Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-03-28
The
Settling
of the Sage
By
HAL G. EVARTS
Copyright by Hal @. Evarts
wNu Service
CHAPTER X-Continued
By
HAL G. EVARTS
Copyright by Hal @. Evarts
WNU Service

the Inst day of August" Harris stated.
II was out with the ranger" Shade
said. Back In the hills You know
that yourself. That charge wont
stick"
"Then maybe It was the second OF
May" Harris returned. Il sort OF
forget"
Slade suddenly grasped the ssnti.
canoe OF this arrest.
allow many of you fellows are pns'
sy-footing round out here?' he In
quired of Carp.
~ don't mind confessing that sew
eral of the boys are riding for you.'
Carp informed "Buf while we've
cinched Morrow we haven't been able
to trace II bnck TO you even got
put on the black list. thinking you
might do business with me direct after
that-knowing my word wouldn't
stand against yours. But not you
You've covered your tracks
Carp spoke softly. as If to himself
detailing his failure TO gather con-
clusiye evidence against Slade.
II even run your rebrand on fifty
or so Three Bar cows. Yon knew
there wasn't dollar changed hands
when Morrow gave me- that paper
which licensed me to rustic my own
she stock. The idea In my starting up
was TO run your rehrand on any num-
her Of Three Bar cows. Later Morrow
would buy me out-acting for you,
can't be proved. Oh. you're In the
clear. all right"
Sade broke In upon the monologne.
This recitation OF his probable immn-
nifty from conviction on every count,
far from reassurlng him, served To
confirm his original suspicion as to
the reason for this arrest without
witnesses. r. the sheriff Ind wanted
him he had but to send word for Shade
10 come In. He threw out one Inst
line and the answer convinced him bea
yond all doubt.
"Then a lawyer will have me OUT
In an hour he predicted
"A lawyer could" Alden said 1T
you saw one. But we've decided not
to LET yon have access to legal advice
for the first few days"
Slade turned on Carpenter.
This sort OF thing Is against the
law" he said You're United States
marshal. How can you go In on d
kidnapping deal7"
"1'a, not In on IT." Carp shrugged
''The sheriff asked me to arrest you
at the first opportunity. I've turned
you over to him. The rest Is his AZ
| fair. Resides. like. was pcntIoning,
| they can't prove a thing on you AS
soon ms they're convinced Of that
they'll turn you loose"
The sheriff nodded gravely.
"The very day I'm satisfied Harris
| can't prove his charges I'll throw open
the doors. You'll be a free man that
| Minute"
A~vision OF the near future swept
/ across Shades mind II he should he
locked up for three months and dis.
/ charged for lack Of evidence II would
/ wreck him as surely as the rnmors
OF the last few months had cut Lang's
men Off from the rest of the world
! Squatters had filed on every available
rite throughout his range and now
! waited to see If the Three Bar would
win Its fight. II the news should be
spread that he was locked up these
nesters wonlf rush In On is release
he would find them everywhere. With
/ marshals scattered through the ranks
OF his own men, intent on uphollinp
| the homestead laws. he would be help
less to drive them out. II they locked
him up at this time he was lost.
He nodded slowly.
swell. guess you've got me-" he
said. Il don't see fhat II will amount
to much, anyway Sooner or later
you'll let me out" He raised his
arms high above his head anf
stretched. Under cover Of this casna
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 TIN
sheriff ncross the legs and overthrev
him. The lantern crashed to the finu
and at the same instant Morrow
aimed q sidewlse. sweeping kick a
Carpenters ankles Az the marsha
went down his iread struck the corne
posi- OF hunk and he did moi rise.
With single sweep Morrow caugll
the hack II his chair and swung /
aheve his head for the spot which
Waddles had occupied al the inSfnn
the light went out. The weapon
spllntered In his hands as Ii found Il
mark aid rs the bielman struck tn
dirt floor Aferraw ieaped for the din
light which Indicated the open door
A huge paw clnmped on one anki
nftt buck -hitnhed wrench sent hin
lying acrns the room TO the far wall
4 With Il sweep OF the other hand Nad
dies slammed the door with d ban
TINT Jared The cabin.
# We've 70 EN- trapped" the hi
voice eyuted "We'te got EN- sewe
In n sack" g.
Harris made one long reach an
swung the butt OF his gun for Slade'
Is