Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06

holstered weapon shifted viSibly under his brush
jacket, and Snoop subsidized.
"Snoop's a card all right" Hughes agreed.
He led the way into the cabin proper. His
WOODEN shirt was now open part way down the
front. and MacShane saw, with sudden keen
anticipation of action, that a shoulder holster
bulge, similar to that under his own left arm,
had now appeared under Sivertips arm as well
Slvertip was conspicuously tall in country
in which most men were TALL he had mighty
breadth of shoulder, and arms as powerful as
legs. His eyes were Sits, seepylooking and
little slanted. The violent beard and the
veined, belligerent nose suggested that the eyes
might be fiery red.
old Snoop 1dgeted unhappiy. He knew the
~ markings of trouble when he saw them.
Even without those unfortunate mysteries in
the lean-to, which he himself had SO inadvisedly
introduced, Snoop could see that MacShane plus
Silvertip added up to spell dynamite.
Cowboys like Larry MacShane gave Snoop
a distinct pain. The family melancholy
philosophy always present in those reckless
riders never prevented any of them from
diving into danger with glad whoopS, head
long and without reservation, like frogs into
soup. This did not endear them to Snoop.
Whatever might be said against Snoop he GER
tainly was not reckless.
Unfortunately, Snoop'S only asset was q
marked fair for noSing out facts that were none
of his buSineSS-this, and a natural dog-li
genius for the life of professional hanger on.
The worst possible luck had landed him In New
Mexico in a day when direct action was more
popular than discretion. And his temporary
professional attachment to Deputy MacShane
was the ultimate disaster in a life that had
been one long series Of Winters.
MacShanes slight limp was reminder to
Snoop, II not to MacShane, that the cowboy
deputy habitually put his horse headlong down
sleeps upon which practically no horse could
be expected to live The slight notch in Mac
Shane's left ear was permanent testimony that
he would rather try to kick a gun out of q
drunkards hand than actually have trouble.
Worst Of all, just now, was the speciously
innocent look in MacShane's eye-a family
entertained, family hopeful family expectant
look-that told Snoop more clearly than q
thousand probably futile explanations that any
moment might produce unfortunate surprises.
MacShane was not the right company for an
old gentleman who had long suspected himself
of a weak heart
MacShane seemed to be waiting for silvertip
to open a conversational lead. Long minutes
trailed away while Snoop fdgeted; while Mid
night Zachary, presumably snored unheard in
the lean-to, peacefully unaware Of his Pc
culiar bedfellow; and while MacShane smoked,
apparently unconscious of them all. Old Snoop
would have been Mortified to know that Mac
Shane had chosen these uncertain moments to
let his thought wander down mountain to the
little town of Underholt, and there focus on the
daughter of Dad Young.
Early that afternoon MacShane had been
sitting in Underholt's only boarding house. BY
letting his thought return there, he gave him.
self big advantage in the nervous game Of
waiting-out Silvertip Hughes. MacShane
seemed to recall that he had absent-mindedly
1adled a spoon of beans into his coffee-cup
His eyes had been elsewhere. The dining room
in which he sat was run by valiant old Mrs
Minsterhof, but table was waited on by Molly
Young. Since old Dad Young had left his
daughter In Mrs. Minsterhoff's care, while he
and Silvertip reopened the old Maybe shaft,
business had dourished no end.
Anybody would think" said Molly Young
chat law officers in this part of the country
would have to be alert, wide awake young men,"
A certain sharpness Of tongue, which Molly
had perhaps inherited along with her
turned-up nose from an Irish mother, gave
the cowboy deputy pleasant sort of hOmeSick
sensation.
You sure have pretty eyes," he offered
"They put me in mind of them blue flowers
that come out all over the Cimarron hills in
Spring"
At this point Old Snoop had come in, OBJ
viously bursting with news that he could not
keep, yet was afraid to spill.
"Somethins happened" he said. There's
a Teller waitin' to see you out here
Then you go keep him company" Mac
Shane ordered.
81 guess" Snoop offered doubtfully, II got
to speak to the deputy alone, Miz Young"
He'll do nothing of the kind, Molly" de-
clared MacShane
HE certainly may" said Molly Young. She
whisked out.
Midnight Zacharys out here" said Snoop