The Coolidge examiner., 1930-12-26

no criminal. But he was no weak
ling. There was in him the stuff
and hardness that frontier life be-
gets. The rope already around his
throat, he borrowed tobacco and
rolled a cigarette and smoked it.
His horse was brought. He was
helped into the saddle. AS they
started to lead the animal away he
sprang into the air and made the
fall of his body more violent.
Garrett turned away, sick at
heart. He had to look again, to
see what the enemy was about.
They were gathered in a group dis
cussing something heatedly. Plain
ly they disagreed But the young
man in the cabin knew that his af-
fairs had come TO a crisis. He
heard voice raised in sudden
anger. A man detached himself.
from the group. by cripes, I'll
smoke the pilgrim out if | play a
lone hand. What you birds need is
sand in yore craws."
The speaker was Bob Quantrell.
! He walked to a horse and flung
himself into a saddle. He reined
the animal around savagely TO face
the cabin. The bronco went into
the air sunfshing, came down,
bucked up all hump-backed, and
landed with its legs as stiff as
stakes. The rider had not yet found
the stirrups. He lost his balance
-h hn nj fn
ground. Instantly he was on his
| feet again, running to catch the
bride.
Before he was in the saddle a
second time an interruption Oc-
| Cured. Two riders, Il man and a
woman. galloped across the open
| toward the stable. The man was
| Dave ingram. the woman Barbara
/ SteeIman.
Ingram dragged his pony TO q
halt and leaped to the ground.
whats all this?" he demanded.
Deever moved forward. These
pilgrims have done killed Brad
US. don't reckon Pankey will
make rhe grade
who started it," demanded In
gram.
The Texas Kid answered him.
The young fellow had blood
stained handkerchief tied around
his arm I'VE got to fannin' smoke
all together, looks like"
The leader of the faction turned
to Quantrell. What was you aim
in to do, Bob. when you put on
this exhibition of fancy ridin'?"
Smoke 'em out. by cripes !!
Show this bunch of cutters a ten
derfOot can't bluff me out"
Ingram looked with an impas-
sive 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? Sup
pose you leave this for me. Be-
fore we go any farther I'd like to
know who got on the hook first.
An whyY"
They did," Sanderson clustered
They fixed Tom Fitch up with
breakfast 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 QuantrelI answered jeering
at his companions and himself, You
got surprise comm. Ingram. One
live tenderfoot an one dead one.
| The live pilgrim shot up consid'r-
able. 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
intention. Her horse had covered
one-third of the distance before he
could make move.
Ladies choice" murmured Guam
trell insolently. Right hands to
yore pardners an grand right an
left. Everybody waltz. I'll be dog
goned 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, a sharp ac-
ceptance of the challenge. You're
id whistlin' would. No COM
plants against you, Ingram. but
don't like the company I'm keep
| in"
He backed warily toward his
horse, rifle in hand. The boys
buck teeth showed in a snarl as he
drew up his lips. The cold light
blue eyes passed in little stabbing
glances from one to another. He
was ready at an instant'S warning
to begin tiinging 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," In
gram said quietly. Think it over
awhile"
mo, sir. When I'm through Pm
through. Anybody got any objec-
tions?" Again his eyes darted
from one to another, trying to read
and fnraStall tho intnntinnc nf Ahnrn