The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-01-11
CHAPTER XIV

SiROa Turner had given Dave very
definite instructions concerning his
embassy to Hudson. 'rhe first thing
this Bruce will do" Simon had said.
lis to hunt up Hudson-the one living
nan that witnessed that agreement
Between Ross and old Folger. One
reason is that he'll want to verify
linda'S story. The next is to per
sendc the old man 10 20 down to the
courts with him as his witness. And
what you haze to do is line him up
fer Ger side irst."
"'t0u thinl'-" Dawes eyes wan
sesed about the room, you think
that's the best way?"
II wouldn't be tellin' You to do it
If | didn't think So" Simon laughed
q Sudden, grim syllable. Dave, you're
o hloodthirsty devil. | see what you're
thinking of-Of a safer way to keep
him from telling. But o know the
wsrd ! sent out. Go easyn That's
the wisest course 10 follow at present.
The valley people pay more attention
10 such things than they used to-: the
fever the killings, the wiser we will
be. If he'll keep quiet for the hun
sre1 let him have ii in peace"
Dave hadn't forgotten. But his fea-
tHres were sharper and more ratlike
than ever when he came in sight of
Tludson's camp. just after the fall Of
darkness of the second day out. Tile
trapper was cooking his simple neal
q blue grouse frying I'm his skillet.
coffee boiling, and fapjack batter
ready for the moment the grouse was
aene. Ds"a's thoughts returned to
eae hundred dollars in his pocket-a
coed sum in the hills. A brass rifle
cartridge, such as he could fire in
the thirty-thirty that he carried in the
heiiow of his arm. cost only about six
cents. The net gain would be-the
fgures few quickly through his mind
Hinety-nine dollars and nipety-four
cents; quite n good piece of business
fer Dave. But the trouble was that
Simon might find out. The word had
gene cut. for the present at least. TO
"sa easy" Such little anne MS oc-
cured to Dave now-as he watched
the trapper in the freight with one
hundred dollars Of the clans money
in his own potket-had beer prohibit
I'd until further notice.
Tie thing looked SO simple that
naye squirIned all oyer with annoy
ance. II hurt him to think that the
kundred dollars that he carried was
to be passed over, without a wink of
an eye, to this bearded trapper; and
the only return for Ii was to he o
premise that Hudson would not tes-
afy in Bruce's behalf. And a hundred
cellars was real money! just a little
mattcr Of a single glance down his
rife barrel at tile figure in the silhou-
cite Of the fire glow-and a half-ounce
Of pressure on the hair trigger. Half
jesting with himself. he dropped on
one knee and raised the weapon. The
rnpper did not guess his presence.
The blood leaped in Dawes veins.
But he caught. himself with a
wrench. lie realized that Simon had
spoken true when he said that the old
days were gone. that the arm Of the
Law reached farther than formerly.
and Ii might eve stretch to this far
place He remembered SImon's In
ssructiens. The quieter we can do
sheSe things. the better" the clan
leader had said. "If we can get
s..=. 20 aetnher t.;.rt:c..: w.... nc
tattinss. the safer 1t Is for as. Go
easy Dave Sonnd this Hudson a
IL he'll keep stn for a hundred. let
hin have u In peace"
Dpve slipped his rifle into the hoi-
tsw Of his arm and continued on down
the trail. He didn't try TO stalk. In
. ,smen Hudson heard his step and
locked up. They met In a circle Of
areaight. 4,