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

"Some of his warriors are liable
to make trouble. Who do you aim to
take along with you?"
Nobody but Lyulph. We want to
make it plain that this is to be a
peace powwow. Perhaps we'll go alb
solutely unarmed."
"Hmpl You've still got lot of
those fool notions you brought West
with you. There will be a dozen In
gram men in town, every last one of
'em armed. What guarantee you got
that Ingram or his pardner Tom Har-
vey won't sic some of 'em on you
like Hervey did those fellows on me?"
"We'll have to take a chance on
that"
But after O'Hara had talked the
matter over with his two partners it
was decided that the ENJOYS should
wear their revolvers, not as threat
but because it was the habit of cow
boys and cattle men to carry them.
There was always chance that the
fact they had them in plain sight might
save them from attack.
To Ingram and Harvey, sitting in
the office of the store, came one of
their clerks, young fellow who had
recently moved to the territory for
lung trouble. His name was Millikan.
"Theyre alone" he reported. "Just
rode up to the Concho house and have
gone inside. They stopped for two
three minutes at the Longhorn corral
before they went to the hotel"
"Steelman not with them, then?"
mo, SIR"
"Drift out into the street an make
sure none of their men join 'em."
After the clerk had gone Ingram
turned to his partner. "We'll let 'em
wait while, Tom. Don't want 'em
to get the notion we're anxious for
compromise"
Harvey agreed, but added rider:
"Just the same I reckon we better
meet 'em halfway. If this war goes
on much longer we'll be busted higher
than kite, you an me-"
Ingram looked out of the window at
the red hill shoulder dotted with jack
pines. Reluctantly he admitted to
himself that what Harvey said was
true. The expense of maintaining the
little army of gunner had been high.
Trade had fallen off. 1t was bad
year for cattle from the market point
of view. He had been forced to carry
his allies, the small ranchers in the
hills. Moreover, to meet Steelman's en-
croachments he had borrowed heavily
and his short-time notes were falling
due. He could borrow no more. The
owner of the Hashknife had had bust
ness with most of the bankers in the
territory and they were friendly to
him rather than to his enemies in this
feud. Add to all this the fact that
there was talk of Intervention from
Washington. If soldiers came in from
the fort there was little doubt that
they would support Steelman, for he
and Colonel Randolph had fought side
by side in the Civil war.
In the field Ingram could hold his
/ own. He was not disturbed about that,
States troops did not come in. But
he had read of generals who won
every battle and lost the war. The
thought of compromise was bitter to
him, but he knew that If Steelman
made a reasonable offer he must
accept it.
Yet he was reluctant to admit even
the possibility of defeat. "How about
Steelman?" he said. HE must be
near the end of his rope, too. His ex-
penses are heavier than ours. 1t
hasn't been any better year for cows
for him than it has for US. He's bor-
rowed more than we have, don't you
reckon?"
"Maybeso. But he's got more money
backing him than we have. Far as we
can see. Dave, we're down to the
| blanket"
swell, let's hear what these fellows
have got to propose"
Ingram and Harvey walked down
the street to the Concho house. The
| fat hotel keeper Brad Helm waddled
! forward and wheezed greeting.
"The other gents are waitin' for
you in the dining room," he added.
The cattle man moved with light
strong tread into the dining room.
His cool flinty eyes fastened on the
two men sitting at the table. Both of
them rose to greet the newcomers,
| though neither Of them offered to
| shake hands.
"Glad to see you, gentlemen" Smith
Beresford said genially. make your
selves comfortable. Cigars? Whisky?
| Beer?"
Nothing, thanks" Ingram answered
brusquely. "You have proposition
to make l understand"
"About time we have talk. Eth.
what? Sit down gentlemen"
Ingram flung himself carelessly into
chair "I'm ready to listen," he said.
O'Hara opened the conference. 81
don't know what you think, Mr.. In
gram, but as law-abiding citizens Mr..
-Beresford and I feel that the
present conditions are outrageous and
deplorable."