The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-26
CHAPTER XII
The Sheriff Makes a Capture

The Sheriff Makes Capture
When O'Hara reached the Circle S
o he found that Bob Quantrell had
made his threat good. In the dark
ness he and one other companion had
slipped up to the stable and taken two
blooded horses that belonged to Smith
Beresford. In place of them they left
two leg-weary geldings branded with
the sprawling H f used by Hank
Ferret.
Quantrell left also one Of his char
acteristic notes. He had nailed it to
the top of the feed bin.
"Only a short visit this timex Mr..
Tenderfoot Sheriff. Business in Con-
cho so l can't stay. Much obliged for
the horses. They say an even swap
is no robbery. Tell Yves not to feel
sighted. I'll drop in on him soon. See
you later.
bob QUANTRELL."
Tired though he was, O'Hara stayed
at the ranch only long enough to have
another mount run up and saddled for
him. He did not doubt that Guam.
trell would keep his word and go to
Concho. What deviltry he had in
mind to do there, If any, the sheriff
could not guess. In any case it was
his duty to follow the young outlaw to
town.
He was disturbed at the loss Of
the horses. His partner had imported
them from Kentucky with view to
raising fine stock or at least improving
the native breed. Lyulph would not
be pleased, when he returned from
England with his bride. to learn that
Quantrell had appropriated Them.
though he would take the loss with
characteristic good craftsmanship.
The ride to Concho was a long, cold
one and O'Hara was dropping with
fatigue. His hands chung to the horn
of the saddle. His head nodded. More
than once the jolting of the horses
motion awakened him with start.
It was nearly four o'clock when he
slipped into town by way of the pas
ture back of Concho house. Here he
dismounted and hobbled the horse,
hiding the saddle in clump of scrub
oak bushes. The pasture was a large
one and the odds were that the ami
NAL would not be noticed. AS it
CHANGED, the brand on it was a P d
Bar. Smith Beresford had bought 1t
from a Buck creek hester and the
Circle S o riders had not yet re-
branded it. Even if anyone observed
the horse he would not associate it
with the sheriff. This was important,
because O'Hara did not want adver-
tised the fact that he was in town.
That was why he had not gone direct
to the Longhorn corral.
O'Hara left the pasture crossed the
road, climbed an adobe fence, and
passed down slope to the creek. He
followed this for two hundred yards,
then moved up through the brush to a
little log cabin set well back from the
street
He tapped on the only window and
called in low voice, "Grogan-you
there?"
At first there was no answer, but
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he heard a stir inside, followed by
husky demand, "Who's wantin' me?"
"You alone"
A momentary pause followed. then
curt reply. "Yep. Now you tell
me what I asked"
Garrett O'Hara. Let me in"
The man in the house could be
heard moving about the ROOM He did
not light lamp, but presently he
came to the door and opened it. The
sheriff stepped inside and Grogan at
once closed and bolted the door.
"Kinda early, or late. one or the
other. to be drappin' in on fellow.
amt it, O'Hara?" the owner of the
|. cabin suggested, yawnlng.
do you know whether Bob Guam
trell is in town?' the sheriff asked.
Grogan dropped his arms, still
stretched in the yawn. He was man
of medium height, bow-legged and
muscular. His hair. was yellowish
red, and his face and wrinkled neck
were sprinkled with freckles. AT the
mention of Quantrell's name his lax
figure starched to rigidity
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