The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-06-14
CHAPTER XIV
A Free-ferAIl.

PlimsOll had set up working part
nership with a man who had brought
moonshine and bootlegged whisky to
the camp, occupying the next shack to
the gambling place. For convenience
Of service extra doors had been cut
and a rough-boarded passageway
erected between the two places. Plim-
soil himself presided over the stud.
poker table. dealing the game. He
waited the result Of his play with
Wyatt and the latter's companions.
Wyatt and his fellow rider had been
detailed to ride down the tent that
had been reported occupied By the
Three Star owners. That part Of the
plan had been suggested by Wyatt out
Of the sheer deviltry Of his invention.
Plimsoll had enlisted others Of his fol-
lowing. none too fearless, to .loiter b
the brush and. In the general eonfu-
sion. nre to cripple and to Kill.
Plimsoll had learned Of the visit Of
the men who had come with Bill Bran
don to Investigate Plimsoll's methods
Of running the Wateriine horse ranch.
He had learned, through the leakage
that always occurs In a cattle COM
munity, that Brandon claimed to be an
old acquaintance Of Sandy and his
partners. SO he had told his men who
had come with him to the camp from
the Waterline ranch that the Three
Star outfit was danger to all Of them,
undoubtedly acting AZ spies for Bran.
don, and that they should b eliminated
for the general good. But there was
none Of them. from Plimsoll down,
who had any fancy to stand up against
the guns Of Sandy. or Of Mormon and
Sam. when the breaks were anywhere
nearly even.
Plimsoll, with his election from
Hereford, the advent Of woman suf-
frAge, the coming Of Brandon and
other irate horse owners had begun
to realize that his days were getting
short In the land. He looked to the
camp for q nnal coup. II he held the
Casey claims and sold them, AZ he En-
pected to do. to an Eastern capitalist
to whom he had telegrsphed some
days before. no might re-esta blish him.
self. Sandy's prompt arrival and sub
sequent events had crimped that plan
and he fell back upon ali the crooked
tactics that he possessed In gambling.
And now, II Wyatt
He was dealing the last card around
when Wyatt came In. and his eyes LIT
up. Then his face stifrened. the light
changed to a CLEAN Of malevolence.
Following Wyatt were the three part
ner1 taking open order AZ they came
through the entrance, about which the
space was clear. Sandy in the middle.
Mormon on the right flank and Sam
on the left. The two last smiled and
nodded to one or two acquaintances
Sandy's face was set In serious cast
The players at Plimsoll's table turned
to see what caused the suspension o.
the game. others followed their sx-
ample. The Three Star men were
known personally to some Of those In
the room. The story Of what had hap
pened during the day had buxzed In
everybody's ears, from Roaring Rus
sells discontinue to- Plimson's failure
to hold the claims and the eviction mo-
tice served on him by Sandy.
Chairs edged back. the standing
moved for better viewpoint, the room
focused on Plimsoll, Wyatt and the
three cow-chums. Then Wyatt stepped
aside. There was a malicious little
grin on his face. Mormon's sugges-
ton a. to his private srudge against
Plimsoll was not without foundation.
Wyatt had been glad to find excuse
for severing relations with the gam
bier. He had done his best and failed,
but his failure -as not bitter.
ITO Be Cuctinuedl