The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-10-24

"Much talk buzzin' around town
since the shootin'?" Phillips asked.
The cowboys eyes met those Of the
foreman. "Why. slept late this morn
In, Jack, havin' had considerable Of
bun on, an left Concho almost
right away, as you might say"
Phillips took occasion to report the
result Of this conversation to O'Hara
and Smith-Beresford next morning.
HI will start poppin'. looks like.
Banks, the sheriff, is swearin' in a
posse to run down Tom Fitch. If they
catch him he'll never reach Concho
alive, not with the posse Banks is
sendin' out. Ingram warriors, the
whole caboodle. I'm sendin' word over
to the Old Man by Shorty. dunno
as there's anything he can do about it,
but I want him to know what's GO
in on"
After breakfast the two partners
left their riders and returned to the
cabin which was their ranch head
quarters. AS they rode up to the
corral they noticed a strange horse
| tied to the fence.
"Some one here already" O'Hara
said.
"Don't see him. Must be in the
house." his partner answered.
1t was the custom of the country
that if nobody was at home any rider
who passed that way might cook him.
self meal in the cabins used by the
cowboys in temporary sleeping quarters
on the range. By an extension of this
right some cowboy might have made
himself comfortable at the home ranch
house.
The partners were talking together
as they passed the window of the
house and turned in at the front door.
Abruptly they stopped on the threshold.
A man stood in the room, revolver
in hand. The weapon covered them.
"Far enough" the man snarled.
"Stop right where you're at"
He was young man, almost a boy,
but for the moment at least the look
on his face was almost wolfish. His
body was poised and crouched, knees
bent head thrust forward.
"Who are your he demanded.
Probably O'Hara did not think of
the maxim: When in doubt tell the
truth. He told it instinctively. MY
name is O'Hara. This gentleman is
Mr.. Smith-Beresford. We've bought
this place"
The point of the revolver dropped
toward the floor. You're the tender
foots been hearin' about. Stayin'
with Old Man Steelman, wasn't you"
Eyes. Till week ago. What's the
matter?"
"Sorry. had to cover you, gents.
Couldn't take a chance. My names
Tom Fitch, though that don't mean a
thing to YOU"
we've heard that you killed Two
Ace Burke yesterday"
Heard that, have you? What's the
story they're tellin'?'
"The story we heard is that you had
a quarrel with this Burke and later
killed him from ambush" O'Hara said,
looking straight at the man.
81 knew doggoned well they'd tell It
thataway." Fitch broke out vehement
ly. 'Nothin' like that. / don't claim
hadn't been drinkin'. 1 had. So
when Two-Ace began ridin' me be-
cause was Hashknife waddy come
right back at him. Well, one thing
led to another, an knocked him cold.
with my fist, me havin' given up my
six-shooter at the bar. He tried to
gun me from where he lay, but some
Of the boys stopped him. was stayin'
at old Manuel Chavez house, an on
the way there had to pass the Long
horn corral. 1t was dark as the in
side Of Jonah'S whale. That's how
come he to miss me, reckon, for he
was close as that window. l could see
him by the flash Of his gun, an got
Old Tried an True into action muy
pronto. My first shot hit him, an two
of the others I've been told since,
I was too busy to know whether he
got a second shot at me or not, an I
hadn't time to stick around, seeing as
folks were headin' that way fast. So
AAs OANA SO"A ~ ioJ hO66O at Olu Mill
Cowdery's in haystack, till I found
out Two-Ace was sure enough dead.
an headed for the hills
you'd better eat your breakfast and
ride across. to Steelman's," O'Hara
said. IF he thinks it's true he'll ad-
wise you what is best to do"
you're shoutin'. The Old Man will
tell me what to do. been drug into
this. If I'd started trouble wouldn't
make no holler, but I didn't do any
such thing. Still an all, I expect I'd
better hive out for parts unknown"
Fitch ate his breakfast, rolled and
smoked cigarette, and said he reck-
oned he would be going. He swung
to the saddle, waved hand in fare
well, and rode over the hill. Not one
of the three had any premonition of
the desperate adventure into which
they would be driven within the hour.
ITO BE coNTINUED.)