Evening star., 1923-09-09
Tam, that's ell know" Pete. re.

Piled.
"Tamarack Susie. gun crews brains"
Hawkins saook his finger warningiy
Hawkins wanted to say more but his
throat ratified. and fieck Of blood
colored his lips.
Pete. thoroughly alarmed. spoke
si step Se h1s and
bathed the mans lips. propped him
higher on the pillow and listened
anxiously at the rafting chest for
the dreaded hemorrhaRe. At the end
of a minute he sighed in relief and
again took his seat by the bedside.
Hour after hour he sat there. now
intently watching the calm face of
the heroic Hawkins. battling silently
against heavy odds as he was. and
now gazing far out into the noun
tains. watching the setting sun polish
to a glistening finish hard white
ridges of the mountain.
Somewhere out there he told him
self. Pete Alden, jr., is going to
learn something"
With darkeness came clustering
wind. bowling mournfully about
the cabin. shaking windows and
blowing puffs of drifted snow in
fine frozen grains. through the tiny
eoisAs eod and Pese feared s fos sizns
Already he had added his own fur
coat to the meager covering. and
now stood beating his arms about to
keep his blood running hot 1t was a
losing fight and Pete cursed bitterly.
Time and again he tried the door. but
II was always locked. Outside the
guard huddlcd close under hastily
thrown up shelter where a fire glowed
red in the Dlackness made weird by
blowing snow. The house was GER
tainly deserted. Pete thought, but
even fiends might send to their vic
Tins heat. a light and food. Butler
must have won his point and already
the gangsters were probably on the
way to Moapa for the sheriff. At the
thought Pete's jaws bulged and his
eyes narrowed to Sits. Hawkins. a
tie that held him there more securely
than forty iron chains, could give
life-saving advice, If he dared let him
talk. but It was no use. and he turned
again and looked at the fire in the
yard. As he did SO. four men. crouch
ing low against the wind, crossed the
path Of lurid light and made for the
cabin. A heavy key rasped in the
door and men stamping snow from
more and Pete heard the cracking Of
kindling wood in the hearth. Then his
own door was thrown open and Bull
Ter Garret, kerosene lamp in hand,
entered. his gloating smile appearing
grotesque in the sudden light of the
room.
"Feelin' nice and polite. tonight.
Peter J-A-R?" he asked, as he placed
the light on the soap box in the cor
ner. without waiting for an answer
he retraced his steps. leaving the door
wide open. Pete was genuinely CRATE
full for the warm air that swept in.
but above all for the opportunity to
see Bulls company. He was relieved
to observe the same faces he had seen
with Butler before.
Some one was preparing a meal and
the aroma of coffee coupled with the
sound of cracking fire revived his
spirits.
4 half hour later he was again
feeding broth TO Hawkins, eyeing the
while huge portion of beef. broiled
10 Il char. which had been sent in for
himself. Nothing feminine about the
meal. Pete muSed between huge bites,
as he thought Of the sandwiches. Even
the coffee now was unusually strong
and black and without sugar
The meal finished. Pete was ordered
to join the circle about the fire. Ten
derly he tucked covering about the
sick man. and stepped out to join the
circle of gangsters. expecting to be
told the course OF action that had un-
doubtedly been agreed upon. As Pete
came into the room he heard words
pass. Little Phil Alguin was talking
earnestly to Bull.
80 = and better lay it to i'm jes as
she figgered il. eh. Buller?"
Pete's presence stopped an answer.
ANY objection to lightin' up?'
Butler smirked as Pete took a seat.
Not out here" Pete replied, now as
before finding il impossible even 10
feign sociability with Butler Garret.
with an effort he relaxed into a less
hostile mood and tried TO smile. Butler
took his changed manner as evidence
OF a partial victory and continued:
Continued in TomorroU's Star.l