Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06
A Shot in the Dark.
WAemLmry z0oka Chance,
SbmyedHL0Ce and PERIL
He Settle Stage fora
.Good Story.
nv ALAN Lem Az.
BY ALAN LeMAY.

nvERTIP HUGHES hs1 gone to the
u stable to put up Old SnOops horses,
leaving Larry MacShane and Old
Snoop alone. Even so, the young
NJ deputy would not have dared speak
as he did had not the drone of the wind so
filled the night that a man listening outside
the lean-to could have heard nothing within
What are you doing here?" he demanded
ne moment that Silvertip had disappeared INTO
the snow. ST told you to go back to town as
soon as YOU had investigated the Maybe shaft.
.This blizzard-I figured I couldn't make 1t
down to Underholt MacShane. And this cabin
bein on the way, and me KNOWN you'd already
be here lookin' for Silvertip Hughes"
"Blizzards!" scoffed Larry MacShane. wen,
what did you find at the Magpie?"
"Nothin'." Old Snoop, who would nave oeen
called Mr. Willis Jones if he had had his rights
had scrawny figure, a scraggly mustache, ana
an ill-preserved look. No chin seemed TO nave
been included "Nothin'. Except, @ course
Dad Young's corpse"
"Nothin," MacShane Knocked him, except
Dad Young's-you old fool! How was ne
killed."
Hseemed like he might "a died natural, Mac
shane"
~Did you examine him?
~Not to no extent I knowed you'd never be
satisfied on my Say-so; so rugged GavoS ana
brung him along"
"You 'brI1ng hm-On, you hAeAAaA V0 AAA0S'
Where is he now?"
"5ere." snoop showed at q long canvas
wrapped bundle with his foot. II put him here
in the lean-to before come in"
1EACsHANE remembered now that noises In
the lean-to, which he and Silvertip had
attributed to wind and rats, had been audible
for several minutes before Snoop's unexpected
appearance ut the door Of the cabin itself
Rage swept him as he flung open the cabin door
and found, by the light from within, that
Snoop's statement was verihable.
"Here!" he ordered. Help me heave him
back in the corner! If Sivertip sees this
listen, you; I'm working on Silvertp ON the
grounds that Dad Young is alive. you hear?"
"Alive?" said Snoop dimly. But"
'The second he finds out I've been lying to
him, it's a shoot-out, dyou understand"
Lynn to him? You been lyin'?"
Didn't you just hear me tell you?"
But thought you figured Silvertip might a
killed Dad Young?"
Never mind what you thought I figured!
YOU"
you're the darndeSt teller ever I see'' said
Snoop IF Silvertop killed Dad Young, like I
bet you think, I'd say he has cause to know Dad
Young's dead, it stands to reason. And here
you want to convince him differentiated with
the corpse right here in the house, st that!"
"That last is your contribution" snarled Mac
Shane "Catch hold. Gosh the old boy weighs
q ton!''
"Fact is" said snoop hesitantly. there's a
reason. This"
where's Midnight Zachary" MacShane
suddenly recalled that the Negro mule-skinner
whom he had sent with Snoop had not reap
peared.
"Im tellin' you," said Old Snoop with injury.
midnight didn't like this spooky business-he
kept takin' another drink. Finally he got so
Illuminated he couldn't walk, and piled him
on top Of the-the bundle on the travois. But
he kept rollin' of, and see we wasn't gettin'
no place, so finally, when hard bump busted
loose the lacin' O. Dad Youngs canvas, jest
laced Midnight inside the canvas, with Dad"
"Oh gosh," moaned MacShane. Dad Young
Is the only dead man in the world that could
spoil my game, and suppose Midnight Zach
airy is the only Negro within 500 miles, and
here you come and dump both Of 'em onto
me in the same sack Say! We've got to get
that fellow out of there before"
"Too late" said snoop stoically. Here
comes"
I'll do the talking here!"
The towering frame of Silvertip Hughes came
stumping in as he spoke, but MacShane had
to finish the cautioning command.
"All right" said Snoop. only"
"Shut up! sent this old fool to Clear
Springs" he explained to Hughes, Ito hand
out writ Of attachment, but he has to get
switched of and go hunting bear he heard
about And to show what kind Of an optimiSt
he is, he borrows a mule to pack the hide
and meat"
Clear =, Springs?" said Snoop blankly
"But-"
Alright" said MacShane. He hunched his
left shoulder significantly so that his shoulder