White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-09-08
The Deserts Price
i Bp uDrllAM MACLEOD RAlNE

them along which they passed among
murmurs Of approval.
The only remaining witness was
Dave Stone himself. He looked round,
quiet-eyed and fearless, waiting for
the examination to begin.
The story he told was the same one
he had narrated to the sheriff. Has
kell questioned him briefly, then waved
hand to young Mccain.
Wilson led him again through an
account Of the shooting.
did you fire in self-defense, to save
yore own life?" he asked at last.
The Texan hesitated. II did an
didn't" he said. "He was reachin' for
his gun when I started for mine. 1t
was him or me, one. Lookin' at 1t
that way, I'd call it self-defense. But
before that, if I hadn't told him what
a low-down onery lobo wolf he was,
reckon there wouldn't Of been any gun
play. l expect l called for a show
down when I served notice I'd kill
him If he troubled the young women
at the sheep ranch any more"
"When you fired, was his gun out?"
Eyes, sir. In the clear"
HE reached for his f1rst?"
"That was the way Of it. I beat
him to the draw"
Wilson passed to another point.
did you tell Jasper Stark or Carl Git
ner that you intended to get Tom Nc
| Ardle?"
mo"
did you say anything like that a.
tall, anything about having quarreled
with him."
mo. I never had a word with him
In my life till the time I shot him."
"Good friends, were your"
mo, SIR" The Texans denial came
cold and hard.
| "Meanin' what?"
"Meanin' that I knew he was cur
an suspected what he had done to
that III girl at the sheep ranch. He
knew where he stood with me an
kept his distance"
us there any reason why Jas Stark
or Carl Gitner might want you outa
the way?'
Eyes"
"You know something about them.
That it?"
Eyes"
Something that might get them
into trouble?"
you're right 1t might"
"Trouble with the law?"
The Texans answer was the dra-
matte sensation Of the trial. IF
could prove what I suspect 1t might
hang 'em both," he said evenly.
On that high note of suspense VIII.
son rested his case.
The jury reached it's verdict of
mot guilty. in three minutes. A wild
yell of approval filled the night. The
men who had been clamoring for Dave
Stones blood nearly tore him to pieces
trying to shake hands with him. IL
an hour he had become the most pop
uar man in Mesa.
Jasper found Mesa no comfortable
place of residence after the memorable
night when he had tried to engineer
the lynching of Dave Stone. Men witt
whom he had been hail-fellow nov
met him with a hard and stony stare
Enough had been proved against hin
to wreck any reputation he might hav'
had as decent citizen, but it was TIN
suspicion of a greater crime-one 81
evil that few even whispered it to eacl
other-which made him partial
among his kind.
At the Circle Cross he met the sam
chilly mistrust. Neither Julia nor Phi
dared meet his eyes for fear Of wha
they might read in them. The onk
one Of the riders with whom he woul
have had fellow feeling was Gitnel
and the big Texan had been given hi
time and was now hanging aroun
Mesa.
Except for vanity Jasper's hide wa
pachydermous, but he could not stan
the universal condemnation in whic
he stood.
Lets pint for the hills, Carl" h
suggested to his crony. "Even tn
greasers here treat me like I got We
low fever"
"Suits me fine," the other agreed
We'll stake a claim an make blu
, at mining"
, Botlr Of them took to their retreat !
the mountains venOmous hatred {
Wilson Mccain.
, They rode across the bare desert
the deceptive atmosphere which di
. torts form, color, and distance. A ha
day of riding brought them only
. the upper foothills and showed groul
;, range rather than a single one.
!, "Where we headin' for?" asked ia
per in mid-afternOon.
= Gitner slid sidelong look at hir
o He knew the purpose of their choit
7 Of this locale better than his cor
panion did. Why, up here way
Back of that kn3 over to the left"
- Evening brought them. by devio'
ways, to well-concealed pal
. back OF small canyon the entran'
of which was camouflaged by falls