The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08
PAGE 10

take it and split it up between them-one-
third to Collins, because he made the plan
first.
"They even made up a song about you,'
went on Geraldine, land the song makes
joke out of you all the way through, and
it winds up like this-you're supposed to be
talking, see?
II don't expect no bloomin' tears
The only thing / ask
Is something for monument
In the way of a whisky flask
"Who made up the song Geraldine?"
asked Pete.
II Dunno" answered the Ghost. Il reckon
Collins had hand in it,
Collins repeated the gun fighter. 1T
sounds like him. I'll get him first!'
"And it was Collins" went on the Ghost,
leaning little forward across the boulder,
while he lowered his voice for secrecy. ut
was Collins who got them to send out three
men to watch you from a distance. They
was to trail you and see that if you ever got
to the Ghost you didn't make off with the
loot without showing up in town. Ever see
anybody trailing you, Peter
The gun fighter flashed glance over his
shoulder toward the dark and gaping OPEN
ing of the passage from the cave. Then he
turned back to the Ghost
81 never thought Of it," he whispered. II
didn't know they was such skunks. But,
by God, they won't ever see the money. I'll
take it and line out for new hunting
grounds"
"And me?' asked the Ghost anxiously
"You?" said Silver Pete and the whisper
made the words trebly sinister. II can't
leave you free to track me up, can II
I'll just tie you up and leave you here
ITO starve?" asked the Ghost with hop.
ror
you chose your own house." said Pete,
IAN now ! reckon it's good enough for you
to live in it."
but what'l you do if they're following
you up?" suggested the Ghost. "Whatu
you do if they've tracked you here and the
sheriff with them? What if they get you
for Red Horry?"
The horse had wondered q few PAGES.
away. Now its hoof struck loose pebble
which turned with erunehing sound like .
football.
my God" yelled the Ghost, sprinsing
up and pointing toward the entrance pas
sage, "theyve got you, Petew'
The gun fighter whirled to his feet, his
weapon poised and his back to the Ghost
Geraldine drew back his arm and lunged
forward across the boulder. His fist thud-
ded behind Silver Pete's ear. The revolver
exploded and the bullet clicked against a
rock, while Pete collapsed upon his face,
with his arms spread out crosswise. The
Ghost tied his wrists behind his back with
a small piece of rope. Silver Pete groaned
and stirred, but before his brain cleared
his ankles were bound fast and drawn up
to his wrists, so that he lay trussed and help
less. The Ghost turned him upon one side
and then, strangely enough, set about clear
ing up the tinware from the boulder. This
he piled back in it's niche after he had
rinsed it at the runlet of water string
of oaths announced the awakening of Silver
Pete. Geraldine went to him and leaned
over his body.
Pete writhed and cursed, but Geraldine
kneeled down and brushed the sand ont Of
the gun fighters hair and face. Then he
wiped the blood from a small cut on his chin
where his face struck rock when he fell.
II have to leave you now, Pete he said,
rising from this work of mercy. you've
been good company, Pete, but little of you
goes long way
He turned and caught his horse by the
bride.
"For Gods sake,' groaned Silver Pete,
and Geraldine turned. Don't leave me here
to die by inches. l done some black things,
Geraldine, but never nothing as black as
this. Take my own gun and pull a bead on
me and we'll call everything even.
The Ghost smiled on him.