Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-10-25

pocket.
Scott began to take OF his coat.
Lefever sat partly on the table, with
one leg swinging over the edge. BE
slipped ureasily from his perch and
stood before Selwood.
"John," he asked, "what are you &C
tually going to dor You don't honest
ly mean you are going to try to 90
into Bunty's place tonishtr
"Why notf'
Leftover eyed him with Indignation
and contempt. you're looking 10
quit, sure"
Selwood was already In SCOTS rig.
"Nothing 10 sure, john" he retorted
amiably. "When my time comes, It
comes"
AS McAlpin would say, you're talk
ing like a blamed fool, John" re-
Joined Lefever.
Pardaloe grunted. I'D say you're
talking like one yourself, John Le-
fever, If I didn't owe you sixty dol
lars. That r." he mumbled, III you
think you can make Selwood change
his mind by talking to him. II you're
ready" he snapped at selwood, look
ing around for his trusty shotgun,
'1et's CO."
Selwood led the way out Of the
harness-room through the Office ana
down the dark gangway to the back
door Of the barn. Lefever, still per
sisting in protest and caution, fas-
tened the door behind the four men.
Separating as they left the barn,
Pardaloe and Scott, and Selwood and
Bull Page-a definite rendezvous
named-worked their way downtown.
Surprised at the lull in the fighting.
they could only surmise that the vigi-
lantes were still at bay, with the gam
blers still celebrating their victory.
The men stationed outside to guard
Bartoe's place, the remaining resort
on the river front, offered little i'm
pediment to a reasonably close ap-
proach. But Selwood, on one side,
worked his way between the guards
and the building, only to find that
some one had sensibly drawn every
window curtain and where there were
shutters had closed every shutter.
Selwood Joined Pardaloe where the
latter awaited him on the river bank.
They've got 1t we'll hooked up, BILL"
he said, looking toward the lone build
ing where all was darkness save when
a streak Of light shot from the front
dooc as It was opened. II counted
i've men outside"
Pardaloe corrected him. "Coupt
four now" he said with a certain
grimness. ROLLED one Of 'em down
the river bank"
you didn't kill himr'
"Choked him a little, that's all. No."
he repeated Indignantly, answering q
second pointed question, IT didn't KIN
him. He's just gagged. and tied up
tighter'n a bulls eye in fly time. II
he wasn't fool enough to roll plum
into the river when I started him he's
all right. Now, speakin' Of plans: I've
got 'em laid out for this place, John"
"What are theyr'
"Why, simple; I'll IRE the back Of
the place and you pick 'em of when
they run out the front. WhatY"
"Bill," said Selwood impatiently, II
don't know who's In there. II did
I'm not q public executioner. I'm
not Vigilante. I'm just a plain gam
bler-not butcher. And how" he
continued, overriding Pardaloe's in
dignation, do I know Starbuck isn't
holding Christie Fylsr or her father
prisoner In therer
Pardaloe drew a breath. ITO tell the
TRUTH" he confessed, II didn't think
about her; the old man wouldn't make
80 much difference"
Selwood regarded the dim, forbid
ding outline Of the tightly closed,
ll-favored joint with half-closed
longing eyes. Before We do any
thing else, I'm going to take q
look inside. want to see Just who's
there-and what they're doing, Bill.
We can talk plan over afterward."
Pardaloe put some useless warning
0Au uuCA AO1NCAI SC0pS&CAoAu AAIO OA10
ironical word, "Maybei'
"Of course it's only maybe" ad-
mitted Selwood, not unamiably. "Got
any whisky with You, Billr'
Pardaloe, after having 80 lately do
clarel that no one could bulge Sell
wood In his decisions, tried vainly to
dissuade him from the undertaking.
It was hopeless, he knew. But there
was one thing Pardaloe could do
that was, obey orders.
A few minutes later, q man much
under the influence Of liquor, II ones
nose could be trusted, for he strongly
smelled Of 1t, approached unsteadfly
the front door Of the Bartoe place.
In size, but In no other way, he re-
sembled Selwood. Near the door two
men demanded his business, denied
him entrance, and when he staggered
toward the door itself, insisting hs
would have a drink, one of tho
guards. Selling him by the throat,
fhrew him with hrutal indifference