The Coolidge examiner., 1932-10-14

Well call out first an tell those
In front she is coming, So there
won't be any chance for mis-
take" Mccain said.
Ann looked piteously at the Tex
an and followed Mike without a
word of protest Her heroic ges-
ture TO save the man who had come
10 play so large a part in her life
was under veto of general mas
culine opinion. No doubt their
view was a commonsense one. that
the mob would listen TO no eXpla
nation she made. but none the less
she longed TO try what still seemed
10 her the only simple way that
might save bloodshed.
To the watchers outside, the dep
uty sheriff explained in a shout that
a woman was leaving the jail ac-
companied by a friend.
LET 'em come straight down the
walk an we'll meet 'em both, Mike"
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 20 let any trick be played
upon him. He had heard OF pris-
oners 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 heard Mr.. Stone had
been arrested for killing Tom Nc
Ardle. shot him myself"
The man laughed. grimly. That's
new play. hidin' behind woman.
wouldn't hardly have expected
that OF Dave Stone"
But that isn't true Ann cried.
y did shoot him. Jasper Stark and
that Gitner saw me riding away
afterward. Ask them. They can't
deny it?"
I'VE 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 shoot
ing Tom McArdle. did 1t. shot
him because-because of what he
did to my sister. was coming
home from one of our camps when
met him. He tried TO make up to
me. so he could come and see
come and visit al the house. We
quarreled-and shot him. You
don't believe me, and It's the truth
before God" she cried desperately.
"No. ma am, we don't believe you.
We think you're tryin' to save Dave
Stone" the leader said. not unkind.
ly. mo man confesses TO killing
he didn't do. That wouldn't be
reasonable Wen tell Dave you
done yOre best for him. IL 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"
"Who?"
Phil looked him hardly in the
eye I've forgot their names.
"Meanin' you won't fellT
"Meanin just that"
There was shorr silence. How
cbme you mixed in this. Stark?"
IF Dave killed McArdle Il was
in a fair fight an ne was justified
know that Dave never shot any
one without givin' him a chance"
Hes just kid. Phil is" some.
one spoke up. You know how
kids are about gunmen."
Il wOuldnt call Dave a gunman
exactly" Phil protested. Hes alb
solufely square-an he's game"
Ann broke down and between her
sobs begged fer the life of her
| friend. She kept repeating that
Stone did not kill McArdle. that
she had done il herself that he was
sacrificing himself because he was
trying 10 protect her. The net re
suit of her passionate entreaty was
that in their minds she convicted
herself only of being in love with
the Texan.
PHI escorted her, still shaken
with sobs, TO the hotel. They
passed groups OF hurrying. excited
men. The question they heard re-
peated several times was as to
what had become of Jasper Stark
and Gltner.
Ann found the hotel nucleus of
activity for the few who opposed
mob law. Julia was here. and Sam
Sharp and Lyn Mct'ann. But the
leader was lean grizZled brown
man. trifle bow-Iegged. with hard
eyes and shaggy brOws. Peter Nc
Cam had been enlisted by Julia TO
! SuDDort his son Wilson With sharn