Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-04-12
CHAPTER xi--continued

'@R RHCfEhc N
go the chair and grasped the desk
top with the other. Fingers tipped
over a heavy ink-well and the liquid
ran down his sleeve. he fumbled
for 1t again, so clumslly. so pain
fully.
They were going now; those two
outside were moving away :.
off somewhere leaving him,
when he needed men when
an officer needed help. 80. A sort
of rage swan upward. 1t
wasn't like young Johnny Belknap
to walk away from a man In q
The fingers had the ink-well he
drew the forearm up and put all
the strength he had into the throw.
The heavy chunk of glass struck
the broad window pane; with an
explosive crash II shattered and
with q rasp and a tinkle big sec
lions Of 1t came sliding down, some
of the fragments jingling about the
sheriff as, gasping, he sank slowly
back to the rug his blood had
stained.
On the crash, John and Nc
Wethy turned sharply.
Instinctively. both looked r
the street to locate the source of
this minor destruction. A small
boy ran across the road, wallowing
through the drift.
Busted |" be shrilled. Hey
Look II |"
He had stopped, picked something
from the snow. and held 1t up just
as John reached his side.
"Inkwelli |" he said. and with the
object In his hand. looked up at
the window, brows drawn.
A group was gathering, question
ing, exclaiming.
'"That came from inside. Mac"
John said quietly. ut was thrown
through the window . and there
was no light In there. Come along"
McWethy at his heels, John ran
up the steps. The outer door was
unlocked, but as be tried the knob
to Gorbel's private Office the latch
resisted him.
"Gorbel?" he cried sharply. "Gor-
bel, you In there?"
He held his head close to the
panel as McWethy gestured for 81
lence to those who had followed.
"Gorbel" sharply now. The 81.
lence In that room was ominous.
I'm coming in unless you speak 7"
he strained against the door and
thought he heard something like a
light, light moan
sect back |" he said abruptly.
"Give me roomr'
He showed them aside, poised and
flung his shoulder hard against the
door. The lock gave and let him
headlong into the darkened office.
Somebody here" be cried sharp
ly as he saw the overturned chair,
the figure on the floor. where's
the light Somebody hurt +.
Herer"
The room flooded as McWethy
turned the switch.
@'Y gosh. it's Nat. He's
hurt"
The mill foreman spoke shrilly.
John knelt quickly beside the sher-
If; be felt a wrist, put the other
hand on the cold, wet forehead
The head turned slightly beneath
his hand; the eyes opened stupidity.
duly.
"Nati Nat, what happened?"
John cried. He leaned low as the
lips worked.
Johnny 49,. Johnny. You came
back?" the faintest sort Of
whisper.
ayes, I'm here, Natl What hap
penedf"
The eyes were clearing now, as
consciousness emerged from It's low
ebb.
"Shot me-" Bradshaw whispered
"Shot me . lung shot. War
rant In my pocket, Johnny.
The stomach didn't have alky
in IT, he shot A par
oxysm of strangling broke the
word and John wiped a crimson
stain from the lips.
Painting now. the sheriff, and a
bright desperation was climbing
through the dullness In his eyes.
One of his hands gripped Johns
arm tightly.
Listen. You're deputy
now. 49,. Warrants In my .
pocket. =. Take my gun. -. Cor.
bel shot me when ! told him
he was under . under -. Un-
d~erstsnd. %JohnnyT
@rve got you. Nat"-gently. Then,
over bis shoulder: "Call a doctor
Quickw
A man snatched up the telephone
on the desk and gave a number.
@Nati You have q warrant for
Gorbel You came In here to serve
II and he shot you down. I've got
that DO you remember how long
ago II was7 And what did he do3"
The brows on the suffering face