The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-29
Frank H. Spearman
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons.
WNU Service.


Calabasas comes to town for a spree.
Tonight they'll all get in; but they
won't many get out. They're going
to finish with every blackleg and dive
keeper, bad man and gambler in this
town within the next twenty-four
hours-that's exactly what's coming"
SelwoOd bent piercing look on his
informant. "Does that include me,
Doc?'
There's no objection to the way
you run your place, John-if yours
was the only place or the other places
were like yours. And you'll have
friends among the Vigilantes, anyway.
But when the thing starts there won't
be no fine lines drawn, John; you
know that" continued the doctor, try
ing to convey his warning inoffensive-
ly, land there may be mistakes when
the torch gets going. My advice is
for you to pull out till this thing
blows over, and come back when you
feel like it."
Selwood rose as to end the talk.
Carpy had seen him angry more than
once, but never had he seen the mild
hammered gambler enraged. In Ian
guage so violent that he would have
been ashamed Of it In cooler moments,
he expressed his opinion Of all Vigil
lantes in general and Sleepy Cat Vigil
lantes in particular. Carpy tried to
interrupt, tried to listen, tried to calm
him DOWNFALL was useless.
"Dash it, John" he exclaimed at
length, testy himself, ''if I'm nothing
else, I'm your doctor-hold ont"
II expect to hold on" retorted Sell
wood rudely. TELL your Vigilantes
they'll find me on the hill. And tell
'em to come fixed for some Of 'em
will stay there with me-"
"But here's another thing I want
you to think of, john" resumed
TCarpy, who was pertinacious. "What
about Dave Tracy In all this? You'll
have your fight-you'll damage some
Vigilantes; maybe some Of 'em your
own friends; maybe get damaged
yourself. Even supposing you make
your getaway, what about Dave? He's
helpless. How should you feel, John,
If Dave was dragged out and strung
up with that river bunch? Don't you
owe it to Dave to get him out of the
way before this thing begins?"
The suggestion came like blow to
Selwood. 1t struck home. SelwOod
had forgotten his wounded partner.
His mind worked fast. He looked at
Carpy-but not with less determine
ton. you're right" he said tersely.
"IIl get Dave into the clear. But I'll
be back on the hill by the time your
friends get started"
He rose, very angry, to go; then he
turned suddenly on the doctor.
There's one thing I'll ask of you,
Doc; while I'm getting Dave away, 1
want you to promise me to see that
no harm comes to Christie Fyler-"
"John, I'll see to that If it's the last
thing on earth I see to-"
II don't care much about her
father-he'S no protection to her; but
he's her father, and no harm must
come to him in this mix-up, either"
you've got my word, John"
q
Selwood was not man to let his
anger override his common sense for
long. Most of all, the helpless condi-
tion Of Tracy, like a relentless curb
on a willful horse, forced him to con-
slider what must be done to save him
from the mob fury. None knew bet
ter than Selwood what would be let
loose when the fight started. He knew
the men on both sides of the town
and knew that once under way there
would be no quarter for anybody
that behind the masks there would be
more than one personal score to even
up, regardless of right or justice that
there would be, in that mob, personal
malice set on personal vengeance. and
that Carpy's warning could not be dis
regarded.
Christie had been in the habit for
some time of visiting Tracy in the