The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-06-21
can bring against him, from what

They saw now that the normal dark
color Of st. Marie's face had returned,
and with 1t had come back his look Of
solid strength. Sheriff Floyd Hopper
looked at Ragland and indicated ST
Marie with jerk of his head. "Chills
and fever seem to have passed off" he
said.
Campo Ragland grunted.
"Campo," said the sheriff, "there's
head going to fall-maybe more than
one head. Don't ever think that this
is going to blow over, and be lost sight
Of in general dust. There's man
going to be hooked hard and per-
manent before I'm through"
"Floyd, what are you going to do?
You mean you're taking Kentucky
JOnes?"
"No. I'll know how to get him when
I want him, think. Now make your
choice, Campol If you don't want to
string with me, can go on without
you. But you may not like your choice
before this thing is through"
81 don't know what you mean," said
Ragland.
"Suit yourself" said Hopper; "only.
don't be too sure that this case is
shaping up against Kentucky JONES'"
Ragland angered again. "Look here,
Floyd-Pm plenty tired Of this. You
can't come in here and talk that way
to mel I'm not going to stand for 1t,
you hear me?'
"Have 1t your own way, Campo"
The sheriff picked up his coat and
gloves.
Nobody urged him to stay. Campo
Ragland asked what Hopper wanted
them to do about lack Sanders, and
received instructions for reporting in
Waterman for an inquest. No great
warmth of understanding marked Hop
per's departure.
IF you change your mind, Campo"
the sheriff said, "let me know"
Il tell you don't know what you're
talking about!" Campo said stubborn
ly; and the sheriff took the long trail
back to town.
Stamping back into the house, Campo
Ragland turned Immediately upon Joe
st. Marie.
|Look here, st. Marie-if something
funny has happened around here !
want to know what it is"
II don't feel so good"
who did you throw down on when
you went out to feed your horse?"
''Who? Me?"
Campo Ragland exploded at him.
"Yes, you! Who did you fire at? Come
out with 1t, now!"
II thought saw coyote" said st.
Marie.
"Don't you lie to mel You can't get
away with that stuff here!"
II don't feel so good"
Campo Ragland gave it up in dis
gust, and st. Marie hurriedly took him
self out Of range, retiring to the bunk
house.
Campo seemed bewildered. To Ken
lucky Jones it seemed that the cross
purposes which held the boss of the
Bar Hook in state of paralysis were
now almost physically visible, as wind
is visible in prairie hay by its effect.
Here was an owner whose range was
being swamped, overwhelmed by the
herds of his enemy; he faced ruin
which could only be averted by an
immediate and determined contest for
the ground. Yet something had thrown
and hogtied this man-some obscure
and hidden circumstance which he
seemed at loss to combat. Kentucky
no longer could doubt that the circum-
stance which hogtied Ragland had to
do with Jean.
"rll hire a cook when we go in for
the inquest" Ragland spoke tonelessly,
like a man seeking to escape from 9TH
er things. "Jean wants to do the cook
ing, and I'll let her, I guess; but you
fellers will have to get the fires started
in the morning"
"I'll take first crack at it." said Lee
Bishop.
Kentucky Jones saw his chance and
jumped it. The ultimate answer might
be deep in twisted trails, but his next
step was obvious and immediate: he
had to force the truth out of st. Marie.
Lee Bishops removal would make OPP
portunity for this, since the other
hands would not be back from Water
man until the cars had been loaded in
the morning. "Then take the bunk off
the kitchen, Lee" he said. 'T'n run
down and get you your bed"
Down in the bunk house, to which
Joe st. Marie had retired, no light
showed but from within came the COM
plicated rhythms Of a mouth organ
played by a master, telling Kentucky
that his man was still there, and
awake. The mouth organ fell silent,
however, as he approached; and, Ken
lucky stepping into the full light Of
no less than three lamps, saw that
blankets screened the windows; and
six-gun had replaced the mouth Or
gan in Joe st. Marie's hands.
"Oh, it's you," said st. Marie sheep
ishly, and dropped the six-gun on the
bunk beside him.
Kentucky cast a glance at the blan-
kets which screened the windows.