White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-08-18


he was out Of town and headed home
ward.
On the way home Yerby stopped at
the sheep ranch to leave sack Of
flour and some coffee he had bought
for the Giffords. Ann came to the
door at his call.
''Miss Ethel not homer" he asked.
mo. She rode out with a message
for Tony"
"Maybe just as well. l got news for
you, Miss Ann"
A bitter smile broke the lines of her
thin sardonic face. "News is always
bad news for u.s." she said. what
is it?"
II don't know as you could call this
right bad news. That Dave Stone Of
the Circle Cross outfit has give him
self up an confessed that he killed
Tom McArdle.'
Ann was literally struck dumb with
establishment. She stared incredulous-
ly at the hester.
"Dave Stone says he killed Near
die" she repeated.
eyes, ma'am. Come through clean
as whistle, they say. Sheriff lie
Page he give it out himself I didn't
get to talk with him, because Hanks
outa town. Gone to Tucson, I hear
I'm right sorry about that, too, be-
cause he'll be needed in town tonight,
looks like. Some Of the Circle Cross
outfit are maxim trouble They're
amin to break into the Jail an lynch
Stone"
Beneath the tan the color faded
from the face of the young woman.
Because he killed Tom McArdle?'
she asked in hoarse whisper
"Tha's why. Jas Stark is stirring
up feeling. Him an that Gitner."
I'm going to town." Ann announced
"Can you go with me?"
"Why, I reckon So" he replied,
taken aback. "But Mesa amt any
place for young lady like you-all-
not tonight. The lids off an there's
certainly going to be wild times. You
can't do a thing. know, because I
did my darndest. They're h-lbent on
going through with this"
81 can tell them the truth-that !
killed him myself"
1t was his turn to stare "McArdle?"
he asked. "You killed Tom?"
eyes. I'll tell you all about it on
the way. But let's get started-please.
We may be too late already"
Yerby went to the corral. He
ropeG and saddled horse while Ann
changed her dress and wrote hur
ried note to Ethel.
Miss Ann, you amt gonna be able
to put 1t over" the old-timer warned
her. "I'm scared to death you'll git
into trouble yore own self. I hadn't
ought to let you go to Mesa"
'I'm going" she told him with
finality. "When tell them 1 did it
and why"
"I've been in mobs," he persisted.
'Tve heard 'em roar when the pore
devil they was waitin' to hang was
brought out It's awful
'I've got to do what cam" She
swung to the saddle and started down
the road.
There was nothing for him to do but
follow.
When they came to long hill and
were forced for a short time to walk
the horses he once more demonstrated
with her.
IF it would do any good wouldn't
say a word, Miss Ann. But it won't"
>;,,1y ,i% ,ti 1o@
them kill man know is innocent?"
He knew by the set look in her
young face the intentness Of her gaze,
that she could not be moved from her
purpose. But he could not consent
in silence.
"He claimed ne did it, Miss Ann
went in and told LIE Page so. Whyfor
did he do that If 1t amt so?"
~ don't know" A faint flame OF
color beat into the cheeks beneath the
tan. "But how could he have done II
when when I shot Tom McArdle
myself?"
"If you'll tell me the story, Miss
Ann"
She told It, almost as she had done
to her sister, just as she had gone
| over it in her own mind hundred
dreadful times. There was relief II
confession.
Yerby's wrinkled leathery hant
reached across to the pommel of the
saddle where hers rested and gave {
comforting little pressure. "Tm witt
you at every turn of the road, Miss
Ann"
The young woman looked at him ant
nodded, lump in her throat. Since
life had wounded her so greatly sh'
had tried to encase her heart in ice
resolved to fend off friendship. In tn
shame Of her hurt she had Rugged he
passionate resentment, cherishing !
as virtue instead of the evil thing !
was. To look at this brownfaced littl
cowman, whom she had helped in hi
need, was to know that his loyalt,
would never falter.
And there was another who had OF
fered friendship and been rejecte,