White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-09-01

front she Is coming, so there won't be
any chance for mistake" Mccain
| said.
Ann looked piteously at the Texan
and followed Mike, without a word Of
protest. Her heroic gesture to save
the man who had come to play so
large part in her life was under a
veto Of general masculine opinion. No
doubt their view was a common
sense one, that the mob would listen
| to no explanation she made, but none
the less she longed to try what still
seemed to her the only simple way
| that might save bloodshed.
To the watchers outside, the deputy
sheriff explained in a shout that a
woman was leaving the jail accom-
panied by friend.
"Let 'em come straight down the
walk an We'll meet 'em both, Nike"
some one answered "Hands in the air
all the time an no shenanigan. We're
not takin' chances"
Phil and Ann were let out and the
door locked behind them.
Hands up, they moved forward to
meet the guards. The man in charge
of the Jail blockade did not intend to
let any trick be played upon him. He
had heard Of prisoners escaping dressed
as women.
When he recognized Ann he took his
hat off. But he held her for a short
examination.
"What you been doing there,
ma'am?" he asked.
II went to give myself up. This
afternoon l heard Mr.. Stone had been
arrested for killing Tom McArdle. 1
shot him myself
The man laughed, grimly. "That's a
new. play, hidin' behind woman.
wouldn't hardly have expected that Of
Dave Stone"
"But that isn't true" Ann cried II
did shoot him. Jasper Stark and that
Gitner saw me riding away afterward.
Ask them. They can't deny it."
"We can't ask them. They've lit out
somewhere, an that's funny, too.
Know anything about it?" he asked
suspiciously.
"No. But it's true. Mr.. Stone hadn't
anything to do with shooting Tom Nc
Ardle. did it. shot him because
because Of what he did to my sister.
was coming home from one of our
camps when I met him. He tried to
make up to me, SO he could come and
see-come and visit at the house. We
quarreled-and shot him. You don't
believe me, and It's the truth before
Cod" she cried desperately.
mo, ma'am, we don't believe you.
We think you're tryin' to save Dave
Stone," the leader said, not unkindly
mo man confesses to a killing he
didn't do. That wouldn't be reasonable.
Well tell Dave you done yore best for
him. If you'll take my advice you'll
light right outa town. It's no place for
you tonight"
He turned to Phil. "Who's up at the
Jail with Rand? Anybody else at all?"
"Four Others"
"WhoY
Phil looked him hardly in the eye.
! We 1oAS OI lllel uuluGS.
"Meanin' you won't tell?"
"Meanin' just that"
There was short silence. "How
come you mixed in this, Stark?"
IF Dave killed McArdle it was in a
| fair fight an he was justified. l know
that. Dave never shot anyone with
| out givin' him chance"
He's just kid, Phil u.s." some
| one spoke up. "You know how kids
are about gunner"
II wouldn't call Dave gunman ex-
actly," Phil protested. Hes abso-
! lutely square-an' he's game"
Aln broke down and between her
| sobs begged for the life Of her friend.
She kept repeating that Stone did not
kill McArdle, that she had done it her
self, that he was sacrificing himself be-
cause he was trying to protect her.
The net result of her passionate en-
treaty was that in their minds she
convicted herself only Of being in love
with the Texan.
Phil escorted her, still shaken with
| sobs, to the hotel. They passed groups
| of hurrying, excited men. The ques-
ton they heard repeated several times
was as to what had become Of Jasper
! Stark and Gitner.
| Ann found the hotel nucleus OF
activity for the few who opposed mob
law: Julia was here, and Sam Sharp
and Lyn Mccain. But the leader was
a lean grizzled brown man, trifle
bow-legged. with hard eyes and shaggy
brows. Peter Mccain had been en-
listed by Julia to support his sor
Wilson. With sharp incislve questions
he drew from Phil the situation at the
Jail.
You say yore brother an Gltner are
there, too?' he asked after the boy
had told the facts.
Eyes, as prisoners" Phil answered
little sulkily. He did not enjoy sur
rendering command to these McCanns
as he had been forced to do both a
the Jail and here. "Yore son got ZEN
there somehow. Arrested the two o.
e.n ono at time"