Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-11-15
ROBBERS ROOST

run this into the ground. In all hustle,
these men ought to be told some
thing,
i say cards. You fellers can't keeI
1t forever" rejoined Lincoln, darkly
From that hour dated the grin
n passionate gambling In which
they all participated. With one man or
lookout duty the others spent most
OF the daylight hours sitting al Happy
jacks table of cottonwood poles.
Jim had separated his money Into
two parts-one consisting of the bills
Of large denomination, and the other
= small. The latter he kept out for
gambling, intending to quit when II
was lost.
But fortune was tickle. He did NOT
lose It Instead, be won steadily.
There was no hope of his getting out
OF the game SO long as he was ahead.
He wanted to watch. think, plan. Luck
changed eventually. and he lost all he
had 0 Then he seesawed for a day,
before he struck another streak of los
Ing, and lost everything.
I'm cleaned" he said, rising. but,
by gosh, gave you a rum"
I'm way ahead. I'll lend you some"
offered Hays.
mo, thanks. I'm glad to get of this
well. I'll go up to the rock and send
Mac down. From now on I'll do most
of the lookout work. | like IT,
Jim was glad this phase Of his CON
nection with the outfit was past. He
had played for days. won and lost,
all In the interest OF the scheme fer.
menting In his mind. He wanted to
alone, Ii nothing else interviewed,
this gambling wonld lead to the newt
able quarrel. Whether Hays won all
the money or lost what he had. there
be a fight.
At once a restless, baffled. harried
condition Of mind seemed to leave
Jim. To face those men hour after
hour, day after day, hiding his
thoughts, had engendered Irritation.
When the split came and the shooting
began Jim wanted to be around. He
would help 1t along considerably.
One day, when he was returning to
amp, somewhat before sunset, he
leard a shot He listened for Others.
None came.
The moment he entered the oval, to
zee Hays striding for the cabin. his
air standing up, and his men grouped
iutside Of the camp shelter, Jim knew
hat there had been trouble.
what now, Smoky3'
Hank did fer Brad"
"HoW7 Why7 You don't mean
lays beat Lincoln to a gun?n
He did, Jim" calculated Slocum
He bored Brad. | was the only Teller
Tho seen 1t. The rest was duckin'."
What was 1t about. Smoky?"
wal, Brad has been gittin' sorer
very day. an today we cleaned him.
rad opened up on Hank. no doubt
leanin' to call him fer fair. But Brad
Idn't git goin' good before Hank went
ar his gum"
Smoky, he had his mind made up
eclared Jim, tensely.
Shore. Thet's the queer part of II.
.ank was not goin' to let Brad snit
Ut much. An friend Jim, thet,s
lunch fer u.s."
Hays can't beat me to d gun" re-
Jim, with a cold ring in his
Dice.
Nor me either. Thet's a safe bet.H
They reached the camp. Lincoln Law
ice down over the table. his right
m hanging low. his gun lying near
s hand.
Lend q hand. some OF you," ordered
ocum, peremptorily.
They carried Lincoln, face down.
the oval to the lower side OF
e cottonwood grove, and In half an
'ur he had been consigned to earth.
ID his possessions divided among the
en- who had buried him.
Grave number twol" speculafed
noky. "Fellers, 1t runs In my mind
ct Robbers Roost In these next
enty years will be s~prlnkled all over
tn graves"
"How SO. when nobody has any idee
lere 1t is?"
'Heeseman will find 1t. an Morley.
after them many more concluded
ocum, prophetically.
Lets rustic out Of the hole" sug.
sted Bridges.