Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-10-03

Bar had come to town. The driver
pulled up in front Of the one hotel.
eth come OF right now." he said
f. SHADES In town."
Sure" the guard replied. "Why
else would Harris ride In at night
like this unless in answer to SHADES
| threat to shoot him down on sight?
Get the girl inside"
The reason for the scattering was
now clear to her. Slade, on his re-
lease, had announced that he would
kill Harris on sight whenever he ap
peared In town. Slade had many
friends. The Three Bar men were
scattered the length of the street to
enforce fair play.
The guard opened the door and
motioned her out but she shook her
head.
I'm going to stay here" she as
serted.
Her answer informed him of the
fact that she was no casual visitor
but one who knew the signs and
would insist on seeing 1t through. He
nodded and shut the door.
Harris had dismounted at the far
end Of the block and was strOlling
slowly down the board sidewalk on
the opposite side. Groups of men
packed the doOrways, each one striv-
ing to appear unconcerned, as If his
presence there was an accident in
stead Of being occasioned by knowl-
edge that something Of interest would
soon transpire. A man she knew for
Slade rider moved out to the edge
Of the sidewalk across the street from
Hari IS. She saw the numbering form
Of Waddles edging up beside him
Other Three Bar boys were watching
every man who showed disposition
to detach himself from the groups In
the doors. The blare Of the piano and
all sounds of revelry had hushed.
The girl felt the clutch of stark
fear at her heart. She had come too
late. Harris was to meet Slade II
seemed that she must die with him
If he should pass out before she could
speak to him again and tell him she
was back. She had wild desire to
run to him, at least to lean from the
window and call out to him to mount
Calico and ride away. But she knew
he would not. She was frontier bred
Even the knowledge that she was in
town might unsteady him now. She
sat without a move and the driver
and guard outside supposed her mere
ly curious on-looker interested. in
the scene.
"A hundred on Harris" the driver
offered.
The guard grunted q refusal.
I'D bet that way myself" he said.
From this she knew that the two
men were hoping Harris would be-
the one to survive; but the fact that
their proffered bets backed their sen,
timents was no proof that they felt
the conviction of their desire. She
knew the men of their breed. No
matter how small the chance, their
money would inevitably be laid on
the side Of their wishes, never against
them, as If the wagering of long
shot was proof of their confidence
and might In some way exercise ia
vOrable influence on the outcome. No
man had ever stood against Slade
She noted Harris gun. He carried it
with the same awkward sling as of
old, on the left side in front with the
butt to the right.
Fifty on Slade," q voice offered
from the doorway Of the hotel. The
guard started for the spot but the
bet was snapped up by another. Wild
fighting rage swept through her at
the thought that to all these men it
was but sporting event.
Her eyes never once left Harris as
he came down the street. When al
most abreast of the stage Slade
stepped from the doorway twenty feet
in before him and stopped in his
tracks. Harris turned on one heel and
stood with his left side quartering
toward Slade, the old pose she re
membered so well. There was a tense
quiet the length of the street.
Those you hire do poor work from
behind" Harris said. Maybe you
sometimes take chance yourself and
work from In front" His thumb was
hooked in the opening of his shirt
just above the butt Of his gun.
Slade held cigarette In his righr
hand and raised 1t slowly to his lips
He removed 1t and f1icked the ash
from the end, then inspected the re.
suits and snapped 1t again-and the
downward move of his wrist was car
ried through in a smooth sweep for
his gun. It flashed into his hand but
his knees sagged under him as
fOrty-fve slug struck him an inch
above the buckle of his belt. Even
as he toppled forward he fired, and
Harris gun barked again. Then the
Three Bar men were vaulting to their
saddles. Evans careened down the
street, leading the paint-horse, and
within thirty seconds after SHADES
first move for his gun a dozen riders
were turning the corner on the run.
Before the spectators had time to
realize that It was over, the Three
Dor mon uyopo Unnn Clodo hoa