The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-11-28
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

Some one misunderstood. He was
either too anxious or he was nervous
A shot rang out from the bluff and the
three men below scrambled into in
slant motion. The one at the creek
scudded for the house. The other two
ran around the barn to find safety
there.
Instantly Quantrell's rifle cracked.
Other weapons doomed out The man
running from the brook stumbled, al
most fell, recovered himself, and dis
appeared limping into the house. The
other two vanished into the stable.
Quantrell was disguised. "You
spilled the beans proper, Mac. We
had three of 'em sailed an we didn't
get one. Oh, well, no use beefin'
about it now. Come on, boys, before
they get time to get set"
He slid down into brushy draw,
ran through it. and emerged into the
open. Straight for the stable he ran,
the others at his heels.
From the ranch house guns spat
bullets at the running men. Guam
trell reached the stable. Texas Jim
and Whitley and Mac were at his
heels. The deputy sheriff came pant
ing in twenty yards back of them.
Quantrell sat down on a feed box
and cursed bitterly and fluently. The
object of his maledictions was the
party OF Ingram's gunner at the ranch
Tho Cd hn haI yalo
and led had gone wrong. He found
his party besieged in the stable. two
out of the six wounded, a seventh
separated from them by stretch Of
four hundred yards that might as well
have been miles, and the horses quite
out of reach. Quantrell did not need
anyone to point out to him how badly
he had Numbered in charging down
the hill. He had acted under impulse
like fool boy.
All firing had ceased Those at the
ranch house made no immediate at
tempt to modest the invaders. Pres
emily Whitley made an announcement.
'Fellow just got on horse the
other side the house an rode off,"
Gone to let Ingram know" Texas
Jim guessed.
IAN, after while Dave will be
back here with a whole passle of war
riors," Sommers added.
It'll be roundup of Hashknife
waddies, looks like" Mac said.
"You never can tell till you've rid
den circle an brought the longhorns
in," Quantrell contributed blithely.
''But none of you fellows have got to
stay when you're ready to go. Me,
I'm stayin'."
Texas Jim nodded Same here" he
said briefly.
The deputy sheriff said nothing. In
his opinion this enterprise had gone
to wreck on Quantrell's folly. If a
good opportunity came to get out with
q whole skin he intended to do so.
During the next hour or two there
was desultory firing on both sides,
though it was plain that the men in
the ranch house were waiting for re-
Inducements before they forced the
fighting.
"Coupla fellows on horses comm
through the willows" announced the
white-headed cowboy abruptly.
Quantrell picked up his rifle and
went to the door. What he saw was
certainly unexpected. Two men were
riding along the edge of the creek
among the willows. They had with
them led horse.
dad gum my skin If it amt the
belted earl an his friend the good bad
man." exclaimed Texas Jim excitedly.
''What in Mexico are they dom here?'
The young desperate laughed, his
voice when he spoke filled with gay
and careless mirth. "Where else
would they be? Don't they always
bead straight for trouble, those lads?"
A moment, and O'Hara and his
partner were in the stable.
The Circle S o partners consulted
with each other.
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