Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-08-22

wreck him as surely as the rumors
Of the last few months had cut Langs
men off from the rest Of the world.
] SQuatters had filed on every available
site throughout his range and now
waited to see If the Three Bar would
win its fight. If the news should be
spread that he was locked up these
nesters would rush in. On his release
he would find them everywhere. With
marshals scattered through the ranks
OF his own men, intent on uphOlding
the homestead laws, he would be help
less to drive them out. If they locked
him up at this time he was lost.
F, He nodded slowly.
SWELL, I guess you've got me-" he
said. II don't see that it will amount
to much, anyway. Sooner or later
you'll let me out" He raised his
arms high above his head and
stretched. Under cover of this casual
move he swiftly raised one foot.
Slade planted his boot on the edge
Of the light table and gave tremen-
dous shove. The far edge caught the
sheriff across the legs and overthrow
him. The lantern crashed to the floor
and at the same instant Morrow
aimed sidewise, sweeping kick at
Carpenters ankles. As the marshal
went down his head struck the corner
post Of bunk and he did not rise.
With a single sweep Morrow caught
the back of his chair and swung 1t
above his head for the spot which
WaddleS had occupied at the instant
! the light went out. The weapon
! splintered In his hands as 1t found its
mark, and as the big man struck the
dirt floor Morrow leaped for the dim
light which indicated the open door.
A huge paw clamped on one ankle
and a back-handed wrench sent him
flying across the room to the far wall.
With sweep Of the other hand Wad-
dies slammed the door with bang
that Jared the cabin.
"We've got 'em trapped" the big
voice exulted. "We've got 'em sewed
in sack"
Harris made one long reach and
swung the butt of his gun for SHADES
head as the table went down but
Slade, with the same motion, vaulted
the PROSTATE sheriff The force of the
blow threw Harris off his balance and
as he tripped and reeled to his knees
SHADES boot heel scored a glancing
blow on his skull and fiOored him. He
regained his feet, gripping fragment
of the chair Morrow had smashed over
Waddles' head, and struck at dim
form which loomed against tie vague
light of the window.
The shape closed with him and he
went down in corner with Slade.
Slade struck him twice in the face,
writhed away and gained his feet,
back-slashing at Harris head with his
spurs. Harris caught hand-hold in
the long fur Of the others chaps,
wrapped both arms round Slade above
the knees and dragged him back. His
hand found SHADES throat and he
SiuCCHSu uoNh oh II as thC iudh ldlSCu
both ees and thrust them against
his stomach to break the hold. SHADES
arm swept circle on the floor in
search of the gun Harris had dropped
but he was jerked a foot from the
floor and Harris damned his head
again and Slade crumpled into limp
heap. Harris held him there, unwill-
ing to take chance lest the other
might be feigning Inconsistencies.
But Slade was out Of the fight.
The sheriff struggled to his feet as
Waddles tossed Morrow back from the
door and slammed it shut. He closed
with Morrow but the man eluded him.
He dared not shoot with friends and
enemies struggling all about the black
pit of the little room.
Morrow leaped one way, then the
opposite, as the sheriff CROPPED for him.
Alden turned toward a rattle at the
stove as he heard SHADES head crunch
against the wall under Harris savage
thrust.
"Down him!" Waddles roared.
''Tear him down! Tear him down I'm
holding the door,"
From the corner by the stove an
iron pot hurtled across the room for