White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-04-19
The
Of the Sage
By
HAL 6. EVARTS
Copyright by Hal @. Evarts
WNU Service
CHAPTER X-Continued
By
HAL 6. EVARTS
Copyright by Hal q. Evarts
WNU Service

forget"
Slade suddenly grasped the signih-
canoe of this arrest.
"How many of you fellows are pus-
sy-footing round out here?" he in
quired of Carp.
II don't mind confessing that sew
eral Of the boys are riding for you,"
Carp Informed. "But while we've
cinched Morrow we haven't been able
to trace 1t back to you. l 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'll
You've covered your tracks,
Carp spoke softly, as If to himself,
detailing his failure to gather con.
elusive evidence against Slade.
II even run your rebrand on fifty
or so Three Bar cows. You 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 rebrand on any mum.
Der 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"
Slade broke in upon the monologue.
This recitation of his probable immu.
nifty from conviction on every count,
far from reassuring him, served to
confirm his original suspicion as to
the reason for this arrest without
witnesses. If the sheriff had wanted
him he had but to send word for Slade
to come in. He threw out one last
line and the answer convinced him be-
yond all doubt.
"Then 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 you 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 a United States
marshal. How can you 20 in on
kidnapping deal?"
"Tm 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 at
fair. Besides, like was mentioning,
they can't prove thing on you. AS
soon as they're convinced of that
they'll turn you loose"
The sheriff nodded gravely.
1.-THE very day I'm satisfied Harris
can't prove his charges I'll throw open
the doors. You'll be free man that
minute"
A vision OF the near future swept
across SHADES mind. If he should be
locked up for three months and dis.
charged for lack of evidence 1t would
wreck him as surely as the rumors
of the last few months had cut Lang's
men of from the rest of the world.
Squatters had filed on every available
site throughout his range and now
waited to see II the Three Bar would
win its fight. If the news should be
spread that he was locked up these
nesters would rush in. On lis release
he would find them everywhere. With
marshals scattered through the ranks
OF his own men, intent on uphoding
the homestead laws, he would be help.
less to drive them out If they locked
him up at this time he was lost.
He nodded slowly.
swell, | guess you've got me-" he
said. 81 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 a sidewise, sweeping kick at
Carpenters ankles. AS the marshal
went down his head struck the corner
post of a bunk and he did not rise.
With single sweep Morrow caught
the back # his chair and swung it
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 is
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 back-handed wrench sent him
flying acros 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 go: 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. vauted
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 glancing
blow on his skull and foored 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 a corner with Slade.
Slade struck him twice in the face.
writhed away and gained his feet.
back-slashing at Harris head with his