The Coolidge examiner., 1930-12-12

I
any longer, young fellow see, an
you're my meat. Me talkin'-Shep
Sandersun- Understand"
Smith-Beresf0rd did not. AT least.
He rose to his feet See here. my
man. you've been drinking. Yru
mustn't come In and interrupt gen
tlemen-"
what :" roared the gunman
'Whn in not Mexico are you To tell
me what must an mustn't dOf
Listen, fellow I saw YOU pow
wnwin' with old man Steelman
while ago. I'm gonna make il
two right now Both of YOU cash
in. you an the other tendPrfoOt
too. onless you talk me oufa fhe no
iion. an I'll bet my boots you amt
got a chance in the world to do il.
Still the EngIishman failed to
realize the perilous position in
which he and O'Hara stood He
would not believe that in frac.
tion of a second the barrel of the
revolver might be thrown down on
him and finger crooked that would
low SanderSon was a drunken bully
and he did not propose to put MP
with it.
The plump little man strutted for
ward his face flushed with annoy
ance. "See here. my man. If you
think you can come here and bully
me
0'Elara interrupted TO cry or:
sharply He's not armed. Neither
he nor l. Both of us unarmed"
His voice was a warning rather
than an appeal. II served notice
on the killer that to Slay now would
be outside the code. that even his
own companions would disaDprove
and perhaps not prOtect him from
SteeImans vengeance
SandersOn sputtered You're
packin gun somewhere an you're
scared 10 draw it. You're a liar
when you claim"
The mans "A jerked up swiftly,
for Smith-Beresford had done an
amazing thing. The little man had
thrust his head forward. so that his
eyes were not six inches from the
end of the barrel
Shoot an be hanged you COW.
ard You haven't the pluck to
fire"
UHara thought that for one
dreadful moment his heart had
stopped pumping. To plunge for
ward. 10 make the least move.
would he the signal for Sanderson
to shoot. He could only wait help
lessly in the heavy silence while the
drama worked itself out.
1t seemed forever before Sander
sons slow mind made its choice. He
spoke hOarsely, savagely &c an
get heeled. both of you. an when
You see me. come a-shontin'. fel
lows"
Quantrell's bOyish laugh rang out
and broke the tension 'He sure
went for all spraddIed out like he
thonghr You was a big wind pud
ding. Another minute an | reckon
he would have crawled yore biz
frame the way his friend did last
night. I'm huyin chips. Shep. This
gent has got sand in his craw. an
he's my friend Lay off him"
This other tenderfOOt yore friend.
too?' Sanderson asked sulkily.
The boy looked at O'Hara. He
had watched this episode with
wary, cool detachment. and he had
seen the lawyer step forward 10
join his companion in front of the
furious bad man. Tenderfoot he
undoubtedly was, but like the
other he had shown courage of
high order.
Lay off him, too, Shep, an see
you do. or I'll give you game I'm
yOre loadin'. any jump in the road
Quantrell laid down the law TO the
other killer carelessly. almost cas-
ually, with the supreme confidence
of one who knows himself chief
O'Hara's pride was touched. He
did not want to hide behind an
eighteen year-Old boy II don't know
anything about gun. but if you'll
g!ve me three weeks I'll get ready
for this man." he said
The young desperados eyes lit.
Good enough. Shep. Lay off three
weeks. an then hop TO ii if you like.
He'll give you "a game his own self.
Hooray!"
Him That pilgrimI Gimme
game-me, Shep Sanderson! Fool
talk. That all it is" The bad
man snorted cOntemptuousIy.
IF it's fool talk maybe he's
gauging it TO the capacity of yore
underStandin' Shep. Sounds like
fool talk To you But is it? Those
who saw him Swarmin' over you
last night. when you was hollerin
for some one TO take him off. claim
he looked like he could whip a
stack of boh-tailed wildcats"
Jumped me when wasn't
Iookin'. tell you" growled Shep.
Il heard you the first time. Shep.
Well, the boys say he was certainly
sailin. I'd admire TO see another
performance.
You'll see it. SOon's the bride |
is off" Sanderson boasted.
which will be three weeks from
today. Send me front-seat ticket,
Shep." Quantrell's voice drawled |
on insolently. did you say you had