The Coolidge examiner., 1930-12-19

Much talk LuZZin' around town
since the shoOtin'?" Phillips asked.
The cowboys eyes met those of
the foreman. "Why, | slept late
this mornin. Jack, havin' had con-
sid'rable of a bun on, and | left
COncho almost right away, as you
might say"
Phillips took occasion to report
the result of the conversation to
O'Hara and h-Beresford next
morning.
H will start poppin', looks
like. Banks. the sheriff, is swearin
in posse to run down Tom Fitch
If they catch him he'll never reach
Concho alive, not with the posse
Banks is sendin' out. Ingram war
riors, the whole caboodle. I'm
sendin' word over to the Old M8n
by Shorty. | dunno as there's any
thing he can do about it, but | want
him to know what's goin' on"
After breakfast the two par
ners left their riders and returned
to the cabin which was their ranch
headquarters. AS they rode up to
the corral they noticed a strange
horse tied to the fence.
Some one here already" O'Hara
said.
Don't see him. Must be In the
house." his partner answered
1t was the custom of the country
that If nobody was at home any
rider who passed that way might
cook himself a meal in the cabin
used by the cowboys in temporary
sleeping quarters on the range. By
an extension of this right some cow.
boy might have made himself COM
Portable at the home ranch house.
The partners were talking to-
gether as they passed the window
of the house and turned in at the
front door. Abruptly they stopped
on the threshold
A man stood in the room, re-
volver in hand. The weapon COW
cred them.
Far enough" the man snarled.
stop right where you're at"
He was young man, almost
boy, but for the moment at least
the look on his face was almost
wolfish. His body was poised and
crouched, knees bent, head thrust
forward.
"Who are you" he demanded.
Probably O'Hara did not think Of
the maxim: When in doubt tell the
truth. He told II instinctively. My
name is O'Hara. This gentleman Is
Mr. h-Beresford. We've bought
this place"
The point of the revolver dropped
toward the floor. You're the ten
derfoots | been hearin' about.
Stayin' with Old Man Steelman.
wasn't you?"
"Yes. Till a week ago. What's
the matterT'
Sorry. had to cover you, gents.
Couldn't take a chance. My names
Tom Fitch, though that don't mean
a thing to you"
We've heard that you killed
Two-Ace Burke yesterday"
Heard that, have you? What's
the story they're telling"
"The story We heard is that you
had a quarrel with this Burke and
later killed him from ambush.
O'Hara said. looking straight at the
man.
Il knew doggoned well they'd tell
it thataway," Fitch broke out We
hemently. Nothing like that.
don't claim | hadn't been drinkin'
| had So when Two-Ace began
ridin' me because ! was a Hash
knife waddy | come right back at
him. Well, one thing led 10 an
other, an | knocked him cold with
my fist. me havin' given up my six
shooter at the bar. He tried to
2ln me from where he lay, but
some of the boys stopped him. !
was stayin' at old Manuel Chavez
house, an on the way there | had
to pass the Longhorn corral. II
was dark as the inside of Jonah'S
whale. That's howcOme he to miss
me, | reckon, for he was close as
that window | could see him by
the flash of his gun, an got Old
Tried an True into action muy
prOnto. My first shot hit him. an
two of the others I've been told
since | was too busy to know
whether he got second shot at me
or not, an | hadn't time to stick
around, seeing as folks were headin
that way fast So lit outa town
lay doggo at Old Man Cowdery's in
haystack. till | found out Two
Ace was sure enough dead. an head
ed for the hills"
you'd better eat your breakfast
and ride across to Steelman's, ;"
O'Hara said. IF he thinks it's
true he'll advise you what to do"
You're shOutin'. The Old Man
will tell me what to do. | been drug
into this. If ] started trouble |
wouldn't make no holler, but
didn't do any such thing. Still an
all, | expect I'd better hive out for
parts unknown"
Fitch ate his breakfast, rolled
and smoked a cigarette, and said he
reckoned he must be going. He
swung into the saddle, waved a
hand in farewell, and rode over the
hill. No one of the three had any
premonition of the desperate ad-
venture into which they would be
driven within the hour.
CHAPTER v
Garrett Holds the Fort.