The Snowflake herald., 1923-05-18
CHAPTER XIV
A Eree-for-AIl.

I'limsoll had set up working part''
nership with 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 rough-boarded pasSageway
erected between the two places. Plim
soil himself presided over the stud
poker table. dealing the game. He
waited the result IF his play with
Wyatt and the iatter'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.
PlinSoll had enlisted others of his fol-
lowing, none too fearless, 10 loiter in
the brush and, in the general confu
sion, fire 10 cripple and 10 kill
PlimsOll had learned of the visit Of
1.-The men who had come with Bill Bran
A
Of running the Waterline horse ranch.
He had learned, through the leakage
that always occurs in 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 q danger to all of them.
undoubtedly acting as spies for Bran
don, and that they should be eliminated
for the general good. But there was
none of them. from Plmsol 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 final coup. If he held the
Casey claims and sold Them as he ex-
pected to do, to an Eastern capitalist
to whom he had telegraphed some
days before, he might re-establish him
self. Sandy's prompt arrival and sub.
sequent events had crimped that plan
and he fell back upon all the crooked
tactics that he possessed in gambling
And now, If Wyatt
He was dealing the last card around
when Wyatt came in. and his eyes lit
up. Then his face stiffened, the light
changed TO CLEAN of malevoence
Following Wyatt were the three part
nSrs, taking open order as 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
20 see what caused the suspension of
the game, others followed their ex-
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 buzzed in
everybody's ears. from Roaring Rus
sells discontinue to Plimsoll's failure
to hold the claims and the eviction no.
tfce 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 as to his private grudge 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 was not bitter.
The partners walked between the
tables toward Plimsoll who sat regard
ing them balefully, his teeth Just
showing between his parted lips, cards
in midair. action in paralysis that
was caused by the concentration
forced by Sandy's even gaze. by tba
same sickening conXiction that his