The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-01-16

OF the shots ne nad nearQ. Until now
they had not even disturbed him. He
had thought his boy was practicing at
a target back Of the hotel.
Swiftly Quantrell stepped back of
the homemade Office counter and
lifted from a nail belt containing
cartridges and a revolver. He broke
the Colts and saw that 1t was loaded.
"Much obliged, Brad" he said.
-"Since you're so pressin' I'll borrow
the loan Of this for WHILE"
"Help yoreself, Bob. You're sure
welcome. If there's anything else"
"Where's O'Hara right now?" broke
in the young desperate.
"At the courthouse. Judge Warmers
holdin'-"
sAn' Steve Worrall?r
.sWhy, Steve's asleep down at the
Longhorn corral, reckon"
"Amen?"
II dunno where Amen's at, Bob"
Again QuantrelPs shallow eyes, a
deadly threat in them. passed from one
man to another. "Stay in yore chairs
for fifteen minutes. Don't RISE Don't
call anyone. If you don't stay put
you'll have to settle with me. Under
stand?"
He passed into the hall, down it,
ana out the back door. His glance
slid to right and left to make survey
Of the prospect. Nobody was in sight
except Brad Helm, Junior, and he
was too busy roping post even to
notice him. The boy had that moment
arrived from the Longhorn corral,
where a vaquero had been tanning a
wild horse.
Quantrell moved swiftly in the d.
rection of the Gold Nugget. There
would be horses, he knew, at the hitch
rack in front of the gambling house.
How soon the news of his escape
would be flung broadcast he did not
know. 1t could not be long. He had
to get out Of town before O'Hara
closed the roads and trails, but he had
no intention Of leaving without first
demonstrating his GOODNESS. That the
manner of his achievement, as well as
the fact itself, be talked about was
demanded by his vanity.
Into the back door of the Gold Mug
get he slipped. At once his haste APP
peared to vanish. He sauntered for
ward to the bar past the gaming
tables and the roulette wheel, a young
man very much at his ease. Guam
trell's eyes were busy as he moved
toward the front of the building. They
picked up Hank, the town drunkard
dirty and unshaven as usual, two cow
boys whom he did not know, man
sleeping on a bench with his hat over
his eyes, and two COW men discussing
business over mug of beer No
body else was in the Gold Nugget ex-
cept the bartender, for this was the
hour of the day when the place came
nearest to being empty.
The bartender had his back toward
the newcomer. He was busting the
bottles on the shelves. A sound of
clanking steel made him turn abrupt
ly. Quantrell had dropped on the bar
the loose cuff still attached by it's
neighbor to his left hand.
"Service, Mike" the escaped pris-
oner said quietly.
Mike stared at him, aStoniShed The
town was full of rumors about Guam
trell, but he had not seen him for
more than a year.
"You burned old alkali, wake up an
gimme a whisky straight" Quantrell
ordered.
The outlaws senses, despite his
casual manner. were highly keyed.
His ears were alert for any unusual
sound there might be on the street.
Already his eyes had registered the
fact that Hank and the two cattle men
had now recognized him. Hank had
risen and in another moment would
be making for the back door. This
did not suit Quantrell.
Drinks on me. Every one this way.
You. too, Hank" he called.
All but the sleeping man came for
ward, the cowboys with no urging, the
others reluctantly. For those who
knew Quantrell were aware that some
drama was working itself out, prob
ably highly dangerous one. He had
escaped. The jingling handcuff told
them that. Why had he come here?
What did he mean to do?
One of the cowboys caught sight OF
the handouts. "Holy smoke, pard
What kind of jewelry is that you're
wearin ?" he asked
Compliments of Sheriff O'Hara.
Name yore own poison. gents, an drinl;
to the long life of yore host, Bob
Quantrell. To hi with the law"
The jocose cowboy took one quick
look at him and became serious.
They drank, nervously.
Back of the bar four or FIVE re-
volvers hung suspended from nails
driven into the wall. They had been
left there by cowboys visiting town,
in accordance with the new custom
instituted by O'Hara, and they were to
be returned to their owners when the
latter were ready to go back to the
range.