Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-24
Illustrations by
Irwisl Nye,~


through his teeth. After a minute he
repeated the call.
There came sound of pounding
hoofs. Then that of others, coming
from the town.
Better load up. Sam," said Sandy
grimly; 1--WE amt out Of this yet.
That'll be Jim Pllmsoll's brother-in-
law, likely"
"Here come our ponies"
As vet they could see nothing ad-
vancing. but horse whinnied from
the plain lying between them and the
Three Star road.
"Pronto," said Sandy, showing car
tridges into his guns.
A body of mounted men had come
out from town and ridden fast upon
the bridge. The foremost stopped
with mn exclamation at the missing
boards All wheeled in some cOnfu-
sion and slid their horses down into
the arroyo to scramble up the bank
again and spur for Sam and Sandy
just as the pinto and the roam cur
vetcd up to their masters. The two
cowmen leapcd for their seats, Sandy
temporarily sheathing one gun. They
faced the tOwnsmen, who formed q
half-circle about them.
"You, Sandy Bourke an Sam Man.
ming, stick up yore hands"
"You got good eyesight." returned
Sandy. whats the idee? Ef you
shoot, don't miss, I'm holdin' tol'able
close ternight"
His tone was almost goOd-humored,
tolerant, full Of confidence.
You was shootln in town limits
May have killed someone. Ag'in the
law to shoot inside the Herefo'd line
I'm goln' to take you in"
"You air?" Sandy's drawl was
charged with mockery. How about
the Herefo'd men who stahted the fire.
works? Ef you want our guns,
Sheriff, come an take 'em. First
come, first served"
There was no forward movement
A man swore as his horse began to
dance
"Iou go back an tell Jim PlImsoll
W wv ms o"h uiltS W. n, IL lie HOt
any CUTS left fo' tryn'. Me, I'm goin'
home"
The sheriff and his hastily gathered
band of irregular deputies working
in the interests Of Plimsoll knew,
with sufficient intimacy to endow
them with caution, the general record
of Sandy BOurke and Soda Water
Sam. None Of them wanted to risk a
shot-and miss. Sandy would not.
Even fatal wound might not pre-
vent him taking toll. Sam was almost
rs dangerous They were politicians
rather than fighting men, every one
of them. And they were tolerably
certain that Plimsoll had ambushad
the two from the Three Star. The
sheriff clustered.
81 amt through with you yit, Sandy
Bourke. know where to find you"
"You-all are goin' to have mighty
hard time flndin' yo'sef afteh election,
Sheriff, as 1t is. The cowmen ain't
crazy about you. They might take
notion to escort you out Of the county
limits"
You're inside the town line. L"
II won't be in two minutes. Git out
Of our road" said Sandy, his voice
freezing In sudden contempt. He
roweled Pronto and. with Sam even
In the jump, they galloped through
the half-ring without opposition.
Horses were neck-reined aside to let
them pass. The wind sang by them
as they tangented off from the road.
A shot or two announced the attempt
of some to save their own faces. but
no bullets came near the pair. The
fusillade was sheer bravado.
For almost a mile the two rode at
top speed. then they settled down to
a lope that ate up the miles-a walk
at the end Of three-then lope and
walk again, until the giant cotton
woods of the Three Star rose from
the plain.
Mormon uptoed heavily out on the
creaking porch with husky. "Hush!"
"What fo'2"
"Molly's asleep. Sisted on waitin'
up for you"
"Well, we're here, amt weT de-
manded Sam. me. got a scrape in
my arm an some son Of a wolf
spilled my saddle. Sandy. he sorter
evened up TO It,"
"Bleedin'T' asked Mormon.
"Nope. Tied my bandanner round
1t. Cold air fixed 1t. Shucks, 1t amt
nuthin'l Sandy's got a green kale
plaster 70 it."
"You wonT
did we win2 Wait till we show
you"
Molly met them as they went In,
her eyes wide open, all sleep banished.
"Was 1t a luck-piecer she de-
manded.
Sandy produced the package Of
bills, divided 1t, showed over part.
"Your half" he said. give thou
sand bucks. Busted the bank. An
here's the 'riginal bet" He showed
the gold eagle, put it into her palm.
"Served me, now you take It," he
said. "Tll git you a chain TO- 1t. It's
sure q mascOt-same as you are-the
Mascot of the Three Star"
She looked up. her eyes. cloudy
with wonder at the sight Of the
money, shining at her new title. They
rested on Sans arm, bandaged with
the bandanna.
There's been shootin'," she said.
you're hit. Ohp'
More of a miss than a hit" re.
piled Sam.
Molly turned to Sandy. Anxiety.