The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-07-05
BY RONALD COOLEY

you out of their camp day before
yesterday" remarked Peabody.
The Sheriff reused from his
thoughts of kerosene. Bunch of
dirty Mexicans and Filipinos," he
guowled, sought to be kicked out
of the country"
'They seeml like ordinary folks
to me-" replied the other mildly.
The Sheriff was coldlv silent.
"Hear they need relief pretty
bad" con inued the farmer.
The Sheriff changed the sub
ject. "I hear you and the Speng-
Ter boys and some others are join
ing the United Farmers League"
"Yeah," the farmer smiled.
"After we kept you from takin
Morton's farm away from him we
got the idea we might stop a few
more foreclosures"
The Sheriff grunt ed contemptu-
ously. "Well, there's one thing
your outfit wants to remember
Peabody. The next time any farm
ers core to foreclosure sale with
their shotguns there's going to be
trouble"
Maybe that's why they bring
their shotguns," said the farmer
dryly. He set the brake and thel
twitched the lines, and they rolled
down the hill. "I'd think you'd fee
ashamed of your job sometimes
; Sheriff"
81 only enforce the law" the
Sheriff exploded sharply.
"That's a fact" agreed tn
other, "but l notice most of thes
: laws are enforced against the ma
: who works. Looky here. w
elected you Sheriff so you coulC
protect us against thieves an
such-isn't that right 2"
The Sheriff admitted it was.
"And that's just what you don
do. Big Business sells us tn
4 things we buy at ten times whs
thew are worth The commisslo
houses and crop buyers steal !
blind. The railroads take a dl
- at us. When we hit rocky goi
- and ask the banks for help the
slap a mortgage on our land. The
/, we mortgage our livestock to pr
our taxes and interest. And VIII.
this gang of thieves comes to Ia
our land and livelihood from us
: do YOU protect us? Huh" Tn
farmer spat. "You put us in j
wv if we fight back"
. The Sheriff relapsed into a pal
:? full silence.
Re It was just coming seven o'clo
t as they topped the rise over re;
d, sons Gulch and stopped to surV
e. the rocky slope south.
"Might as well dump 'em oN
n there" suggested Peabody, and
TT. morrow or next day I'll get
he Spengler boys to help me bury
Boom!
re- A shotgun exploded behind
he clump of sage brush. The start
I'll, lead team reared, the wheel tie
me pitched and the wagon bucked,
He the Sheriff had to cling to the S
lis. with both hands. The next
:" ment Peabody had the brake
old the lines firm, and was "whoall
raj the horses out of their ambit
to wreck the outfit.
ly. A raw-boned man In over
I'm, Jumped into the wagon and t
the Sheriff's gun. Another n
I'll appeared with double barre
in shot gun, while a third got
lead teams brides and quit
A them. Each of the bandits "
Itch bandana handkerchief over
: face.
and "All right, Sheriff" said
got. one with the shot. gun, "get
GU canvas off that load and help m
the that pork"
ak A truck drove down from
clump of oaks and stopped be
Ter the wagon with its motor idl
ms The truck driver and his c
panion also wore bandana mask
"Give us hand, Sheriff,
ene want those pigs in this truck
lSi double quick time"
"You can't get away with Il
=, he yelled, "Think l don't know
'anI behind those handkerchiefs ?
!, "a = have every damn one of
w Spengler boys in Jail before mig
"Spengler?" questioned the
- with the shot gun. "Never h
No ~ the name"
r. you're the Spenglers, all n
- And I've got a witness. You
ia ognize them, Peabody"
The farmer looked closely at
ho;, three big men; patched over
90 with dark stains on them, sue
might come from butchering ]
rac. busted shirts; big men, Ia
skin above the masks; callouse
their hands; manure stained 81
the hard working farmers.
and There is a resemblance"
lgon mitted Peabody.
the Sullenly the Sheriff helped
the truck, and watched it s.
,und away. They took his gun
ear them. ~
hers "I've got to get to a teleph'
rsed he grated, where's the neal
they ranch house?"
Nearest place is mine"
Peabody released the brake.
cred "I know it." the farmer clu
bed to his team and started home
lard,
-~ ~ s@e 50 E = -