The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-03

early dawn he could steal away. Aek-
lin was looking at his watch. II was
an opportunity, a chancol
Mercedes was watching liodino.
She saw his fingers clench. his
muscles knot sho OWNED his inien-
tion. Her mouth opened IN amaze
mont.
Bodlno orouehcd then Tor the
spring that was 10 take him 10 Safe
~ but the pattcr OF horses outside
the window al which he was aiming
stopped him short. Aekhn smiled az
him pityingiy, lie had heard. also.
kildare had watched Aoklin and
Bedtime lie blessed every minute that
passed without bringing tho rank and
file OF the Double \ 10 thwart him,
That the Big Boss had come there
single handed revealed Acklin Ia a
new llEht. Blnro had always found
him cautious taetful, Unconditional.
His coming hero was madness lie
could not have known that Hodinc
was alone. or had he figured that
the man was VA hiding. that the
house on Webster creek would be de-
serted9
He had heard the hustle OF up
preaching men a long minute before
Buck or Aoklin became aware Of
their noise. There were five or six
in the party. Tho recognized Brother
Jones' eaekllng voice. A second la
ter the old man and his companions
were tramplng into the Kitchen.
Blaze recognized Chef and paitcr-
son bringing up the rear. They were
all heavily armed. Brother Jones was
already at tho door OF the room Ia
which Acklin had eornorcd Bodine,
The others were at his heels
kildare sprang into action. lie
placed his hands on the cill and
yaulted into the kitchen. When the
Big Boss caught sight OF him. he DO
lioved tho man had come In with the
others
"Iicre he Isl" the owner o, the
Double a called out. pointing AZ 80
dine
'My oawd. Who done thatT
Brother Jones exclaimed. eatchins
sight OF the body in the corner.
Tho coming OF these men turned
Bucks face a Sckly hue He actually
siammercd when he said: "she d-d,
did 81"
Mercedes heart lcaped as she saw
Kildare. lie made no attempt 10 e
to her. Tho girls haif-raised hand
fell Imply 70 her side She dimiJ
realized that tho mans eyes were
trying 10 convey some message e
her. She saw him TAP his iips aig.
nificantiy, And then Aekiln was Nay,
7 ing;
You boys forget TINT remark Of
his Hes lying There was oniS
three OF US here. and
You're not counting mr. guess.
The crowd wheeled on Kildare.
why. you just came In. now
with Jones. didn't you" Acklit
roared
i Blarc shook his head.
I mo. I've been hero for almost hal
ara hour Bodine didn't do ans shoo,
Ing
I Life flowed back into Bucks vein
I immediately. This vas help from al
unexpected source.
7 'That1l stop your uttlo game. Ack
lin.- he CRIED.
The Big Boss paid no attention &
Bodine.s words His eyes were OF
Blaze. In tense tones he said 10 him
You amt saying who did u. Xii
dare. But you and know. II mean
a trial Jail We don't wan, that
I II you'll pass mo your word. wei
string up this skunk for blowing gu
the darn and killing this man. an
let II go at that"
Then came the clatier OF man.
horses.
4 Here arc the rest OF the boyi
Wen rct moving" Tho Big Bos
raised his voice. Somebody bring Il
a rope" he cried. Hurry upif
4 Blaze heard the men dismountlnE
I There were not less than Is in IN
crowd. There wouldn't be any della.
I now This affair was going thru 4
lts sordid finish. Bodlns's face wa
CHASTITY. withou, knowing why b
did II. Kildare walked past him int
/ tho kitchen.
/ There seemed to be some delay out
side. He could hear murmur o
voices Bodine's rife stood in III
corner. Blaze picked Il up and thrcy
a sheii into the barrel. In the pas