The Coolidge examiner., 1932-09-16

He's a white man, Peter McCann
is. He's figurin on finding a way
out that won't leave him feeling
like coyOte?"
How about your"
"T'll not crook a finger against
one Of 'em. How can | nowY
What kind of a girl Is she?" Lyn
asked, his curiosity stirred. "She
used to be a regular iii catamount
at school,"
Wilson measured his words care
fully to achieve a dispassionate
manner of casual criticism. al
reckon she's got that temper yet.
There's most usually a breeze
around her neighborhood, | notice.
A sure enough lii ginger mill.
She's let loose on me some. O.
course she hates the ground / walk
on. Naturally she would. since she
figures | shot her father. But she's
all right, Lyn-there every way.
high, low, jack an the game. /
don't quite know how to tell you
what she's like. You remember
that III palominO racer we usta
have-what a fine high-strung, high
steppin' thoroughbred the filly was,
game to the marrow an true as
steel. Well, that's Julia Stark"
Lyn rolled and lit a cigarette. Il
amt spoke a word to her since she
was a long-legged colt with her
name all flying wild an black eyes
snappin' at you like live Goals. But
what you say goes with me. If she
hadn't been there both ways from
the ace she sure would have let
you die the day of the rookus. Fun
ny about women, how they tangle
up the lives of he-men. When we
was out on Tin Cup the other day
Yves TapscOtt got to talkin' about
Dad an Matt Stark. We was
breakin' camp an | was loadin' the
crossbuck. He got to joshin' me
while | was fiXin' the lash rope TO
throw the diamond hitch an some
thin | said reminded him of old
days. Seems that Dad an Matt
usta run together when they were
young. They skylarked a heap In
Dodge an Hays City an Denver
when they were out with trail
herds. Seems they both fell In love
with the same girl an that busted
their friendship wide OPEN"
The older brother nodded. "Jes-
sic Farwell her name was. She
married Stark"
1T would be right funny If this
Julia Stark was to put an end to
this feud after her mother started
it before any of us were born"
The brooding eyes of Wilson
were not focused on anything
within range of their vision. He
made no comment on what his
brother had said, but his mind was
full of it. Why not? Surely the
thing she had done made 1t impos-
sible for the McCanns to pursue
the feud, to fight for hair-line rights
bitterly and savagely. She had cut
the ground from under their feet
If there was any generosity in
them they would have to abstain
from hostility even though friend
ship was not practicable.
'Do you reckon they're liable TO
push the case against you for KILN
Matt Stark?" asked Lyn presently.
Wilson was out on bail furnished
by his father. He had been formal
ly arrested by the sheriff. even
though ii was understood that no
conviction would be possible in
Arizona after Stark had given pub
lie notice that he meant to kill
young McCann on sight.
Il don't reckon" Wilson replied.
They haven't got leg to stand on
and they know it. Even if had
killed him | was justified"
"Who did kill him? You don't
reckon any of our boys could of
done it and be holdin' out on u.s."
"NO | don't. I'm not guesSin'
Lyn-nOt out loud"
Presently Lyn resaddled and they
took up again the sandy road.
They rode into Mesa and drew up
in front of Basfords emporium
Public oDiniOn sat on the porch in
session. Simp Shell was there as
usual, fat and overflowing. Bas-
ford lOunged in the doorway. Doc
tor Sanders held down the top step,
his back against a post. In chair
tilted to the wall. lOunged Curt
Quinn, just in from his ranch.