The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-01-02
right by wile Macleod Raine

reached town YETI want TO see MIN.
SCOT in late last night-him an
Amen Owen. Their horses were sure
whipped out, too"
"Goodl Ask him to drop In and
see me. He'd better come along the
creek and in the back way. Some of
Quantrelrs friends may be watching
him."
'All right. Breakfast first. No, sir.
You lie right there. I'll fix US up
something"
A couple OF hours later Worrall
reached the cabin. He and the sheriff
talked the situation over. 1t was de-
cided to keep an inconspicuous watch
on the Delgado stable from a side
window of the Steelman store. Prob
ably QuantreIl would not stir out until
night After dark the Gomez house
was also to be kept under observation.
IF his gang is here with him some
of the bunch will poke their noses
from where they're holed up soon as
it gets dark" said Worrall. "Good
thing to have quite few men ready
for emergencies, don't you reckon?"
II think so. See Buckskin Joe and
Amen and the Browns. You might
speak to Mccarthy, too, Steve. Tell
them trouble is brewing and may
break, but don't let them know what's
up. If too many people know secret
it's not one any longer"
O'Hara did not leave the cabin until
darkness fell. BY a back way he
went to the SYSTEMATICALLY store
where Worrall and Grogan were to
meet him. He was eating a supper of
cheese and crackers and sardines when
Owen Joined him.
"'Lo, Amen" he said. Get all
rested from your long ride?"
"Umpha! Say, boy, there's Mex
lean bale tonight at the Montez place.
If you're all het up to met Bob you
might find him among those present"
"What makes you think that?"
asked O'Hara.
"You mightn't think 1t to see me such
stove-up old donker as / am now,
but once upon a time was kid my
own self. AS come down the street
/ met the Gomez family dressed in
their war paint headed for the dance.
Includin' Miss Dolores of the black,
black eyes. She sure is right pretty
senorita an wouldn't blame Bob for
wantin' to shake leg with her.
Course don't say he'll be there. All
I'm sayin' is that he might"
$50 he might" agreed the sheriff
refectively. swell, I'm not too old to
enjoy a dance. I'll give myself an
invitation to be there, too"
Amen Owen grinned. He thought
perhaps he had started something.
"Uninvited guests amt always so dog
goned welcome" the old cowboy said.
eff you go you're liable to get in a
jackpot, don't you reckon?'
"It wouldn't surprise me-"
"Bob is top hand with his shootin'
irons. I'd say take four of five of us
with YOU"
O'Hara cut piece of cheese and
put it between two crackers. "Can't
take posse into the barn with me-
That would mean trouble right away
If Bob was there, and can't risk
promiscuous shooting with lot of
women present. If Bob wasn't there,
world would reach him in ten minutes
that we were hot on his trail. No.
I'll leave two or three of you outside
and go in alone. I'll take you and
Grogan and Badly Brown. Worrall
and Mccarthy and Jess Brown will
watch the Delgado stable to cut
Ouantrell off from the horses if he
tries for a getaway"
as it yore notion that there won't
be trouble soon as Bob sees your"
asked Owen with obvious sarcasm.
Guess different. When you go in
there right then you're playin' yore
hole cardiff Bob is at the bale. Now
If kinda drifted in maybe he'd let it
ride. Far as we know, he amt hep
to it that I rode on the posse to the
! NAL Pals. Quien sabe?"
"Dollars to doughnuts that he
knows. You rode into town last night
with Steve, didn't you? If he's here
the info was passed to him almost
before you had unsaddled. No, it's
my place to go into the barn and see
whether he is there. So I'll 60"
You're cock-a- doodle-do of this out
fit, Garrett. All got to say is, look
out you don't buck yore luck onct too
often"
1.-THE Lord loves the Irish, Amen"
answered the sheriff, his gay smile
flashing. Far as this curly wolf goes,
he's just a man like you or me. Don't
forget that he has his weaknesses,
just as all criminals have. One of
Bob's is his vanity. He has to make
grandstand plays so that people will
fear and admire him. Some day he II
come a cropper on account Of it.
Maybe that some day is tonight"
"Hmp! Bob amt the only grand
stander in our midst. Right now I'm
close enough to spit on another guy
who is a h--l-poppin' team his own
self. Don't tell me you're against adj
vertisin'. boy. amt ever noticed that
you ride into the encinal to pull off
tha nlayS that make folks talk"