The Holly chieftain., 1923-09-06

soil kicked the body viciously, taking
the bandanna from his neck and tying
1t tight about his wrist. fastening the
knots with his teeth. With look at
Molly. crumpled unconscious in the
corner. he sought for more liquor,
found 1t and poured himself big
jorum, gulping 1t down while the blood
dripped heavily from the bandage. He
was soggy with shock and fatigue, the
strong stun half paralyzed his facul-
ties and he dropped into q chair. gaz-
Ing stupidity at his wrist.
His Imagination was curse to him.
He had seen Grit's slavering jaws as
they rose in the leap. the crimson
glare In his eyes. To all intents the
dog was mad. It had been lying
wounded In the sun. Only madness
could have given it strength to track
80 far. What II 1t meant lockjaw-
hydrophobia.
Water-that was the testi There
was water that Cookie had brought
In for coffee, half a bucket, by the
stove. He felt sudden repugnance
toward 1t. The slashed veins in his
wrists burned and throbbed as II they
were oozing molten lead instead of
blood. And he was growing weak. II
he didn't get tourniquet fixed he
might bleed to death. But what was
the user
Grit, who had opened a way out
for Molly. lay still beneath the table.
Molly, overtaxed. was In swoon.
Plimsoll sat In stupor. The door
swung wide. Cookie rushed in, his
face muddy with alarm.
"The shows gone wrong" he cried
to Plimsoll, who stared at him half
comprehsnding. 'For Gawd's sake,
what's happened here7 Gimme a
drink" He snatched at the bottle
and swallowed from the neck. Here,
you need swig. We got to git out
Of here. pronto. Have you scragged
the gelr' He thrust the bottle at
Plimsoll. who drank, senses rallying
BY the urge Of danger that emanated
from the cook like the sweaty stencil
Of frightened animal.
"Brandon's gang has come back"
said Cookie. "It's the d-dest streak
Of luck. They must have fell In with
Wyatt or some Of his pals. They must
have been to the ranch. They cut of
the boys and the horses over by Sand
crickI Reynolds got clear. He saw
them comm an streaked 1t. They
were shootin' like hi, he said. Hahn
an Butch has gone up to the lookout
to Hear thatT
That was a single rife-shot, fol-
lowed by the others, the last almost
as one.
"H-ll" cried Plimsoll, they've got
NJ this end. It's Wyatt. Just my
id luck for him to meet up with
Brandon"
Cookie ran outside and Plimsoll fol-
lowed to the door, lsthargy leaving
him in the face of disaster, though he
could not think fast or clearly. Hahn
came Gathering over the rocks on his
horse. his face chalky white.
go get him a slug Of whisky"
Plimsoll ordered Cookie.
But Cookie, his face twitching with
fright, Jumped for his own mount and
went galloping down the valley to the
south.
Plimsoll sent curses after him,
reaching for his own pistol before he
remembered 1t was inside, dragging
Hahn's half out Of its holster and
then quitting as the fleeing cook tan
gented and disappeared behind some
timber.
The handkerchief about Plimsoll's
wounded wrist was now sodden rag,
but the loss of blood had cleared his
brain. He set his left arm about
Hahn and helped him into the cabin
Molly was stirring and Plimsoll
scowled blackly at her. He gave
Hahn a drink.
Brace up." he said; "what hap
pened7 I know about Reynolds
mean at the lookout"
1--WE no more than made the look
out" said Hahn. before six men
came riding along, heeled for trouble.
One of them was the bearded
guy from California who was here
with that Brandon, first time they
was Wyatt. Wyatt was just starting
to point 'em out the entrance when
Butch let's him have 1t. Hits him
smack in the forehead. Before he
could show 'em the way in. He may
have told 'em about 1t an the way up.
But Blackboard must have caught the
shine Of Butch's barrel. He fires
back-they all had their rifles handy
cross the pommel-the bullet goes
plumb through the tree and knocks
Butch down. Went through both hips.
He falls against me and 1 show In
the open, sliding on that id slippery
bowlder, sliding inside and out of
range, but they got me.
They'll be through any minute
Plim. You can't tell how much Wyatt
told 'em on the way up. They've got
me. can't ride. My lungs are filling
up. Butch Is paralyzed-if he amt