San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-06
BY WILL PAYNE
Illustrated by ]. G.. Stephenson

/ lentown now. They'd be pretty sure
| to have word there before we could
make it, and the passenger train would
be gone. Platburg is the only chance
/ see and l know the way there. II
anybody's looking for you," he added,
sit won't be long before they find
that car. and this neighborhood won't
be healthy"
As the man looked at Skinner an
instant his glittering eyes seemed to
beat in so that Skinner could fairly
feet their impact upon his nerves.
What makes you think somebody's
looking for me?" he asked.
"You're pretty particular about that
gum" Skinner replied, with a little
nod.
The man asked another question, his
eyes boring into SINNERS head: you
come along that road" He pointed
south.
"Sure!" Skinner replied promptly.
"See anybody" asked the man.
"Not a SOUL" said Skinner, Except
the old woman at the log cabin that
1 told you about. She told me to
turn here. You come with me and
we'll make Platburg."
"All right" said the man grimly
and SINNERS CONSTRUCTED heart ex'
banded exultantly.
Together they stopped to lift, and
behind them-almost in their ears, il
seemed--a voice shouted, "Hello!"
With the marvellous swiftness Of a
bouncing cat the man glanced over his
shoulder. hurled Skinner to the ground
caught him by the throat and drew
the hammer. 1t all happened while
the shout was still ringing in Skin
ner's ears. He lay perfectly still
looking up through his goldIboweG
spectacles at the burly form of death
which knelt over him. He was moi
struggling in the least. either physic
ally or mentally; but lying in kind
of quiet wonder. as though the mech
anism of his life had been abruptly
shut off, awaiting the blow. He saw
that the man had turned his head
again to look in the direction of the
sound and noted the swelling vein on
his thick neck.
Then another voice, some distance
away, answered. "Hello, there"' The
hand at SINNERS throat sensibly re.
Taxed and the arrested mechanism
started up again.
Here's the track of a carp called
the first voice. Hurry back TO Ia
troe's and telephone to watch the
other end of this road. Then CONT
back here. Well follow the road
through"
Il guess they're after me-" Skin
ner whispered ut random.
The man paid no attention to that
With one heavy hand resting on Skin
ner's chest Mt the base of the throat
he stretched his thick neck, turning
his head from side to side, trying {,
make out the person who had shouted
II can't see," he growled under hi
breath, looking down at the prostrat'
man.
STAND up" Skinner suggested in ,
whisper.
The man glowered obviously dowr
at him an instant and it seemed tina
the pupils of his eyes contracted.
81 killed three this morning." thu
man growled. I'D as lief kill you al
look at you" With that he got OF
his launches and slowly raised him
self, stretching his neck and peering
When he was upright he gloweret
down and motioned Skinner to rise
Two or three yards brought them t.
n place where, above the intervening
bushes, Skinner could see the heat
and gray SLOUGH hat of his grizzle
bearded friend.
"He's horseback and he's got
gum" the man mumbled in Skinner
cart as they crouched out of sight
Il could git him easy enough, bu
the horse'd git away"
He eidently revolyed the problem
which that presented, as his eye
turned restlessly IN and down tn
road; and through the hand that rest
cd on his back Skinner could fair!
feel the trembling and quiyering o
nerves and muscles as in big anima
that prepares to crouch for spring
| At the same time the mans swca
and odor. and the subtle feel Of some
thing obscene and bloody about him
were sickening.
The restless, glittering eyes cam
back to Skinner. "There's bride
path back there a ways" he said. q
seen it when l drove down here"
|
that" the man added.
1t seemed in fact the only outlet
With the telephoned alarm, their bat
read would soon be blocked at boil
| ends and for n man to make his pain
full way afoot across the swamp wouit
take many hours. But with h0rs'
enc might follow the bridle-path t
something that would give chance o.
| escape.
an git him and you git his horse.
said the man, grumbling under hi
breath: "and I'll give you a lift al
far back as the bridle-path, 7" he add
ed with another little grin. Obviously
the last was lie, but Skinner wa:
too much occupied with other thing:
to pay attention to that.
you'll lay down on your back will
your hat over your face beside th'
bushes here and keep groanin'," TIN
Ian explained. "Tll be in the bushes
He'll git off'n- his horse to take lOot
a. you and he'll put the bride aroun1
his arm-see?" He made a motion like
horseman slipping bride over his
aim. when he sQuats down to taxi
the hat 9ff'n your face YOU reach VI
and grab the Bride" He nodded hi:
head as though that were all; thel
added as a sort of elaboration. ~ ]
jump out of the bushes and iii
him."
1t seemed to Skinner, in fact. hor
ribly ingenious. He could fairly sc'
the grizzle-bearded man dismounting
slipping the bride over his arm anC
STOPPING with his shotgun tucked use
lessly uader his arm or laid upon tx
ground. and this other leaping frolf
the bushes upon his bowed back.
I'VE ought to have some blood OF
tie hat" he said stupidity. 1t was
all he could think of.
The man nodded and drew jack
knife from his pocket. Skinner stu.
ridly held out his arm and wondered
DULY how much notwithstanding there
n;obt he :, The hiada which the u1.n