The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-08-01
By ALAN LIE MAY
Copyright by Alan LeMay
WNU Service.

|
Right now" said Kentucky. you
can shake down the proof of what
know In less than five minutes from
right where you SIT"
There was long pause at the other
end of the wire. Kentucky was almost
ready to jlggle the hook. to see If the
connection had been broken what Is
1t you want. Jones?" came Hopper's
voice at last.
Have you got the bullets that killed
Zack Sanders?" Kentucky said.
"Of course I've got 'em,"
And you've got the gun that was
found In Sanders hand"
"Wellf'
Take the bullets that killed San
ders and compare them with the gun
that was In lack Sanders hand when
he was found dead. You'll find that
lack Sanders was killed with the gun
that was found In his own hand"
An instant's pause was followed by
an oath that scorched the wires.
Jones. you fool with me-by Cd,
I'll learn you to fool with me-"
"All say Is look at em 1t won't
cost you the time 1t took me to get
you on the telephone. I'm giving you
your chance to get the man that killed
Mason. You can do what you want to
about It."
Il suppose" came Hopper's voice,
you figure lack Sanders committed
suicidei"
Take look" Kentucky repeated
Fire bullet from lacks gun and
match 1t against those he was killed
with. II I'm right call me back, and
I'll give you the lay. Otherwise. you
can go lamming around here blind until
It's too late-it's all one to me-" Ken
lucky Jones smashed the receiver onto
the hook.
He turned to find Campo Ragland
standing In the doorway.
Kentucky Jones leaned against the
wall. He crossed his legs, and rolled
cigarette; and the two looked at
each other. Campo seemed almost lit
orally to have increased In stature
since Kentucky Jones had seen him
last. His long bowed legs set him high
up In the world 1t was the lean
breadth of his shoulders and stoop-
Ing carriage which prevented him from
appearing to be as big man as he
was. And his big head, made to ap-
pear more massive by the broad reced.
Ing sweep OF forehead which his thin
ming hair had left. helped to detract
from his appearance of height But the
indeterminate stoop of Campo's car
rage was now gone; and as he stood
with his big freckle- blotched hands
holding the side Of the doorway he
made the doorway look small. Ken
lucky saw that he was armed.
Campo said slowly: Think you can
head 1t off, do you?"
Maybe | do Kentucky answered
II heard what you said over the
phone just now" Campos voice was
lowered but he sounded as II he had
accused Kentucky Of mlsbrandlng
calf.
Il knew you were listening. | heard
you come In
Il suppose said Campo. you've got
more CUTS than any man on the face
of this rocky appended earth |"
Maybe have,' said Kentucky.
Maybe II didn't have | wouldn't be
here now"
And you'd be better off," Campo
told him,
Nobody could have said exactly when
Kentucky's face had changed but any
one looking at him now would have
seen that he had small ugly eyes, and
that the broken line of his nose was
made ugller by the crooked line OF his
mouth from one corner of which his
cigarette now trailed
He stood relaxed, motionless; he
might have been carved there except
for the tenuons blue thread OF smoke
from his cigarette. rising In a waver-
ing, swaying line before his face.
1--WE heard tell that the West Is
dead" he said And always thought
that was funny, with the lands still
here, and the cattle, and the riders
working In the saddle like they always
worked. But when the owner of
brand sets to working In the dark and
shoves one of his own riders into the
moose because he's afraid to face out
the music himself guess the West
Is gone, all right"
Campo faced him In silence for
little while. and the blood came up into
his head, darkening his wind-reddened
face. Before man can clean
range" he said. his voice low, "he
must first clean his own outfit"
$50 you think" said Kentucky ''you
can convict me of killing John Mason?"
Campo snapped at him, who told
you that?'
i've been taken for a fool here,t
said Kentucky. Il expect maybe fool
Is what ! am. for I've let myself be
used as fool. But I'm not blind
man. and you should have allowed for
that. So you think you can make II
stick, do your He did not miss the
flick of Campo's eyes as they dropped
for nm Instant to Kentucky's holstered
gun.