The Coolidge examiner., 1930-12-19


clump of timber up there Wonder
what's up, Garrett"
! Some one is after him. Maybe
the posse headed him off"
Five minutes later hOrsemen
came into vie'5, a long struggling
line of them. O'Hara counted
twelve. They rode straight for the
cabin. AS they came closer he
recognized Sanderson, Quantrell,
Deever, and youth known as
the Texas Kid.
"We haven't seen anything of
Fitch" O'Hara said to his compan-
ion. "We've both been in the cabin
and didn't happen to look out as
he passed"
Count on me, Old Top"
Think I'd better get my revolver.
| don't trust Sanderson."
You're speaking for me, too"
When they returned to the door
of the cabin half a dozen mem
bers of the posse were dismount-
| ing. They were about q hundred
yards from the house.
SandersOn shouted to them. I'VE
want that bird Fitch an we're gonna
get him."
"Who?" called O'Hara.
Fitch. That's who. Send him
out to u.s."
There's nobody here but US.
! Come and see for yourself"
The men approached cautiously,
keeping the two men at the door
| covered.
OHara kept an eye on Sander
son. He was of the opinion that
the man would take this occasion,
If he could find an excuse at all. 70
settle the grudge he held against
him.
The Ingram men moved past
them, dropping spurs jingling, and
poured into the house Four or five
stayed outside to keep an eye on
the tenderfeet. Among these last
was Quantrell.
"Who is this fellow and what's
he dOne?" O'Hara asked.
Fitch, the bird calls himself
He gunned Two-Ace Burke from
ambush. | reckon you know all
about it," Quantrell remarked.
I'VE don't. Where did it hap
pen? Is Burke badly hurt?"
He'll never be deader." the lad
replied callously. I'VE buried him
in Boot Hill this mornin'"
Men trooped from the house
Not there" one of them an.
nOunced.
NO, but he's been there" the
Texas Kid announced. "He had
breakfast right in that room. Fitch
never was thorough. | know that
bird. He didn't wash his cup an
plate"
"Some one had breakfast here.
You're right about that" O'Hara
admitted. I'VE just got back from
l the camp where Our boys are brand
ing. Whoever this fellow was hes
gone before we got here"
What's the use of foolin' with
these pilgrims?" Sanderson cut In
savagely. They know where Fitch
is at They'll tell us or we'll bump
'em off right now"
"Sure they know" This from a
freckle-faced cowboy named Buck
GrOgan. He was a brother of the
man known as Texas Kid.
They've thrown in with Steel
man and his outfit" spoke up a big
rangy fellow whose right cheek
bulged from a wad of tobacco
Been livin' up at his place.
Betcha the Old Mans backin' this
very ranch"
O'Hara looked around on them
brown competent men, hard-visaged
ruthless. They had ridden hard and
far for vengeance. He realized that
they were not going to be particu-
lar where the blow fell. If they
could not find Fitch they might
strike at the men who they thought
were protecting him. Any adherent
of Yves Steelman's would do, given
a reasonable excuse. He could not
understand the psychology of such
people There was Bob Quantrell,
for instance. He had been friendly
with Smith-BeresfOrd. He had pro-
tected them both. But Garrett
knew that now he would not lift a
hand to save them if Sanderson
or the others moved to strike.
Quantrell spoke. 'I'm going up
to that bunch of timber an comb
it. Three four of you fellows come
along with me- Well take care of
these gents when we get back"
Three men followed Quantrell to
the horses. The four mounted and
rode toward the grove.
O'Hara caught the eye of his
partner and the two edged back to-
ward the cabin. Very soon the
riders would make a discovery, one
which might have a disastrous re-
action in precipitating trouble.
We've nothing against any of
you," O'Hara explained. "We have
started here as peaceable ranchers.
If we can we want to be friendly
with our neighbOrs. There's room
for all of us. wide range, plenty
of grass"
From the timber above a shot
rang out, followed by a puff of
smoke.
Dad gum it, they've got him ~
the Texas Kid cried, and he start
ed up the hill on foot.
Three followed him. The others
stayed to watch the partners.
Among those who remained was
| Chan San6nrcnn