The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-05-27

atmosphere was far from normal. n
silence and oppressiveness that mao SET
tied over Landusky was much akin 10
the tabled calm before a storm NOW
and then, little puffs and whirlwinos OF
hot breeze sent dust and SAND ana Jrasn
flying in all directions; and more Jhan
often the restless old prospector on the
steps of Jew Jake'S saloon erVously
brushed the perspiration from his eyes
with a gnarled hand that seemed to be
held especially free for action with Two
guns which he was wearing in a manner
that indicated they were ready Tor IN
slant use should occasion demand 1t.
aim Before the Storm
The tie RACKS in front of Jew Jake's
place were filled with range mounts,
much as they had been from time TO
time on any pay day, and n inherent
saloons. gambling houses and other re-
sorts were fairly filled with punchers,
cattlemen, prospectors, and not a lew
characters whose e~scapadeS had given
them regulations as bad men"
However, this was by no means an or
binary payday in Landusky. Horses and
ponies at h several hitching racks,
stood with rolling, evil eyes ever alert,
ready to fly out over the rise at any in
stant, and seemed to sense the impend-
ing storm. Range hands had ridden in
from distant ranches to make their
monthly purchases and seek the diver
sion offered in such a settlement, most
Of them with no knowledge of the fact
that during the preceding weeks certain
events had t%ranspired in the neighbor-
hood of Landusky, which p~ortended a
veritable Earring loose of the gates OF
Hades.
The kid"
Far up the winding trail that led from
old Fort Benton to the metropolis OF the
Little Rockies. rode a silent, sullen hg-
ure. Kid" Curry was on his way to
Landusky for revenge" Riding slowly
dow the dusty o he made his way in
his customary deliberate manner TO the
shack of his friend and admirer, jim
Thornhill. The two were closely allied
as was customary Of frontier companion
ships and no word of explanation was
necessary from the kid" e he asked
rs Pike in town, Jim?"
Il think he's up at Jew Jake's with the
crowd. now, Kid; this is payday, yoC
know"
without further words. the two made
their way across the hot, sandy thorough
fare. paused at the hitch rack to examine
the horses tied there, and then mounted
the steps n entered the saloon.
jew Jake's place was filed with meT
of every type to be found in those day:
in the w~ide-Open. lawless spaces of Cen
trail and Northern Montana. Down a
the farther end Of the bar stood a mar
who lowered far above the rest. He wa
an admirable example of human
physique; tall, erect, virile, he seemed
for all the man capable Of giving a gOOC
account of himself in any emergency
pike" Landusky had had trouble will
the Curry boys. A short time previous
the Kid had been arrested for SOM
misdemeanOr and placed in charge o
Landusky who had been appointed dep
uty sheriff, to be taken to Fort Benton
for trial. Some have said that Pike
had abused the Kid in a shameful
manner and because of this abuse, Curr
had sworn to be reVenged.
The Climax Of An Old Feud
When the Kid and jim ThOrnht
threw back the swinging door and wake
Up to the bar, a nervous hush settle
over the crowd, for the men knew an eX
plOsiOn was inevitable but wondered jus
which and what would cause it. For
few moments they feigned a fine indit
ference, u they could not entirely con
ceal their With ears Straine
they were listening for sinister sound
but they refused to dare even a glance &
the two principals of a scene which cel
tainly u sooner or later transpire. tn
two men drank and then
There was a lull and then a shufflin
of moving feet when the Kid" slowl
made his way to where Pike" stood wit
elbow upon the bar. Without words, tt
kid" struck Pike" a terrific blow an
then, with a speed that took the deput
of his guard, 1oOred the man. Pike
received an unmerciful beating, and whe
"Pike" reached for his handkerchief
wipe the blood from his face, the "KiC
whipped out his revolver and shot IL
prone man through the heart. Thus ent