Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-11-14


sneered in that evil voice Of his: you
got the drop on me this time. Look
out for the next" He, too, had risen
and with Lees eyes hard upon him
had gone out of the room. And Car
son had been disappointed in a fight.
But now-now that Bud Lee in this
mood was going straight to Rocky
Bend and Quinnion, Carson filled his
deep lungs with a sigh Of satisfaction.
Life had grown dull here Of late:
there wasn't q fresh scar on his bat
tered body.
Though the railroad had at last
slipped through it, Rocky Bend was,
still bad little town and proud Of
it's badness. To the northeast lay the
big timber tracts into which the West
ern Lumber company was tearing its
destructive way; only nine miles due
west were the Rock Greek mines, run
ming full blast; on the other sides 1t
was surrounded by cattle ranges,
where lusty brood Of young untamed
devils were constrained to give them
selves soberly to their work during
the long, dusty days. But at night,
always on q Saturday evening, there
came into Rocky Bend from lumber
camps, mines and cow outfits a crowd
Of men whose blood ran red and tur-
bulent, seeking a game Of cards,
"whirl at the Wheel" a night Of drink
ing or any other amusement which
fate might vouchsafe them. Good men
and bad, they were all hard men and
quick Otherwise they would not
have come into Rocky Bend at all.
Lee and Carson riding out Of the
darkness into the dim light of the first
struggling street-lamps, passed swiftly
between the rows Of weather-boarded
shacks and headed toward the Golden
Spur saloon.
Though the hour was late there
were many saddle-ponies standing
with dropping heads here and there
along the board sidewalks; from more
than one barroom came the gay rag
time of an automatic piano or the
scrape and scream of fiddle. Men
lounged up and down the street, smok-
ing, calling to one another, turning in
here or there to have q drink or watch
game.
The two newcomers, watching each
man or group Of men, rode on slowly
until they came to the building on
whose false front was gigantic spur
In yellow paint. Here they dismount-
ed, tied their horses, and went in.
Carson, with quick eye toward pre-
paredness for what might lie on the
cards. looked for Lees gun. 1t wasn't
in his pocket; 1t wasn't In his waist
band ready to hand. 1t wasn't any
door he whispered warningly:
Better be ready, Bud. Amt lost
your gun, have your"
Lee shook his head and stepped into
the room. At the long bar were three
or four men drinking Quinnion was
not among them. There were other
men at the round tables, playing draw,
solo, stud horse. One glance showed
that Quinnion was not in the room.
But there were other rooms at the rear
for those desiring privacy. Lee, nod
ding this way and that to friends who
accosted him, made his way straight
to the bar
Hello, Sandy" he said quietly.
Sandy Weaver the bartender, looked
at him curiously. A short, heavy,
blond man was Sandy Weaver, who
ran a fair house and gave his atten-
tion strictly to his own business. Save
when asked by friend to do him q
favor, such a favor as to keep an eye
on another man.
Hello. Bud" returned Sandy, put
ting out a red hand. All expression
of interest had fed from his placid
face. Come in right away, eh? Hello
Carson. Have somethin'; on me, you
know"
Lee shook his head.
"Not tonight, Sandy" he said.
Thanks Just the same"
ME-" grinned Carson. "I'll go you,
Sandy. Same thing-you know"
Sandy showed out whisky-bottle and
glass. Then he turned grave eyes to
Lee.
Zone Of these fellers can tend bar
while we talk If you want, Bud" he
offered
"You say Quinnion has been talk
ing" asked Lee.
Eyes. Considerable. All afternoon
an evening, I guess. I didn't hear
him until l called you up"
"Then," continued the man from
Blue Lake ranch, II don't see any call
for you and me to whisper, Sandy.
What did he sayr'
"Said you was liar, Bud. An
skeerd- of-your-life d-n bluff"
A faint shadowy smile touched
Lees eyes.
"Just joshing, Sandy. But that
wasn't all, was it?"
mo" said Sandy, wiping his bar
carefully. "There was the other word.
Bud. An'-say, Billy, tell him what
Quinnion had to say down to the jail
bird"
Lee turned his eyes to Billy Young.
Young, cattleman from the Up and
II III