The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-11-07

His eyes swept the room and rested
first on Smith Beresford then on
O'Hara. OF the latter he asked ques-
ton: Both of you shot?"
Both Of u.s. Garrett answered,
CLEAN of wintry humor in his eyes.
I'm. botched job, but poor Lyulph
is hit in the chest. Afraid he'll have
hard time of it." Ed
'Who did it?"
"Sanderson and his friends. After
we had been shot we backed into the
house and stood them off"
Bob Quantrell laughed. "NOt the
way 1 noticed 1t. You picked the belted
earl up an carried him in. You stood
us off by yore lone. Never saw the
beat of it. One tenderfoot, some shot
up at that. A dozen gunner on the
prod. An by cripesl he stood us off
two-three hours. He's sure the most
eat-'em-alive pilgrim ever drifted into
the San Marcos"
II notice you're not worried about
the health of any of the posse, Steel
man." the leader of the other faction
jeered. But just SO you'll get the
record straight I'll tell you that yore
young pardner here killed Brad Sow
ers, shot up Pankey SO bad he won't
live, probably, an wounded two other
members of the posse. All this whilst
he was resistin' arrest, you under
stand"
"Resistin' arrest what for?"
"For adm an abettin' the escape of
a murderer wanted by the law"
''That's the way you wrop it up.
Different here. Tom Fitch was MUIR
dered in cold blood. AS for O'Hara
here. I'm with him till the cows come
home. If he did all you claim he did
he's the best fghtin' man on the San
Marcos an I'll be proud to ride the
river alongside Of him."
"Here, too," chimed in Quantrell.
Bob is thinkin' of takin' you on
for boss, Steelman," Ingram drawled.
"Glad to give him a recommend"
II can speak for myself, Ingram"
the boy said. "Far as that goes /
don't reckon yore recommend would
help me much with Mr.. Steelman."
''Not none" Steelman spoke with
emphasis. "An' comm down to recon-
mendations. Ingram, I'll make one
right now. Get out. Hit the trail.
Or my boys might follow the example
you've set an do some hangin' their
own selves"
Coolly Ingram looked around. Steve
Worrall had come into the room, and
at his heels were Texas Jim and young
Curt Steelman.
Worral spoke up. "Mr. Steelman
does not mean quite that, Dave. Still
an all, that's good medicine about
takin' the road while it's open"
Good Of you to have my interests
at heart, Steve" the cattle man jeered.
"I'll go when I'm ready to go an
there won't be any hangin'. either"
"Not while can fan gum" Quantrell
added. we've come to different forks
of the road, me an Mr.. Ingram. But
don't reckon anyone better get on the
prod yet, not about today's rookus.
He wasn't here during the trouble an
when he came he stayed to fix up
these boys"
swell, he's fixed 'em up" Steelman
replied roughly. after his hired men
shot 'em. Nothin' more to stay for.
I'm part owner here, an say he
goes"
Barbara spoke in a low voice to
Ingram. II think you'd better CO."
Ingram smiled hardly at her. I'm
comm to that same notion myself.
Looks like I'm being handed my hat.
Adios. Miss Steelman. So long, Yves.
See you later"
The boss of the Diamond Tail saun-
tered to the door, spurs jingling as he
moved. He passed through the group
of cowboys as though they had not
been there, superbly Indifferent TO
them. When he reached his horse
he swung to the saddle and rode leis-
urely away beside the man he had
left with the two animals.
A hundred yards up the trail he met
Doctor Holloway.
ibid Doc Manley 60 to my ranch?"
Ingram asked.
"Yes, sir. I understand some one
has been hurt here. too"
1.-TWO wounded men, one of 'em shot
up pretty badly"
The doctor looked down and saw
some men carrying body on a door.
''That one of them?" he asked.
mot that one" Ingram's sardonic
smile flickered for a moment. You
/, can't do a thing for him. There was
necktie party, an that fellow was
the hangee. as you might say"
Doctor Holloway was a fat, jolly
little man with red face. He looked
quickly at the cattle man, started to
speak, and thought better of it.
expect I'd better be gettin' along
to my patients" he said. "Who are
theyT
"Couple Of PARTNERS of Yves Steel
mantle belted earl an that pilgrim
O'Hara."
Holloway was a born gossip. He
itched to know just what had taken