The Coolidge examiner., 1932-08-26
"Nleanln, he's been hurt?"

bad for the McCanns," retorted
Rafferty,. 81 reckon you amt wor-
ryin' none about Matt"
"Tha's bad, too" Tapscott re-
piled. u was hopln' we could patch
up this range war before it got too
late"
You can't" Phil interrupted,
with a touch of hysteria in his boy
ish voice. "Not till I've got two
| three McCanns."
The foreman of the Flying Wy
ignored this. He had not come to
make or receive a declaration of
war. what does Doc Sanders say
about Wils?" he asked.
"Gives him a day-or maybe two"
Gitner cut in triumphantly, with a
raucous laugh.
"How can / go back an tell his
old dad that? It'll sure break his
heart. He sets the world an all by
that boy. What can we do? His
old dad is out there In the mesquite
waitin' for me to bring him news
of his son. What am to tell him,
ma'am?"
Julia's eyes were Of a sudden lit
tie wells of brimming tears. She
thought of her own father and Of
how he would have felt IL she had
been dying in the house of an en-
emy. She hated the McCanns. every
last one Of them. They had struck
at her a mortal blow from which
she would never recover. All her
life she would cherish revenge. But
even so she could not keep a father
from the son whose life was ebbing.
If she did that she would always
despise herself.
"Tell him he can see his boy"
| IF he feels like he wants TO take
the chance" Gitner added with an
evil sneer.
For the first time Stone spoke, In
the low drawl of the Southland. IF
Miss Julia says Pete McCann can
come here, why / reckon It'll be
all right with you an me, Carl,
won't it?"
Gitner's eyes met his reluctantly.
There was something compelling In
the cool, steady gaze of the little
man. something that was a menace
If not threat in the even murmur
of the voice. The big Texan said
no more.
Julia drew her brother aside and
urged upon him impetuously her
point of view. He listened, half
resentful, half coRsenting. The
youth in him. the milk of his tender
ness not yet dried up, appreciated
and shared her feelings. But he
had TO remember his loyalty TO his
dead father within. Would it be
construed as weakness for him to
let Peter McCann into the house?
Did his honor rather demand that
he shoot the man on sight?
The boy in him was for the mo-
ment dominant. "All right. Have
it yore own way. know you will,
anyway" Phil said, little sullenly.
TELL Tapscott to have him come
down."
"No, that won't do. Phil. l don't
trust that Carl Gitner. We'd better
go and meet him. you and l. Well
ride one on each side of him."
To this Phil assented. The three
rode up TO the pass and Tapscott
waved his bandanna as a signal to
the McCanns. There was an an
swering handkerchief, and presently
Peter McCann and his son Lyn came
out of the brush to meet them.
Meet Miss Julia, Pete-Mr. Nc
Cam. Miss Julia. Her brother, Mr..
Phil Stark-Lyn McCann."
Thus Tapscott, as self-elected
master of ceremonies, by way Of
breaking the ice of cold silence.
None Of those named acknowl-
edged the introduction In words or
by an inclination of the head. They
looked at each other with chill and
bitter hatred. But, as the elder
McCann looked at Julia. there came
a change in his face. Beneath the
shaggy brows she caught a glimpse
for an instant of his soul. II was
there during the beat of a pulse,
and was gone, look that had
amazingly softened he grim coun-
tenance. Later she was TO puzzle
over it and wonder at it.
"Well?" demanded Peter harshly.
doc Sanders is lookin' after the
boy" TapscOtt said.
How is Wils?"
Pretty bad. Doc says. Shot
through the lung and in the side" "
Not a muscle of the old cattle
mans face twitched. Can he be
moved?"
Not a chance. He's a mighty
sick boy. Pete"
III go to him-right now"
Instantly Phil bristled. He would
show McCann whether he could ride
roughshod in this high-handed way
to his end. "Tn have something to
say about that. You'll go unarmed