The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-11-14
you're not going to the Gold Mug

got one hour to leave town. I'll spend
part of that hour at the Gold
Nugget"
Steve reflected that the safe thing
would be to take Bob Quantrell, with
them to the Gold Nugget. But evil
IDENTITY his friend was not looking for
the safe thing.
"All right. I'll throw in with you,"
he said.
As OF ara walked up the adobe
lined ct beside the lank freighter
he fe.. Jain that odd lift Of the spirit
that came to him when danger was
near. He was going to meet 1t, auda-
ciously, foolhardily. The roar Of guns
might at any moment greet him. On
the frontier man did not lightly
serve notice that he was "looking for
another. Such an announcement meant
business.
A short, thickset man came out Of
the Ingram store and down the street
toward them. Out of a pallid face
protruding fishy eyes looked at O'Hara.
Thin lips opened to say insolently,
$50 you're still here"
I'm still here, Mr.. Harvey"
"Struttin' around, I reckon, because
you've had little luck"
More than once O'Hara had talked
with Steelman about the posse which
had attacked the cabin. 1t was the
opinion of both of them that Harvey's
hand had been back of the sheriff,
his mind the dominating one. Ingram
had been at the ranch and could not
have known what was intended.
mot your fault I'm strutting around.
Mr.. Harvey. I acquit you of blame.
You did your best to make good the
promise given in your store that
would not cumber the ground long"
O'Hara's eyes bored into those of the
merchant.
"Meanin' what?" demanded Harvey.
"Say, young fellow, if you claim"
O'Hara brushed rudely past him.
There was always chance that Har-
vey might be OBTAINING him in the
street while his killers were making
ready.
The lanky owner of the Longhorn
corral looked at his friend, and in that
look were both admiration and dis
tress.
"Great jumpin' horn toads. you sure
go outa yore way to make enemies.
Harvey amt used to being treated
hathaway" he said. "Just what's yore
play? An why get on the prod all
of sudden?"
"This Is the way look at it, Steve"
O'Hara answered, his glance sweeping
doors and windows as he moved
| forward. Its one thing for San
derson to say he's going to get
me. It's another for him to give
me an hour to leave town. He
thinks I'm hiding behind Bob Guam
| trell. I've got to show him I'm not.
All you've got to do is to ask me that
question when I give the signal"
"You mean the one you was speak
in about before we met Harvey?"
Eyes. You may not get time to ask
it. but If you do I'll use 1t as cue.
If there's trouble, you keep out Of 1t. !"
keep out Of it? You sure bump
into fool notions, boy. When the guns
begin to smoke I've got to join in to
save my own hide"
1--WE a notion they're not going to
smoke. Here we are"
They turned in at the Gold Nugget.
Sanderson and the Texas Kid were
drinking while Shep talked. He
boosted of how bad he was and what
he meant to DO to O'Hara. The words
died in his throat as he caught sight
of the two men who had just entered
the place. His jaw dropped with as
constituent.
O'Hara gave Shops slow brain no
time to guess what this meant. Light
ly the young man walked to the bar.
not more than five feet from his enemy.
He ordered liquor which he did not
intend to drink.
Sanderson glared at him. uncertain
what to do. Was this plant? Had
he sat around drinking and Boosting
while his foes had gathered to am
bush him? If not, why would this ten
derfoot walk in so jauntily. knowing
that he had no chance to beat the
gunman to the draw?
The short red-headed cowboy known
as the Texas Kid passed through much
the same mental reaction, but he was
decidedly more fearful than his com.
panion. Why had he let the drink in
him talk so loudly7 OF sudden he
was sober. sick with terror.
"What makes you SO white. Gar.
rett?" asked WOrrall. following in.
structions.
O'Hara did not look at him as he
answered. His gaze was fastened on
Sanderson. But in his voice there was
Tilt of triumphant excitement. Sc
far his plan had worked perfectly
Would it carry through?
I'm scared to death. Steve, of two
scalawags who are going to run me
out of town. One of them Is big
bully puss fellow ugly as sin, he
wolf on the howl, to hear him tell it
The other Is hammered-down red
headed runt. If you see them let me
| i.nnx, khof I no n v,1r CtounD