The Coolidge examiner., 1931-03-20
CHAPTER XIlI-Continued

Nu-EeI lie ~llLJiDcu- Al once MS iidSlc
appeared to vanish. He saun-
tered forward TO the bar past the
gaming tables and the roulette
wheel, a young man very much at
his ease. Quantrells 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 cowboys
whom he did not know, a man
sleeping on bench with his hat
over his eyes. and two cow men dis
cuSSing business over a mug of
beer. Nobody else was in the Gold
Nugget except 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. lie was busting
the bottles on the shelves. a sound
of clanking steel made him turn
abruptly. QuantrelI had dropped on
the bar the loose cuff still attached
by its 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
Quantrell, hut he had not seen him
for more than a year.
You burned old alkali wake up
an gimme 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 an
other 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 buf fhe sleeping man came
forward. the cowboys with no
urging. the others reluctantly. For
those who knew Quantrel were
aware thai some drama was work
ing itself out, probably highly
dangerous one. He had escaped The
iinglins handCuf1 told them that
Why had tie 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
drink 10 the long life of yOre host
Bob Quantrell To hi with the
law"
The jOcOse cowboy took one
quick look at him and became So
rious.
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 visit
ing town. in accordance with the
new custom Instituted by O'Hara
and they were to he returned to
their owners when the latter were
ready 10 go back To the range
"I'll take "A look at those" Quan
trel said. and he stepped back of
the bar After swift examination
tie selected A and tossed aside
the one he had taken from Helm.
He helped himself to belt filled
with cartridges. and TO a pint bot
tie of whisky.
The hill goes to the sheriff." he
said 10 Mike I'm the guest of
the county. If he doesn't pay il
let me know an I'll have a li'l' talk
with him"
THAT'S all right, Bob" the bar
tender said hastily. Anything you
want"
Quantrell yawned and stretched
himself. We'll, got to say 'AdioS =
boys. You know how the old sayia'
goes. that the hest of friends must
part"
He turned his back on them au-
daciouSly and staggered to the
door. Back to them came the sound
Of high unmusical voice raised in
song. Ii was Bob Quantrell's fa-
vOrite ditty.
Hush-a-by, baby,
Punch a buckaroo,
Daddv'Il be home
When the roundup is through.
The drumming of horses hOofs
reached them. Mike looked out of
the window. The outlaw had flung
himself astride a saddled COW pony
and was gallOping out of town.
I'll be dOggoned :" one of the
cowboys said. An that was Bob
Quantrell" He spoke as one awed
by the nearness of one greatly fa-
nous.
"Himself." Mike corroborated
Hes broke loose. told EN- ne
gould. | heard shots. You don't
reckon he's killed O'Hara, do you?''
Not O'Hara." one of the COW
men said. "We saw him at the
courthouse not five minutes ago.
We better get the news to him
right away"
Already there was the hum of ex-
.itement in the air. Men could
he heGrd running along the street
shouting to each other that Bob
Quantrell had got away.
1t was news as exciting as that
of his capture had been three DAYS