The Holly chieftain., 1923-07-12
CHAPTER xll-continu.d.
70

Sandy, with Mormon and Sam, stood
tust above the group on the narrow
bench that furnished the floor for the
tent. Sandy's hands rested lightly on
his hips. his thumbs hooked in his
belt, fingers grazing the butts Of his
runs. There was smile on his lips
but none in his eyes. His tone and
manner were easy.
"Saw his stencil on the tent" he
said. ". p. in diamond. Same
brand he uses To- his hawsses. Or
mebbe you found it."
His drawling voice held a taunt that
brought angry flushes of color to the
faces of the men opposing him, yet
they made no definite movement
toward attack. There were seven
against three but, when the odds are
20 big, and the minority faces them
With a readiness and an assurance that
ihows In their eyes, on their lips, VI
brates from their compacted alliance,
the measure Is one Of will, rather than
physical and merely numerical su-
periority. and the balance beam
luivers undecidedly.
One of the crowd clustered, 'rm
giving you men two minutes to clear
cut of here" he said. "No two-gunned
eowpuncher can throw any blur round
here. II that's what you're trying to
TO-"
Sandy laughed 1oyously. The smile
was In his eyes now.
IF fgger a mans throwin'
bluff," he said. II usually figger to call
him, not to chew about It. Now, I'm
talkin'. These claims are duly regis
tered In the name Of Patrick Casey,
bis heirs an assign. Here's the ma
pers. The assessment work is all done.
Pats daughter owns 'em now. We're
representa- her. An I'm servin' you
notice to quit. Wen take the same
two minutes yea was talkin' Of. Then
staht yore IN demonstration, gents,
providin' l dat beat you to It" He
started to fol1 q cigarette with hands
skillful and steady. Back Of him Sam
and Mormon stood like dogs on point,
watchful, unmoving, but instinct with
suppressed motion.
The girl may bs his heir" said the
man who had spoken, "but Plimsoll 10
assignee. Plimsoll staked him an
these claims are half his"
$50 J. P. was hirin' you to do his
dirty work" said Sandy, his voice cold
with contempt. "You 60 back to him,
the whole lousy pack Of you, an tell
him from me he's yellow-spined liar.
0iti Take yore stun with you or send
back TO- II. Now, git OF this property"
II a man can make movements with
his hands 80 swiftly that they are GOV.
sred in less than a tenth Of 4 second,
ordinary human sight cannot register
them. he has achieved the magician's
slogan-the Quickness of the hand de-
ceives the eye. It takes natural apti-
tude and long practice, whether one IL
Juggling gilded balls or blued-steel re-
volvers. Sandy could, with circling
movement Of his wrists. draw his guns
from their holsters and bring them to
bear directly upon the target to which
bis eyes shifted. Glance, twist Of
wrist. arrest Of motion, pressure of
finger, all co-ordinated. One moment
bis hands were empty, his glance care
iessly contemptuous, the veriest move
msnt Of spllt-second stop-watch and
the gun in his right hand spat fire, the
gun in his feft swung In an arc that
nenaced the I'VE card players.
The other two were struggling be-
Aeath the crumpled folds OF a col
hpsed tent. wriggling frantlcally like
- staea Aands who simulate waves