The Coolidge examiner., 1931-02-27
CHAPTER Xl-Continued

I'D rather Quantrell felt that
way than yOu," he said, trying for
an effect of carelessness.
There something - inhuman
about him"
He could see that fear had risen
to her throat and choked her.
Therefore he spoke evenly, almost
negligenty. Not at all. He's just
boy gone bad. as they say. And
don't forget, Barbara, that he's at
the wrong end of this hunt, not l..
He's the one that has to double and
twist 10 escape, the one who has
TO suspect every man he meets of
wanting to betray him. We on the
side of the law have a tremendous
advantage, Il moral force that
makes a lot of difference"
What difference would it make
II he eyer-ever-T
Don't worry about me, Barbara.
He's not trying TO get me but to
get away from me-" His hand
moved few inches across the table
toward her. II understand how you
must feel about him-how you fear
Tor your friends. But il really isn't
necessary. I'm taking no unneces-
Sary risks. He may dodge NE for a
while, but Wen round him up in
the end-and I'll not be hurt doing
it,"
IF you ever get a chance you
ought tO-t0 put an end to him as
you would wolf" she cried with
little flare of savagery.
The brown eyes looking into hers
were grim. Listen. Barbara" he
>5aid, Il haven't undertaken TO fight
a duel with Quantrell. He's Il
killer, an outlaw wanted because Of
the crimes he has committed. If |
can I'll get him at advantage, and
if necessary IN do just what you've
said. Our lives aren't of the same
value TO society. I've been chosen
10 put an end to his lawleSs career.
That's whaI | mean to do, one way
or another. if | can | don't intend
90 be chvalrous fool about this.
if that's what you are afraid of"
She gathered from this what re-
assurance she could. But you will
be careful, won't you?" she pleaded.
You'll not take any chances you
don't have tor
Not chance" he promised. "As
'he boys say, I'll not throw off on
myself"
Garrett O'Hara had talked to
Barbara with quiet confidence of
the prospects. There was, he felt.
no need To alarm her unduly. But
the arguments he had used did not
wholly convince himself 1t is true,
in one sense. that the advantage in
such a campaign as this lay with
the officers. In another way the
odds entirely favored the hunted
rather than the hunters, because
the former could at one time or an
other choose the setting for battle.
During the two days that O'Hara's
posse had cOmbed the Nal Pals for
the outlaws there had not been an
hour when the searchers had not
been in terrain where il was pos
sible for Quantre!l to ambush them.
That he had not done so was either
because the young desperado had
other fish TO fry or because of the
criminals instinct to keep on the
dodge as long as he could and avoid
an open conflict with the forces of
law.
Ii was all very well to talk about
being cautious, but il was an intrin-
sic part of the game he played that
ne had to take chances even when
he did not know he was taking
them.
AS O'Hara. on a fresh horse.
plowed through the drifts on the
divide between the Diamond Tail
and the Circle s O, he knew that
there never had been time when
he wanted less TO fall victim 10
Quantrells craftsmanship than
now. For his heart was lifted with
in him. He had seen her concern
for him, and be had not dared to
trade upon ii lest she qualify her
words till they meant nothing. In
stead of putting her on the defen
Sve he had edged away from the
subject in order that she would not
take away the hope that had leaped
up in him. 1t was sheer cowardice.
He knew that, the while he excused
himself OH the plea that of all
things he must not be precipitate.
Riding through the night, he re-
built the scene, her words and man.
ner. the infections of her voice.
Had she meant more than friendi- |
ness? He would not let himself |
think so. Yet there hlazed in him
new and glorious hope.