
Five OF the nine left Of the Water
line outfit drove the herd. Hahn and
Parsons could both ride. but they
were not experts al handling horses.
They chose TO go with plimsoll and
the outfit-cook, while the rest took the
long way round to the other way In.
The four fingered to give the rest a
start.
Il hate leaving the country without
evening UP some way with the Bourke
OUTFIT" said Plimsoll. "D--n him and
the rest OF them, they broke the luck
for. us. As for the girl, II n
"0h, quit throwing the bull con
about that, Jim," said Parsons blunt
ly. SANDY Bourke's a d--n good man
for you 10 leave alone an you know
It. Talk amt goin' to hurt him."
TN coming back some time" said
Pilmsoll with a string OF oaths.
s'Then you'll see something besides
aalk."
Parsons jeered at him. Plimsols
was no longer the leader and he knew
1t. But he hung ON to the semblance
of authority that an open quarrel
with Butch might shatter. Butch was
a bully. but Plimsoll respected his
shooting. And Hahn sided with him.
Ihe cook did not count.
Plimsoll carried with him a tine pair
OF binoculars and. as they rode leis-
urely on and reached a vantage point,
ne swept the tumbied horizon for
signs OF any strange riders. II was
the caution Of habit as much as ac-
tual fear OF a raid.
At times plImsoll rode aside from
the trail 20 a ridge crest for wider
vision. At last, coming up the pass
Of Willow creek, he sighted Molly and
Donald with Grit trotting beside them.
ut was the dog that confirmed his