The Coolidge examiner., 1931-01-30

We're under obligations to you,
Bob" O'Hara went on. "You
saved my life and Lyulph's, too,
from Shep SandersOn's vengeance.
We like you, both of us. But yon
knew perfectly well what the orders
were, that our riders should keep
out of this feud if they wanted 70
stay with us. You deliberately
Overrode our wishes"
"Orders," broke out Quantrell
Say, fellow, don't you use that
word when you're talkin' to me. |
don't take orders from you or any
one else"
But, by Jove, that's just the
trouble, Bob" interposed Smith
Beresford amiably. I'VE cant have
you shootin' up people all over the
shop. 1t won't do, you know"
I'VE want to part friends" }"
OHara said There's no reason
why we shouldn't. You're too
impulsive, let's say, to ride for US
just now, but"
Friends" interrupted Quantreil,
his cold blue eyes narrowed to Sits
his voice filled with scOrnful anger.
Me, | was ready to ride the river
with you. I'd have gone with you
to the end Of the trail. through, un-
der, between. or over. And you
drop me like a hot potato because
you're scared Of what Ingram will
think. Don't talk to me about
friends, fellow. I'm through with
you, but you'll find you're not
through with me by HI of lot. "
81 say, old chap, let's be reason
able" Smith-BereSford said. ITS
not Ingram that's involved so much
as our good faith. We've got to
play our cards abovebOard, you
know. Can't let you go raidinG his
men while we're talking peace 10
him. But we're deuced sorry TO
lose you, and our personal feeling
isn't changed at all. Some day
wen laugh about this together, and
to show our appreciation Of your
services we want you to accept this
little bonus from us"
Quantrell took the check handed
him and tore it into twenty pieces.
He turned on his heel and clumped
out of the room. Fifteen minutes
later he disappeared oyer the hill
on horseback.
well, we sure turned good
friend into bad enemy" Steelman
said ruefully, lighting his pipe with
live coal at the bIacksmith's fire.
O'Hara felt that Steelman left a
criticism implied if not expressed.
The old cattle man would not have
let Quantrell go, but would have
credited the young fellows action
to excessive zeal and let him off
with Il reproof. But then Steelman
had no hope in the success of the
negotiations with Ingram and was
not interested in demonstrating
good faith.
Il don't see what else we could
have done" Smith-BeresfOrd said
despOndentIy. Like O'Hara, he re-
gretted very much the necessity
that had driven them. Quantrell
had probably saved both their lives
on one occasion, but he was head
strong and implacable TO a degree
that made it impossible to retain
him. Undoubtslly some day he
would have broken out again if he
had stayed. He was a killer. The
lust to slay had become a fever in
his blood likely to flare up any
time
He could not help thinking of
Quantrell and his exit Had they
made a nistaLe in letting him go?
Had not the real mistake been in
employing him in the first place,
knowing as they did the manner of
man he was? The trouble was they
had not known, not fully. He had
seemed SO bOyishly eager to join
them, and they had supposed they
could restrain him. No use blam-
ing themselves. Certainly they
could not keep him any longer, a
killer who refused TO discipline
himself or to he disciplined.