The Coolidge examiner., 1932-10-07
CHAPT Err K
Ann Tells Her Story.

waited 10 edSe IN MS message.
"Senorita Stark ees at the back
door and wishes to spIk with you,
senor."
Jasper frowned angrily. He un-
derstoOd what this meant. Julia
had come to protest against the out
break he was instigating. He strobe
out of the saloon into the starlit
night all primed for a burst of in
dignation at her unwomanly con-
duct In coming to town on such an
errand. 1t died away on his lips.
Julia was not there. A man moved
forward to meet him out of the
darkness.
Jasper started. The heart died
in him under his ribs. The first
swift impulse was to turn and run
back into the saloon. But the man
had stepped to the door and was
barring the way.
you lemme go, wills McCann,'
he ordered. II got no business with
you" Voice and eyes both be-
trayed him. The one shook with
fear, the others mirrored II. For Ii
was in his thought that his enemy
had lured him out to shoot him
down.
But l got business with you.
Don't be so scared. I'll not hurt you
If you go with me quietly"
McCann had not drawn gun.
The only weapon In sight was the
steady compulsion Of two steel-blue
eyes.
"Go-go where"
ITO the Jail. I've got something to
say to you"
"Say it right here, then" JAS
per began 10 breathe easier. He
was still very uneasy. but the panic
that had taken him by the throat
was subsiding. II Mccain did not
mean to destroy him. If no physi-
cal violence was intended, he could
probably talk himself out Of trou-
BILE.
"Not here. We might be inter-
rupted."
81 amt going a step with you"
Suspicious were flying like blind
bats through Jasper's brain. Per
haps McCann meant to draw him to
a lonely spot and murder him.
You got no right to take me.
You can't do 1t. You're not the
sheriff, and you've got no warrant
for my arrest" Jasper quavered.
II know | can't, but I'm going
to-" Somehow a revolver had jumped
into sight and was lying in Nc
Cams hand, pointing groundward.
You walk on my right side, close
to me. SOS my arm will be under
yore coat. If you try to run or
call TO anyone, why reckon that'll
be suicide. Walk beside me easy
an steady an there won't be any
trouble. Tha's right. | don't reck-
on the gun barrel will prod yore ribs
TO hurt"
They walked down the alley and
crossed the street to the alley of
the next block. This brought them
TO a dry creek.
Go right ahead" McCann di
rected
Stark drew back at the edge of
the descent into the arroyo. His
throat went dry. His stomach sank
within him. Was he 10 be dry
gulched down In the cottonwoods at
this lonely spot? II was the very
sort of thing he would have CON
trived himself for an enemy.
Before he could speak he had TO
moisten his lips. "You-yOu're
aimin' 10 murder me-" he managed
TO get out in a hoarse whisper.
Il told you wouldn't hurt you
If you were reasonable. I'm takin
you to Jail by the back way. Step
lively. I've no time TO waste"
The man in front OF the gun shut
fed down through The Loose rubble
10 the creek bed. He had no choice
He moved up the creek bed in the
darkness through the cottonwood
grove, and as he stumbled forward
he pleaded abjectly with the man
whom he had more than once tried
TO kill.
You wouldn't take advantage of
EN- thiSaway. Wills" he wheedled
Il ain'i got thing In the world
against you-all. This family feud
is plumb foolish. Tha's what | said
TO julie says, Let's take Wills
home an nurse him.. says. This
shOotin' was Dads fault anyhow
an Wills is a good fellow Honest.
TO Cd that's what told ner. Wills
We looked after you right al the
Circle Cross, didn't we? p"ne every
thing for you that we c"uldf"
I'm not going 20 hurt you" the
other said with disgust. NO use ~
ing to me. II don't buy you any
thing. Move on up the bank
here an knock on the door"
Through the gloom the shadowy
outline of a building had emerged
Ii was the back of the stone jail.
Jasper knocked on the iron-stud-