The Coolidge examiner., 1932-09-30
CHAPTER IX-Continued
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-12-
AT BasfOrd's he found little en-
couragement On the porch were
Simp Shell, a cowpuncher whom he
knew as Red, and Medford. a ten
derfoot clerk. Slmp wanted 10
know In his indolent drawllng voice
what was new.
"Why. nothing ! reckon. except
Say, Simp. the devils broth is
brewin' In town today. The boys
are amin to lynch Dave Stone"
Looks thataway," admitted Shell.
I'm not for II myself after he
come in an give himself up-not
till we hear the right of the story,
but of course If they're HI bent
on it"
The hester shook his head
Something queer about this deal
/ don't get II atall. Me, don't hold
with these killers. Time we set
tied down an became decent folks
an law-abidin' citizens. But there's
somethin' about Dave Stone-well,
| guess he's a killer all right. but
I'd trust him all the way an back"
But Jas Stark says"
Il know what he says, an
wouldn't trust him any farther than
| could throw a bull by the tail.
neither him nor that Carl Gitner.
They're bad eggs. both of 'em.
There's something back of this, !
tell you. II we knew what II was"
"Stone had a talk with lie Page
an then shut up like a clam. | un-
derstand. Hanks gone to Tucson
on business"
He has?" Yerby's thoughts moved
fast. Then they aim-the Circle
Cross outfit does-to get Stone outa
Jail an hang him while Hanks
away. They'll do it, too. sure as
you're a foot high"
81 amt allowin' to stop 'em, Jim.
Are you?"
IL don't know as am" Yerby con
ceded reluctantly. But looks to me
like the decent citizens would get
together and serve notice that there
would be nothin' doin' In necktie
parties far as this case goes"
Simp's forefinger famed the air
Now tha's right where you're way
of, Jim. II Jas was tixin' TO hang
you why ] reckon some of US would
wake up an ask some questions
But this StOne-why, we don't care
billy be-d-n whether he gets hung
or not They're all in the same
crowd - no count triflin' fellows
helm around an maxim trouble for
the rest of Us. There's just one
plain word for killers. They're cold
blooded murderers. Most of 'em
would just as lief shoot a man In
the back as In front. Point of fact.
they'd rather. II they think they can
get away with 1t, because there's
less danger in it. You can't get
me to shed any tears about this
Stone"
Yerby tried one or two other rep
resentative citizens elsewhere and
met with the same lack of response.
The general sentiment was that
neither Jasper Stark nor Carl Git
ner were any good but so long as
they confined their attention to
Stone they might go as far as they
liked.
The little man gave up with a
shrug of his shoulders. The feeling
of the town had its weight with
him. Yerby loaded his supplies on
the pack horse. arranged the lash
rope, and threw a squaw hitch. Pres
emily he was out of town and head
ed homeward.
On the way home Yerby stopped
at the sheep ranch 10 leave sack
of flour and some coffee he had
bought for the Giffords. Ann came
10 the door al his call.
Miss Ethel not homer" he asked.
mo She rode out with mes
sage for Tony"
Maybe just as well. got news
for you. Miss Ann"
bitter smile broke the lines oi
her thin sardonic face. "News is
always bad news for u.s." she said
What is it7"