Evening star., 1930-06-15

that small-eyed wide-set stare. What Greaves
wanted to know was what Kerrigan about.
The deputy's report of conditions was not
making much impression, he could see.
How come you" Kerrigan went on, Ito take
an old snake like Creaky Magruder into your
confidence? That old reprobate-"
Greaves said. If that old scoundrel has"
AS for Lutte" said Kerrgan, that hoople'S
understanding is ohStructed. Still, expect run
ners is hard to find. This thing of shootn
man from behind"
Il never done So" said Greaves.
MOP"
Il walked into his Office Pop Waterman set
with his back to me- AS I come in somebody
shot through the window. Pop jerked like he
was hit. But he turned around, shootn as
he turned. He shot twice at me- see?
we'll" Greaves pronounced the words dis
tincty as if he were trying to explain some
thing to a half-wit-'I plugged him. Only
thing come to my mind to do see? He fell
over. My shot was in front, after he'd fired
on me twice"
Kerrigan thought that over Pop was hit
once" he said From behind. There wasn't
any shot from in front-except one in the
wall
Greaves stared at him. Then I never hit
him" he said. "Say-how many shots was
fired, accordin' to the fellers around there?"
Il could prove anywheres from three to six"
said Kerrigan. "But-most of em said four,
an thatS fact"
See?" said GreaveS, II fired one shot. Pop
shot twice. The shot that done it come in the
window, like I said"
There was silence, while they finished the
meat.
Look joey" said Kerrigan there amt a
human way to bust out of this range alive
Go back with me. You say you never done it.
All right. I'd just as soon believe YOU You
come back with me, and I'll see you get a fair
trial"
1t was the climax of his play. Upon Greaves'
reaction depended his success or his failure
There were too many unexplained factors in
GreaveS story to render it credible He didn't
want to ask Greaves at this time how it had
happened, for example, that he had walked
into Pop Waterman's Office with drawn gun
Some things like that. The thing now was
TO get the killer of Pop Waterman down there
to the jail.
THE wide-set eyes were upon him, steady
and expressionless This was easv" said
Kerrigan to himself
Then GreaveS face cracked in the same
mlrthless grin that Kerrigan had seen before
You poor foo!" he chuckled. You poor
Sap-headed fool! This is rich Some Roh
MACPHERSON stuff, huh? Well no man Is
going to take me into Wolf Srpings not YOU
nor the Lazy M, nor all the punchers in this
country. NOT tonight, nor tomorrow, next
week, nor no time not living and not deadI'
Have it your way" said Kerripan He
shifted on his heels if he were about to get
up
Siddown!' Greaves told him You amt
goin' no place. When get ready you're goin'
to show me where your horse is I need an
other. I'm hopin' that somewhere in the mean
time you'll make an ff-color move, because a
dead sheriff is twice as pretty as one of 'em
afoot Maybe I'll take pop at you anyway
/ amt quite decided yet"
Slowly he drank the coffee staring over the
pans edge.
All right, all right" said Kerriean. He
yaWned and took of his hat. The hunted man
seemed to take this for a hostile move
III you got gun in that hat"
You see 1 amt. Only"