The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-11-21

ne 3 WILLIE W iedNc Ludt W IhC
law" O'Hara answered.
"To the slick judge he bought to
make him administrator. Not by
jugful. The only compromise I'll dis
cuss is one where he gives up all
claim to the Hughes place. Jerry was
my friend He owed me money when
he died. I'VE right to run the place
till I'm paid what he owes. Steelman
butted in without any claim whatever,
merely because he wanted to devil
me- Well, he won't get away with
it," Ingram slammed his heavy brown
fist down on the table, his eyes gleam-
ing savagely.
O'Hara said. "Tell us the very best
you'll do, the concessions you are will
ing to make. Perhaps we can offer
inducements to have you leave the
Hughes place."
mo, sir, I'm stayin' right there, an
you can pass the word that he'll rue
the day he an his killers try to drive
us out" ..
O'Hara smiled, the friendly flash of
white teeth that made men like him.
II haven't got much yet from you that
Steelman will enjoy hearing. Haven't
you any compromise in your system at
all? We're supposed to be talking
peace and not war"
"I'm ready to talk it any time All
I want is my rights. This trouble is
none of my startin'. All I've done Is
defend myself"
"That's So" his partner chimed in.
"We're right an Steelman is wrong
all the way. But we're good citizens
not lookin' for trouble even with him.
If Dawes agreeable I'm willin' to leave
him the Indian agency market. He's
got no claim to it, but just to show
where we stand"
"An' I'll accept his proposition
about the pass an keep my cows on
the west side. If he really means
business let him fire that bunch of
killers he has got hired,' Ingram said
evil you get rid of yours if he does
his, Mr.. Ingram?" asked Smith-Beres-
ford.
'Tll meet Steelman half way there
too, an turn off those I don't need as
range riders"
The difficulties between the factions
were talked over in detail. When the
two Circle S o partners rose to go
they felt that as first conference it
had not been entirely unsuccessful.
Ingram had made concessions-ungra-
ciously and reluctantly, to he sure
but the fact that he had made them
at all was encouraging.
"He talks just like Steelman does"
O'Hara said to his friend, laughing
ruefully. you'd think to hear him
that he was the most reasonable man
in the world and that he never had
wanted anything but the barest JUS
tice. But we've made start, Lyulph.
If we can keep the fire-eaters quiet
long enough to come to an agreement
we may succeed"
They rode out Of Concho over the
same trail O'Hara had followed the
day he first saw the place. The val
ley looked parched and lifeless. as
level as a floor, all undulations
smoothed away.
AS they looked down upon 1t a
rider dashed around the curve of the
trail and at sight of them dragged his
horse to halt. He was Mexican
vaquero in steeple straw hat and
earrings. While his horse was still in
motion the man flung up rifle and
fired. The horse went up into the
air, bucking furiously. The rifle clat-
tered to the ground.
The Mexican was superb rider,
but the trail was narrow. 1t looked
as though the bucker would pitch
down the slope. To save himself the
man flung his body from the saddle
toward the hill, went ciambering up
precipitous rocky outcrop of gneiss,
lost his footing, and slid down again.
Before he could regain his feet a
sharp voice gave orders.
"Stick up your hands. No funny
business"
O'Hara had slipped from the saddle
and run forward, revolver In hand.