Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-01-31
Copyright by Hal O. EvAr8

| "All right-lt's like this" Harris
resumed I'm going to have my
hands full without you hiring out to
poster Us. I'm not out to reform the
country. They set the fashion OF dog
eat dog and every man for himself I;
30 the Three Bar Is all that interests
me. You keep out of my affairs and
I'll let you go your own gait II you
mix In I'll have your men hunted
down like rats"
Harper glanced toward the group
at the bar.
you were prudent enough to pick
a time when you're three to one to
tell me about thnt," he said. .lf I'd
kill you In your chair might have
some trouble getting out the door,"
"Of course I'd take every chance
to play SAFE" Harris admitted but
that is beside the point I'd have told
you the same thing II the odds had
been reversed You've got brains or
you'd have been dead for twenty
years. II ] thought you were hap
hazard homicide | wouldn't b. sitting
here. But you wouldn't kill 4 man
without looking few weeks ahead
and making sure II was SAFE"
60 ahead-let's hear the rest OF
it, Harper urged. you've got an
original line Of talk"
You're playing one game and I'm
| playing mine," Harris said "You'rc
| In the saddle now-lke you have been
once or twice before. But you know
that the sentiment Of community re
verses almost overnight You've
stepped out just ahead OF a cleanup
a time or two In the past I've got
hard bunch OF terriers over al the
| Three Bar and you couldn't raid us
without q battle big enough to 60
down In history as the Three Bar war.
Either way you'd lose. for II would
stir folks up-and when they're
stirred you're through. DO you re-
member what AL Moody did up on tht
Gallatin and what old Ton Ristine
sprung on the Nations Trail? That
will happen again right here"
The two men were leaning toward
each other. elbows resting ON the Ia
Bile. Harper relaxed and leaned back
comfortably In his chair as be twisted
a smoke. Evans propped his feet on
the table and Harris hung one knee
over the arm OF his chair. The men
al the bar knew that some crisis had
been safely passed.
you talk as II was running an
outfit OF my own and had bunch OF
| riders that could swarm down on
/ YOU" Harper objected. Il don't even
run a brand Of my own or have one
mun riding for me-
THE wild bunch Is riding for you
Harris stated.
Suppose that was true." Harper
said Then what?'
I'm one country after the next
they've hit the tobuggan wheneve
they got to feeling too strong. II you
line up against me that tlme has
come again. II get potted from The
brush I've hedged II so that those
boys that filed over there won'i be
left In the lurch. There'li- be re
ward OF thousand dollars hung up
for the scalp Of euch Of fifteen men
whose names | gathered while ! was
prowlIng round-reliable men to carry
on what I've begun; und mnrshals
thicker than flies To protect the home.
stead filings on the Three Bur-
"Then II might be bad policy to
bushwhuck YOU Harper observed
"You can go your own gnit,' Harris
said las long as you ay of Three
Bar cows. You invited me one time
to come down to your hangout In The
Breaks ! won't ever make that visit
unless you call on the Three Ban
first; then. just out of politeness, IN
ride over al the head of hundred
men.
Then II don't look as II wed gel
anywhere, visiting back and forth.
Harper said.
Now don't think I'm throwing
bluff or threatening; I'm just telling
you. You could recife number OF
things that could happen to me In re
rn-all OF EN- true I'm just count.
Ing that you've got brains and ean
see It's not going 10 help either one
OF us to gel lined up wrong What
| do You say-shall we call II hunds off
between the Three Bar and your"
ITO BE CONTINUED