The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-01-02
CHAPTER XII-Continued

.why, no. What makes yoh
think so?"
eve been sleeping on his trail for
four days. He's either here, or he's
heading this way"
"You sure?
.Not sure, Buck. But he told me
he'd be here"
"Told your" Grogan's forehead
knotted In a frown. 'You an Bob
gettin' to be side-kicks these days?"
Listen, Buck. I've got to have
some Sleep In forty-eight hours I've
hardly had a wink-been in the sad
die blowing through drifts most Of the
time. i don't want it known I'm in
town. While sleep find out for me
if Quantrell is here. Last night he
stole the two Kentucky horses of my
partner. If the horses are in town it
ought not to be hard to locate them.
Bob may be staying at the house of
Manuel Gomez. They say he's in love
with Dolores. Not likely he'll stay at
the Gomez house, though. He's too
willy for that. Find out what you can,
but be careful nobody suspects what
you're after. When you get back
wake me if I'm asleep"
Buck Grogan was a brother Of the
Texas Kid, who with Shep Sanderson
had been killed on the main street of
Conchoja little more than year be-
fore THIS time. In his heart he cher
ishedka bitter hatred Of the outlaw.
Xii right, Sheriff." he said. You
sleep. I'll find cut what can.
Hadn't better let you lay till ten or
eleven o'clock?'
mo. If he's here he may hit the
trail at daybreak. Soon as you get
back wake me up"
O'Hara took off his boots, his coat,
and his vest, and settled himself on
the bunk. In two minutes he was
sound asleep.
When he opened his eyes it was
broad daylight. Grogan was standing
over him.
"He's here"
"Have you seen him?" asked O'Hara.
"No."
@WhO told you ne was?"
"You did. I've seen the horses he
an some other guy rode in on. They're
stabbed in the barn back of Delgado's
house."
ssD0 you know where Bob is?"
'No, don't. Down in the Mexican
quarter, I'd say / met Gomez on the
] street an edged round the subject the
least li'l bit. But you know how
greasers are. They won't tell thing
they don't want to-
'You didn't let him know I was
here?"
do look like plumb fool?''
Gorgan wanted to know. "Of course I
didn't. What / said to Gomez was
that I'd heard Dolores friend was in
town, an when he looked at me real
quick / added kinda casual, Maria
Garcia She is, too. Came up from
Aqua Caliente Tuesday. Manuel was
right there with the Isl, ST. stuff, but
he was just mite too late. He'd
done give himself away, though I
didn't let on for a minute"
"You feel sure Quantrell is in town,
/ then"
I'D bet six fat three-year-olds
against a plug of tobacco that he's
not four hundred yards from us right
d--n now"
''If he hasn't lit out"
"Tell you l saw the two Kentucky
horses"
"I1e might leave them here to fool
me while he's making tracks for parts
unknown"
what would be the sense in that
when he could just as well take 'em
along? You know how he loves a
good horse. No, sir. When he goes
those horses go. too. Wouldn't sur
prise me if he lies low here three-four
days. There won't more than half a
dozen folks know he's here. He can
trust his Mexican friends. They like
him, an they're not civilized enough
to betray him."
The last sentence Grogan offered
with an ironic grin. Common opinion
to the contrary, it is quite true that
tAC 1ASNiNoAAS tAhC as q pCOptC vel
loyal to their friends. During the past
year or two as much could not be
said of the white population of Jeffer-
son county. While the feud had been
in progress most of the ranchmen had
not felt any conjunction about shift.
ing sides. 1t was, for instance, not at
all remarkable that O'Hara was now
depending upon Buck Grogan to help
him capture Quantrell. although the
two cowboys had fought together
against him in the battle at the Circle
S o ranch. Yet Grogan was no traitor.
The circumstances had changed, and
with them his allegiance.
"That sounds logical" O'Hara adj
mitted. "But Quantrell isn't very de-
pendable. He doesn't always do what
you'd expect him to do"
That's SO. generally speakin'. But
he'll stay put here two-three days an
give his saddle a rest. He's been on
/ the dodge long time, an he's right
fond of Dolores Gomez I'd say he'll
want to stick around for while, an
he most ALWAYS does what no wants