Evening star., 1930-05-04
(g. They knesU the station-keeper
|ssacre and loot a,Uaiting them.

be-. They knesU the station-keeper
ssacre and loot asUaiting them.
Sf them. Her smile fed and her eyes grew
1old-frozen by the jealous anger of his look.
She nodded to him as casually as If he had
Seen one Of the Mexican laborers back at the
Inning camp, and she went on talking WITH
Increased gayety to Ed Sampson.
But Ed was not so ready when 1t came TO
elf possession. His astonishment at the signs
& the newcomer was mingled with regret. To
9th of these emotions he gave voice.
Never looked to see you here" he said SIM
erely. Where you heading for?"
Lee stepped aside. His face remained like
! thundercloud.
Reckon that stage wills get to Benson IN
&me for me to catch tonight's westbound
rain?" he demanded brusquely.
Cant say" Eds cheerfulness had returned.
Jest as liable as not to be three hours late"
lie bent over Eileen again. "How long did you
ay you was aiming to be over in Tombstone?"
"Only few days" She was smiling at him
nth q sweetness which lacerated Lees mmoSt
eing "And when I am back Ed you'll come
nd see me?"
"T,n put up my horse" Lee interrupted
uietly. zone Of the boys will ride over after
:" He turned to the door; but Ed paid no
egard to him, for Eileen's eyes were still rais-
hg havoc with his emotions. So neither Of
lreshold; nor were they aware of the new ar
val until voice broke the silence.
It was husky voice. There was note OF
iumph in it, the triumph of a mean soul.
"Stick 'em up" it said.
Kettle was standing just outside the entrance,
ith his leveled revolver in his hand. A cold
ruelty shone from his rheunly eyes.
"And quick!" The husky voice took on
cious snap. The obese form tightened into
Padly presence. They raised their hands above
eir heads in silence. Kettle smiled loosely.
sorry to bust in on this lettle party, folks"
he smile departed. Keep 'em up, young feller.
Fy that agin an I'll drill you between the
Fes"
Eileen uttered broken cry, and Lee restored
right hand to the specified elevation. Ket-
e's geniality returned.
"Sal right, miss, If he don't make no more
ays for his six-shooter thet-a-way." He
Iepped inside "Now If you folks will Just walk
er there beside the wall"
The voice trailed off into an arid whisper.
lis eyes had widened, and his face had turned
mottled gray.
There were two windows in the little rock
Iilding. The first movement of his victims
ward the designated wall had brought one Of
ese behind them, directly in the line of his
sion. Through it he saw what would have
|emed to a newer resident of Arizona to be
\ of grimy rag among the boulders where the
llside sloped away toward the plain. But
'ettle had seen such strips of cloth too many
mes to mistake one of them. AS he was
hring at It, this one moved; he discovered the
atch of rusty black hair bound by the turban,
ID lean back cleaning in the sunlight like
copper.
ETTLE reached behind him with his left
hand and slammed the door. without
vering the muzzle of his revolver, he groped
the heavy bar and dropped 1t into its socket.
Injunsl" he said
AS If it were with the idea of confirming his
tement, the Apaches began the rush for
ich they had been so carefully preparing
ring the last half hour. The clatter of their
hind the building.