The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-04-26
CHAPTER lv-Continued.


-
"Mebbe, but you can't stop what's
started any more'n a horn-toad car
stop landslide, Sandy Bourke. fot
can't kill scandal with gunplay. The
girls too young. In one way, an moi
young enough In another. to be stayin
on at the Three Star. You oughtel
have sense enough to know that. FL
one of you was married, or had
wife that 'ud stay with you, 1t 'ud be
different. Or IL there was woman
housekeeper to the outfit
The fiivver horn squawked outside
Miranda pointed her finger at Sandy
"There's chores waitin' TO me.
didn't come off at daylight jest to be
spyin'. whatever you men may think
You either got to get grown woman
here or send the gel away, TO her
own good, fore the talk gifts so It'll
shadder her life. Now, I've said my
say, you-all talk 1t over"
Sandy went to the door with her,
helped her into the machine. He
came back with his face serious.
"She's right" he said. 1--WE got to
send her away. Me, I'm goin' into
Hereford tonight. l aim to interview
Jim Plimsoll an then bust his bank.
One Of you come erlong. Match fo' it."
BUST the bank with whatT asked
Sam.
Sandy produced the ten-dollar luck
piece and held It up.
This. Mormon, choose yore side"
Heads"
Sandy tipped the coin. 1t fell with
a golden ring on the floor. Tails"
said Sandy, inspecting 1t. "You come.
Sam. Staht afteh noon. OIL up yore
gun"
II knowed I'd lose" said Mormon
dolefully. Dang my luck, anyway"
1t was little after seven o'clock
when Sandy and Sam walked out of
the Cactus restaurant, leaving their
ponies hitched to the rail IN front.
They strolled down the main street of
Hereford and stopped outside the
place labeled Good Luck Pool Par
Tors. ]. Plimsoll. Prop" The line
BEST Liquor and Cigars" was half
smeared out. Sandy patted gently the
butts of the two Colts in the hol-
sters, whose ends were tied down to
the fringe ornaments of his chaps
Sam stroked his ropey mustache and
eased the gun at his hip. Sandy
pushed open the door and went In. A
man was playing Garfield at a table
In the deserted bar. AS the pair en-
tered he looked up with "Howdy,
gents?" showing back rickety table
and chair noisily on the uneven floor.
The inner door swung silently as at
a signal, and Jim Pllmsoll came out.
dropped In to hev lii talk with
you an then take buck at the tiger,
said talk bein' private" Sandy an
nounced.
Plimsoll threw a glance at the man
who had been posted for lookout and
he left with curious gaze that took
in Sandy's guns.
"Sorry was away from the ranch
time you called" said Sandy, sitting
with one leg thrown over the corner
Of the table Hope to be there mex
time. hear you-all claim to have ar
interest In Pat Caseys mimi loca
lions. his interest now bein his daugh
ter's"
"That any of your business?"
II aim to make 1t my business,
replied Sandy.
For a moment the two men fought
a pitched battle with their eyes. i
was warfare that Sandy Bourk,
was an expert In. The steel of hi,
glance often saved him the lead In hi,
cartridges. Jim Plimsoll was no foo
to wage uneven contest. He fancie,
he would have the advantage owe
Sandy later, If the pair really mean
to play farO-in his place.
II grubstaked him for the Hopeful
Dynamite discovery" he said. "T'y,
got witnesses"
well. Wen let that match slid,
till the mines make a shown. Mean
time. there's talk goin' on In this tow,
concernln' the gel an h.r livin' a
Three Star. look to you to contra
dict that so't of gossip, Plimsoll, from
now on"
Plimsoll flushed angrily.
"WhO In HI do you think yo,
arer he demanded. "Who appointet
you censor to any mans speech7"
"A mans speech don't have to b,
censored, Plimsoll. An l reckon vol
know who / am"
"You come here looking for trouble
with meY'
II never hunt trouble, Jim. If
can't help buttin' into It, like a man
might ride into rattlesnake I'm the
mesquite. aim to handle IT. Ell |
ever got into real trouble. an II re-
sembled you, I'd make you climb So
fast, Plimsoll. you'd wish you had
horns on your knees an eyebrows"
Plimsoll forced laugh. Fair
warning. Sandy. never raise a fuss
with twogun man. 1t amt healthy.
You've got me wrong In this matter"
"Glad to hear 1t. Then there won't
he no argument Game open?"
Wide. An little hundred-proof
stuff 10 .ake the alkali out of your
threats. How about TT"
" cont drink when I'm playin', I