The Coolidge examiner., 1931-01-02

O'Hara's shoulder to hold the ban
dage in place and they continued
to work on this. But both of them
shifted positions in such a way as
to face the door.
The galloping horses pulled up. A
voice asked sharply, The boys hurt,
Barb?"
Barbara spoke quickly. "Mr. In
gram is looking after them"
Wesley Steelman pushed past her
and stood in the doorway. He
glanced at Ingram and in a voice
hOarse with anger demanded, "WhO
did that?" His finger pointed to-
ward the body swaying in the wind.
Hard-eyed, Ingram met his furi-
Gus gaze. 81 wasn't here myself. A
sheriff's posse. I'm told"
Hired killers" Steelman cor
rected. by Cd, some one will
pay for this" His eyes swept the
room and rested first on Smith
Beresford, then on O'Hara. OF the
latter he asked a question Both of
you shOt?"
Both of u.s." Garrett answered,
CLEAN of wintry humor in his
eyes. I'm a botched job, but poor
Lyulph is hit in the chest. Afraid
he'll have a hard time of it."
"Who did it?"
"Sanderson and his friends. After
we had been shot we backed into
the house and stood them off"
Bob Quantrell laughed Not the
way | noticed it. You picked the
belted earl up an carried him in.
You stood us off by yOre lone. Never
saw the beat of it, One tenderfOot.
some shot up at that. A dozen gun
men on the prod. An by cripeS he
stood US off twO-three hours. He's
sure the most eat-'em-alive pilgrim
ever drifted into the San Marcos" E"
81 notice you're not worried about
the health of any of the posse,
Steelman." the leader Of the other
faction jeered. But just so you'll
get the record straight I'll tell you
that yOre young pardner here killed
Brad Sewers, shot up Pankey so
bad he won't live. probably, an
wounded two other members of the
posse. All this whilst he was re-
Sistin' arrest, you understand"
"Resistin' arrest what for?"
"FOr adm an abettin the es-
cape of a murderer wanted by the
law"
That's the way you wrop it up.
Different here. Tom Fitch was MUIR
dered in cold blood. AS for OHara
here, I'm with him till the cows
come home. If he did all you claim
he did, he's the best fightin' man
on the San Marcos an I'll be proud
to ride the river alongside of him" :"
Here, too" chimed in Quantrell.
Bob is thinkin' of takin' you on
for boss, Steelman," Ingram
drawled. "Glad TO give him a rec
ommend."
81 can spea'; for myself, Ingram"
the boy said. Far as that goes !
don't reckon yOre recommend would
help me much with Mr.. Steelman.
Not none" Steelman spoke with
emphasis. AN comm down to rec
concentrations, Ingram, I'll make
one right now. Get out. Hit the
trail. Or my boys might follow the
example you've set an do some
hangin' their own shelves"
Coolly Ingram looked around.
Steve WOrrall had come into the
room, and at his heels were Texas
Jim and young Curt Steelman.
Worral spoke up. "Mr. Steel
man does not mean quite that,
Dave Still an all, that's good
medicine about takin' the road
while it's Open"
Good of you to have my inter
ests at heart, Steve" the cattle
man jeered. 'I'n go when I'm
ready to 90 an there won't be any
hangin', either"
Not while | can fan a gun, :"
QuantrelI added. We've come to
different forks of the road, me an
Mr.. Ingram. But | don't reckon
anyone better get on the prod yet,
not about today's rookus. He
wasn't here during the trouble an
when he came he stayed to fix up
the boys"
"Well, he's fixed EN- up" Steel
man replied roughly. After his
hired men shot 'em. Nothin more
TO stay for. I'm part owner here,
an | say he goes"
Barbara spoke in a low voice to
Ingram. Il think you'd better CO."
Ingram smiled hardly at her.
I'm comm to that same notion
myself. Looks like I'm being
handed my hat. Adios, Miss Steel
man. So long, Yves. See you later"
The boss of the Diamond Tail
sauntered to the door, spurs jingling
as he moved He passed through
the group of cowboys as though
they had not been there, superbly
Indifferent to them When he
reached his horse he swung to the
saddle and rode leisurely away be-
side the man he had left with the
two animals.
hundred yards up the trail he
met Doctor Holloway.
did Doc Manley go to my
ranch?" Ingram asked.
Yes. sir | understand some one
has been hurt here, too"
1.-Two wounded men, one of 'em
shot up pretty badly"
The doctor looked down and saw
some men carrying body on a
door. THAT one of them?" he asked.
Not that one" Ingram's sar-
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