The Snowflake herald., 1923-05-04
Illustrations by
Irwin Myers

I'll make a JumpIn-jack of you or I'll
shoot yOre
The first syllable OF the intended
volley of foulness was barely out
when Sandy. stepping forward.
touched the bully on the shoulder
Russell whirled as bear whirls, gun
lifting.
LADY. back here in the crowd"
said Sandy quietly.
For a second Russell gasped and
stared and as he stared, the cold hard
look in Sandy's eyes told him the
manner OF man who had interrupted
him. But this mans guns were in the
holsters, Russelfs weapon was In
hand though It's muzzle was tilted sky
ward The crowd thickening. waited
his next move. He had been stopped
I'm his batting. He saw no woman
back of the big bulk of Mormon. keep
ing Miranda well away, not seeing
what was going forward.
"TO HI with the lady," shouted
Russell. At his back was only the
unarmed assayer. This lean cold-eyed
interferer was a hardy fool who need
ed a lesson He swept down his gun.
thumb to hammer. Two guns grew
like magic in Sandy's hands Russell
read a message in Sandy's glance, he
| heard the gasp of the crowd. With
| his own gun first in the open the
stranger had beaten him to the drop
| and fire. He felt the fan of the wing
| of death on his brow His gun few
| out of his fingers. wrenched away by
| the force of impact from Sandy's bul
let on it's muzzle. low down, near the
cylinder Dazed, he watched it spin
ming away, his hand numb.
"Back up to that door, you' Back
up" Sandy's voice was almost con
| versationa hut it was profoundly
! convincing. The bully obeyed him.
j standing at the door in the place of
the assayer, who stepped aside. feel
ing little sick at the stomach, Sam
bracing him in friendly fashion by
+ 'tou-r sTTuer yTyr-p- knrry.F,ftAs on,
I said Sandy. ''perv;dn' YOU keep yore
! fingers wide apaht. an don't wiggle
'em. Spread EN- out against the
wood bully man.
His face whitering from the ehh of
blood to his cowarlly heart Roarin
Russell opened his fingers wide iudg-
ing implicit obedience his greatest
safety. Sandy did not move position
/ he hardly seemed to move wrist or
finger as his guns spat fire. feft and
right eight shots blending eight bull
/ let's smashing their way through the
! door between the US" of the bully's
/ fingers while the crowd held their
| breath for the exhibition.
Sandy quickly reloaded, quickly hut
! without obvious haste He did not
| return the guns to their holsters and
he paid no attention to the adinirine
comments of the crowd.
"fou-all interfered with friend Of
mine, said Sandy. "It amt healthy
trick. An you amt apologized to the
lady. | don't know how Westlake
feels about it. but you've sure got To
apologize to the lady"
Russells eyes rolled from side to
side toward his still elevated hands.
"You can lower 'em if you can't
talk with 'em up," said Sandy. I'm
waltln fo' that apology, but I'm in q
bit of hurry"
81 didn't see no woman" nlumbled
the bully, crest fallen.
4 told You there was one" said
Sandy. II don't lie. even to strangers.
You're sorry you swore, ain't your"
You're quicker'n | am on the draw
with y0re two guns" retorted the
goeded Russell. II c'ud lick YOU one
handea thout guns-or any man in
this crowd he clustered in an at
tempt to halt his departing prestige.
"You-all had gun in yore hand
When we stahted in,'' said Sandy
equally. You're sorry you swore-
amt your
The repeated words backed by the
cold gaze, the ready guns, were merci-
less as probes.
L apologies to the lady," growled
Russell.
"Now, that's fine," said SANDY
Fine Westlake, will you come erlong
with me fo' spell?"
lie made his way through the open
Ing group. Sam followed with the as |
sayer who now began to realize that
Sandy's interference had established
friendship that would continue protec-
tive. They met Mormon, almost pur-
pie In the face from suppressed feel.
ings. Young Ed Bailey eyed Sandy
with awe and new respect. Miranda !
Bailey's attempt to learn exactly what
had happened was thwarted by Sandy's
presentation of Westlake. During the
introduction Mormon slipped away
CHAPTEp vi