The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-10-31

:
looks like"
The leader of the faction turned to
Quantrell. what was you amin to
do, Bob, when you put on this exhi-
bition Of fancy ridin'?"
Smoke 'em out, by cripes! Show
this bunch Of cutters a tenderfoot
can't bluff me out"
Ingram looked with an impassive
face at the swaying body of the dead
cowboy. II see you got Fitch. Don't
you reckon that's about enough for
one gather? Suppose you leave this
for me. Before we go any farther I'd
like to know who got on the hook
first. An why?"
"They did," Sanderson clustered.
"They fixed Tom Fitch up with break
fast an then they hid him out on us.
Soon as we found him that pilgrim
O'Hara began to fan smoke right
away"
'How many in the cabin?'
Bob Quantrell answered, jeering at
his companion and himself, "You got
surprise comm, Ingram. One live
tenderfoot an one dead one. The live
pilgrim shot up considerable. Too
much for the boys. They're allowin'
to crawl off with their tails between
their legs
Barbara waited to hear no more.
One of her friends was dead and the
other wounded. Her place was with
them, not here. She touched her pony
with the spur and the animal jumped
to canter. Straight toward the
house she rode.
Too late Ingram understood her IN
tention. Her horse had covered one
third of the distance before he could
make move.
Ladies' choice" murmured Guam
trell insolently. fright hands to yore
pardners an grand right an left.
Everybody waltz. I'll be doggoned if
don't begin to like the Hashknife
outfit better than the Diamond Tail.
No yellow in their stock, looks like"
Ingram looked at the young des-
perado coldly.
"Perhaps you'd like to join Them"
he said.
Unexpectedly Quantrell's answer
jumped back at him, sharp accept
ance of the challenge. "You're id
whistln' I would. No complaints
against you. Ingram, but l don't like
the company I'm keepin'."
He backed warily toward his horse.
rifle in hand. The boys buck teeth
showed in q snarl as he drew up his
lip. The cold light blue eyes passed
in little stabbing glances from one to
another. He was ready at an instant's
warning to begin flinging bullets.
No man moved to prevent him from
going. They could shoot him down.
That was certain. But not without
loss. He was as quick, as accurate,
and as deadly as a coiled rattlesnake.
Don't push on the reins,' Ingram
said quietly. "Think it over awhile"
mo, sir. When I'm. through I'm
through. Anybody got any objec-
tions?" Again his eyes darted from
one to another, trying to read and
forestall the intentions of these ruff
fans with whom he was parting COM
pany.
If there were any objections none
was expressed by anybody except In
gram.
you're liable to rue this, Guam
trell," his employer said.
''Not none," the boy replied CURLY.
He had reached his horse. Warily
he edged behind 1t. not for one mo-
ment lifting his eyes from the group
he had left. His hand felt for the
bride, his foot for the stirrup. He
swung to the saddle, backed the horse
behind the stable, whirled 1t in its
tracks, and dashed for the pines, look
ing back as he rode.
Garrett O'Hara watched with amaze
ment as Barbara swung her cow pony
and put it at canter toward the
cabin. She slipped from the saddle
and moved to the door while he
dragged aside the mattress to make
way for her.
Once inside, she looked at him, eyes
dilating with fear.
"Are you hurt-badlyT she asked.
'In the shoulder. I'll be all right.
Afraid Lyulph is badly hurt. They hit
him in the chest"
She looked at the bed where the
delirious man lay tossing. "Ill take
care of him. Watch out they don't
rush the house. I don't think Mr.. In
gram will let them, but I'm not sure"
{ Barbara made preparations to do
what she could for the man on the
bed. Once more Garrett lay down
back of his rampant and took stock Of
the enemy. Ingram appeared to be is
suing orders to his men. They hitched
horses to a wagon. put hay in the bed
of it, and lifted the two most seriously i
wounded of the posse into the wagon,
after which the team was driven away,
followed by most of the riders. One
man stayed with Ingram.
Garrett reported the proceedings
to Barbara.
"Wonder what he's up to-" she said,
moistening bandage.
~, 10 bn