The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-10-10


"He admits it. Claims he thought
1 was an antelope. That won't wash"
Worrall CROPPED in his waistcoat
pocket for another match. swell, you
got some idea why he shot at you,
haven't you?"
"Nfiss Steelman had an idea. She
told Sanderson he was trying to kill
Judge Warner and had mistaken me
for him."
The lank man whistled. "Great
jumpin' horn toads! Could it be
that? You do kinda favor the judge.
About his size-an' store clothes. What
did Shep say when she told him?"
HE denied it, but the way he denied
it was a confession. He had no time
to think up good lie, because she
was so quick about it. The fellow was
fiabbergasted. OF course he stuck to
his antelope story"
"What d'you mean about Miss Steel
man being shot at?" ~aG yg.
perhaps I'd better tell you the
whole story"
"All right. Hop to it." Worrall put
his boots on the table and tilted back
his chair.
He did not interrupt with single
question until O'Hara had finished, but
there was at least one large one in his
mind. What was Barbara Steelman
doing on the edge of the flats so close
to the entrance Of Box canyon? He
thought he knew the answer, but did
not want to believe it.
$50 Miss Steelman wanted you to go
back home where you come from?
An she wouldn't tell you why?"
"As I understand it, she sent me
here to ask you why"
"Maybeso.", The freighter rolled out
some fat smoke rings and watched
them. "You been here only "a few
hours. Likely you never heard of
Dave Ingram"
Heard of him, met him. got an APP
pointment to meet him tomorrow at
the store"
The front legs of Worralps chair
came sharply to the floor. Into the
long mans face had come an instant
wariness. A blank film had taken all
expression out of his eyes.
ooh! You know Mr.. Ingram"
"Not exactly. never heard of him
till today"
II see. You an he are strangers,
but you jest happened to meet him
~ rot IN opnoirtroopf fav 1,
The young lawyer knew he had
prejudiced his case and he tried to
set himself right.
He told the story of the evenings
adventure. His account was a brief
and modest one, but the salient fact
could not be obscured that he had
roughed it with Bully Sanderson and
had not come out second best.
He yelped for the boys to take you
Off after you had climbed his Frame"
Worrall repeated incredulously.
Il was tearing the flesh from his
thighs with my spurs," explained the
lawyer. HE couldn't shake me off
and he couldn't stand the gaff."
Worrall looked at this stranger,
shrewd eyes appraising him. MIR.
O'Hara, don't know you from Adams
off OK" he said. But If Miss Steel
man sent you to me it goes as 1t lays.
That young lady is fine as split silk,
an that's all there is to that. You
look like right timber young fellow,
but you can't make Bully Sanderson
look like pore plugged nickel an get
away with it. Seems to me like you've
tackled more'n you can ride herd on"
Likely enough" O'Hara agreed. II
was lucky this time. But there's no
reason why he should hold grudge
against me. was only defending
myself"
limp! He's pison mean. That's
reason enough for him. You made
him look like two-spot. One Of these
days he'll get the deadwood on you
an do you meanness. You can bank
on that, sure as HIS hot. I know
that bird. He may lay off you right
now because Dave Ingram has given
orders. That won't mean he's forgot.
only that Dave is the big auger. Off
hand, Ill bet you're no kind Of
hand with six-shooter."
you win the watch on that bet"
O'Hara admitted.
"My advice is for you to cut dirt
back to the land Of marshals, GALA
bosses, an plug hats"
Il think I'm going to like 1t here,
Mr.. Worrall."
you're liable to rue yore decision If
you stay. By the way, what's yore
line, Mr.. O'Hara?"
"Tm a lawyer"
"A lawyer. Great jumpin' horn
toads!" A thought stabbed the West
erner and brought his alert attention
to another phase of the matter.
''That's why Dave Ingram told you to
come see him. Young fellow, If
knew where you were at!'
I'm q total stranger, as told you
before. Until today never met
soul in this neck of the woods. I've
had no correspondence with anyone.
My purpose in coming was to find a
good town to hang out shingle. Now