White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-08-04
fords that he really had the goods on

former was riveting stirrup leather.
Come to say adios to yore dear
friend Wills McCann?" he jeered.
"Whatjamean?" demanded Stark.
"Why, amt you heard the good
news?" Gitner affected polite surprise.
"Our dear guests done mended so
much he's allowin' to hit the trail to-
day. The old mans comm with
wagon to get him. Pretty soon, If
Mr.. Wilson Mccain continues to i'm
prove, as the papers say, he'll be able
to bump off another Stark or two
maybe"
Stone was honing a hunting knife
He had acknowledged the arrival Of
Jasper by nod. Now he spoke.
evils Mccain didn't kill Matt" He
said it quietly. without emphasis.
limp! He was caught you might
say, right in the act" This from JAS
per, with evaporation. whats the
sense in sayin' he didn't do it?"
II went over the ground soon as
could an read sign. Wills didn't shoot
yore father, any more than I did"
"Phil tells me you gave him an
julie that line of talk, Dave. Tha's
why she's lettin' this murderer get
away from u.s." He ripped out an
oath of savage anger. give good
mind to plug him from the chaparral
my own self"
II wouldn't do that, Jas. I'd hire
some one. Maybe you could get Carl"
the little Texan murmured.
The words seemed to fall almost
casually, except for the fact that
Stones eyes were full on those of the
man he addressed. They had sur
prising effect. The red of Jasper's
skin faded to a sickly yellow. His
jaw dropped.
Gitner was made Of sitter stuff. He
turned snarling on Stone. "What the
blue blazes you mean by that?" he
demanded with a series Of cracking
oaths.
Stones face was hard as jade and
held as much expression. "Why, what
could mean Carl? Only that you're
better shot than Jas, an if he wanted
any KILN done looks like it would
be reasonable for him to hire you
to do it."
"Say, what's eatin' you, Dave?" Git
ners eyes were closely slitted. He
had dropped the stirrup leather and
his hands hung free for action. Lem
me get you right. What makes you
figure Wills Mccain didn't bushwhack
the old man?"
Several things, Carl First off, if
Wills did it he wouldn't "a been found
lingerin' around More likely he's "a
been hittin' the high spots for get
away. l cut sign on the ground an
l know Matt was shot by some one
lying in the irrigation ditch. The fell
low got scared afterward an turned
water into the ditch to wipe out his
tracks. We know Wills didn't do
that. I'm not satisfied that the same
guy didn't shoot both yore father an
McCann."
Sounds reasonable" sneered Git
ner. go ahead. Tell us who he is"
Il went up to the head gate an
studied the ground some. McCanns
tracks were there. He'd been fixin'
it. We know that. Covering his
tracks in two places there was the
print of big boot run over at the
heel with nail sticking out"
The eyes of Stone and Gitner were
fastened as though drawn together by
powerful magnets. Jasper felt cold
chill at his heart. He flashed one look
at Gitner's boots.
"How d'you know which was wills
McCanns track an which wasn't?'
Gitner asked.
II took his boots later an fitted
them to the tracks,"
There was a moment of chill sim
lister silence.
did you take any boots an fit them
to the other tracks?" Gitner asked, al
most in murmur.
"Why no, Carl. Whose boots would
! take?'
The issue between the men had come
to crisis. No words were spoken: For
that question was low-yoiced chal-
lenge. 1t called for an answer.
There was silence, heavy and OPP
pressive, while one might have counted
twenty. Watching Gitner closely,
Stone could almost read his exact
thoughts. Should he draw now and be
done with it? Or had he better wait?
well. you know what you mean.
don't, an I don't give d-n." Gitner
turned, bravado in his manner, to Jas
per. "N1e, I'm headed for the chuck
wagon. Get move on you, JAS"
Stark breathed again. Carl had
chosen to postpone the question of the
day to more favorable time.
The two men left the clubhouse
together. Through the open door
Stone watched them walk to the eating
room. He had done an unwse thing,
some men would have said. At least
he had done it on purpose. He had
smoked them into the open. Beyond a
reasonable doubt he was convinced
that he had found the man who had
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