The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-01-09
CHAPTER xII-continued

1Aohon0 was duO.neE udy N0Au WOuiu
take care of itself. But just now he
was somewhat disturbed. He was a
iaw-abiding peaceful citizen who liked
to work in harmony with the leading
Americans in the county. The reap
pearance Of Bob Quantrell made
shadow on the sunny outlook. The
young outlaws popularity was great
among the countrymen of Gomez. A
dozen times Quantrell had stolen cows
or horses, driven them far, and made
present of them to the poor natives
who sheltered him. His name was
becoming a legend among the poor.
Gomez could not, without sacrificing
his position as leader, turn his back
on the bandit.
Moreover, the relation of Quantrell
to his daughter Dolores complicated
the situation. The young people were
in love with each other, and he knew
that there could be no happiness for
the girl with such a man.
After Quantrell's escape from the
dance hall Gomez reproached Dolores
for having hindered the sheriff. 1t
had been neither wise nor ladylike, he
told her. The girls answer ignored
argument, went through his protests
to the quintessential fact.
II love him." her low, sweet voice
said in liquid Spanish, and against
that emotional reaction her fathers
logic beat in vain.
The natives buzzed like excited bees.
Their sympathies were all with the
wild young scamp wanted by the law.
He must be helped to escape.
Gomez knew he was expected to
assist Quantrell. His prestige was at
stake. AS soon as he had got his
wife and daughter home he set out to
find Quantrell and to arrange for
horses upon which he and his men
could make their getaway. The out
laws must lie hidden until such time
as mounts could be gathered for them
and brought to the cabin where they
were keeping under cover.
AS Gomez moved down the walk in
front Of his house two men rose from
the shadow of plum tree where they
had been lying and confronted him.
"Just moment" one of them said.
The speaker was O'Hara.
Gomez made the most of his Eng
fish. "You weesh to see me?"
Il want you to take me to the place
where Bob Quantrell is hidden"
The Mexican shrugged his shoulders
and shook his head. To simulate ig-
norance of English is an old Mexican
trick. O'Hara repeated what he had
to say in the best Spanish he could
muster
But senior, do not know" Gomez
fell back on his own tongue and
poured out a flood of protest.
Was he not a good citizen? Did
he not pay taxes to establish law and
order? Had he not campaigned for
the election of Senior O'Hara?
Worrall murmured a suggestion to
his friend mo luck, Garrett. You're
wastin' yore time. Manuel won't spill
q thing"
A quick light step sounded on the
hard-packed snow.
The sheriff caught at Gomez arm,
whispered an imperative in his ear.
and drew him back into the shadows.
They waited, listening. The crunch
ing Of the boots on snow had ceased.
Presently they could hear someone
chard. Whoever he was. the man was
moving warily. More than once he
stopped, as though to make sure he
was not walking into trap. He cir
cled the house toward the rear.
O'Hara gave quick directions to his
deputy and vanished. He ran along
the walk and around the house in the
opposite direction to that taken by the
prowler. At the back corner, close to
the adobe wall, he once more stopped
to listen. Some one, not ten feet from
him. was whistling to attract atten-
ton. 1t was the low, shrill whistle of
man who wants only one person to
hear.
TO the sheriff there flashed a plan.
He remembered Pankey's lameness
and his stutter.
"B-b-bob," he called, and limped
around the corner of the house.
"B-b-bob, the s-s-sheriff-"
Quantrell's six-shooter seemed to
leap to his hip as he crouched like
cornered wolf. 1t was the first in
stinctive reaction to the surprise of
the others presence.
The point of the revolver dropped.
"What about him?" the outlaw
snapped.
"D-d-delgado's s-s-stable-"
"Spit 1t out, mani" Quantrell's
voice showed irritation.
O'Hara had been moving forward
as he struggled with speech until he
was close enough to touch the other.
Not before he plunged at Quantrell
did the latter realize his mistake. A
startled oath leaped from the killers
lips as he jerked up his six-shooter
He was too late. O'Hara's fingers
closed ON his wrist. An arm locked
around his body. His feet were swung
into the air and he was flung heavily
70 10 e.io ;,l,A