Evening star., 1934-02-04
An underworld mob
runs afouI of a he-man
and comes to grief

seemed glued to the shanty. Anybody but tho
boss and his mobsmen. however, would have
been apt to notice that the long lean, smoothly
shaven face Of this young caretaker wore an
expression of strained attention. and that his
eyes had narrowed to watchful Sits. His
hands, too lay idle on his thighs, but neither
was far from q strapped holster.
Perhaps the boss felt something OF the
menace Of those ready revolvers. At least. he
stepped from the car cautiously and with
muttered warning to his companions.
You're Joe?" he asked with an attempt ~
genality
I'm joe" the caretaker said softly. TO my
friends"
We're tourists. Is that your boarding house
down the street,"
Il board myself. But it's what you claim and
Mrs Clusters q right noble cook and lady
born. Shell be tickled to death to have pay
ing guests. Tell your posse to unlimber."
THE boss glanced at his car. Il didn't
say posse: I said tourists. Who's in this
Cluster house besides the dame that runs it?"
BEST way is to go ask her" Joe mildly
suggested.
The boss frowned Il don't want STALL" he
said II took this detour just to my old
pal, T. B. Skeet. Got little medicine along
to help him pass the time and forget his
troubles Like to sample it?" He reached for
a hip pocket.
Joe's intent expression had relaxed His
eyes not narrowly pucsered. nor his
mouth such thin, straight line as at first
But with the movement Of the boss hand Joe's
whole face frightened.
L wouldn't start nothin'." he said gently.
your friends in the automobile may be fast
on the draw, but I'm tellln you honest you
amt got a chance. I collect rodeo medals"
Il was just offering you a drink the boss
quavered.
"Yeaho And I just don't drink But
reckon you're all you claim to be. If you're
in luck which you amt you'll find Mr.. Skeet
at home in his wifes mas best room, snufhn'
white powders up a red nose. Maybe you're
his friend I amt carin. He's plum dis
fig,rement to Akali City"
"Oke Here's the lowdown were Denver
dicks. This Skeet's mobSman from Chi.
Used to be Boss BorziaS right-hand kick.
We're after him for that Scarron bank job
the papers played up. He blew the town with
the kale from that hest, and left Borzia hold
ing the bag. And Borzia turned him up to the
bulls
Sounds like Chckasaw" Joe said. criti-
cally Anyhow, it amt my kind of talk. Just
what do you think you're goin' to do with Mrs.
Skeet?"
The boss was at the car. "Skeet's frail," he
sad don't mean anything to us. Not unless
she hides out the payroll on US" He smiled
and we're gon to take it back to Chi-Den-
yer." The car moved slowly across the street.
Joe did not change his position, but before
- the had stopped in front of the yellow
house he spoke softly. Mister" he said, Il
reckon y lStened?"
There a gurgle of sound from the VIM
dow at Joes left.
Kinda lucky f'r you,'' Joe reflected, that
Ma Cluster couldn't stand you no more an
druv you out with broomstick, Mar
tha trots off in the blackboard fr the county
seat
When them tenderfeet ridin' down
the arroyo an lettn off guns like hard-boed
buckaroos I was just aimin' to tell you few
serious facts. I'm tellin' them now.
First. if ever hear of your liftin' hand
ag'in' Martha, like I suspect you done yesta-
day, why, I'm going to be hung, all legal, but
you won't know about it. Second if hears you
swearin' at her I'm goin to bull whip the hide
ofh'n you. Third. y amt to snuff no more
of them white powders, never. Fourth"
Joe's monologue came to abrupt end The
men poured from the Cluster yard with the
stout landlady at their heels as far as the
broken hinged gate. Without waiting for their
car to turn about, they pelted up the street
toward the Bar Office, and, though there
touch of comedy in their exit, it was
stark death that with them.
T THE Office window there was fright
n ened gasp. and then tumble of words:
There's no way can get out. Rat-rat In q
trap. Ma sent them here. Ma gypped
me. They're BOrzia and his mob"
The men were spread out fsn-wise, with
three wall-eyed youths slightly ahead and the
boss safely to the rear. The car. swinging