The Coolidge examiner., 1932-08-05

Mccain was In the saddle. His feet
found the stirrups and the pony
went pounding down the road at a
gallop.
Presently Simp eased himself out
Of his chair and waddled across to
the braggart huddled on the floor.
Better get up, Jas. He's gone"
Simp said.
He lent a hand TO get the other
TO his feet. Jasper looked around,
furtive-eyed. and knew he had been
weighed and found wanting.
'If | hadn't slipped" he began,
and stopped His breath was still
ragged with dry sObs. "He took
advantage-with his quirt."
yes. You only had gun"
Stone answered contemptuOusly.
"a gun an yore fists"
"Tell you he took advantage.
slipped" whined Jasper.
"You sure done so when you
picked on this wills McCann to raise
rookus with" Stone agreed.
Jasper llmped painfully into the
store and sank down into a chair.
"Fm sick" he whimpered.
Medford brought him water.
After time he was helped to the
hotel. He was not able to ride
home and in any event he had not
the nerve to face Matt Stark with
even a doctOred story OF his humil-
iatiOn.
The old man would be in a blaze
of fury at him.
Matthew Stark was game to the
marrow and inOrdinately proud.
That Stark could show the white
feather 10 a Mccain. that he should
be whipped like a peon without Of
ferlng fight, filled him with bitter
despair he could not endure. If
Jasper had gone to his death with
guns blazing he would have sor-
rOwed for him and been proud of
him. But this degradation was un-
speakably horrible to him.
He ordered Phil to saddle his
horse and rode to town alone. He
craved action drastic and swift.
First. settlement with the weak
ling who had dishonOred him, then
hattie with his enemies to revenge
himself upon them. He would have
Wilson McCann's blood. Nothing
less would satisfy him.
The old man strode through the
hall Of the Mesa house and into
the room that served as An office.
"What room is Jas in?" he de-
manded Of the proprietor.
"Why. he's in the front room up
stairs, Mr.. Stark. Doc Sanders has
been lookin' after him"
Stark was already taking the
stairs.
The man lying on the bed heard
a heavy tread. The door burst open
and his father stood before him.
the fires of eruptive wrath blazing
in his eyes. ssper knew his day
OF judgment had come.
Matt Stark stood. feet well apart.
leathery jaw clamped tight, and
looked at his unworthy son. "Well?"
he asked harshly at last
81 slipped. He got me down."
Jasper whlned.
Don't lie to me. I've seen
Stone"
II was kinda dazed He hit me
first Off with the loaded end OF his
quirt an didn't know what was
doing. He most killed me-"
II wish he had" the father re-
torted bitterly. IF ANYONE had told
me I'd raise coward for a SON"
He broke off. to deny his own claim.
But knew 1t. I've known IL for
years, only wouldn't let myself
believe IT. You were always a pull
ing quitter. No sand In yore craw.
Never was. The first Stark | ever
knew without CUTS. I'd rather you'd
died-a hundred times rather. But
I'm through with you. No son of
mine can stand up an take a
thrashin' without fightin' like
wildcat"
II was sick anyhow. an | wasn't
noticin' when he knocked me kinda
senseless," Jasper whimpered.
You're lying. An what If he
did? Pack gun. don't you?
After he'd taken the hide off, you
still had yore fOrty-fve. didn't you?
Think Phil would have let him get
away with II an not pumped lead?
Not for minute. But you-you're
gunshy. All you can do is drink
an brag. Why, you flabby weak
ling, they'll laugh at me all over
the county. The McCanns II never
quit GRIMM about it. By Cd,
l couldn't a-believed it-even about
you.
I'm through with you-absolute-
ly. Right now I'm going over to
Fletcher's office to change my WILL
You don't get a cent-not a cent.
An you get out of Arizona. I'll give
you a week to settle yore affairs.
You'll pull vore freight an change
vOre name. From now on you're no