The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-08-15
CHAPTER XII-Continued

bloodless face.
Look each other over" said Ken
lucky Jones. "A fine pair to draw to-
or to build hanging around"
Bill McCord cried out, bob, what
the hi you been telling these -"
"What the devil you talking about?'
said Elliot T.
Kentucky Jones offered Elliot the
butt Of the gun that had killed San
ders. Here's your gun. Elliot. They've
matched 1t with the bullets that killed
Zack.-
A light fared up In Bob Elliot's eyes
and he turned on Bill McCord. IF Nc
Cord says this Is my gum" he exploded,
.'he lies"
ASK Ted Baylor Kentucky said.
Tied, tell the gentlemen where you
last saw this gun-after you won 1t AT
craps from Joe ST. Marie"
Ted Baylor glanced at the gun again,
and he hesitated. Kentucky Jones
waited, balanced In suspense. He be-
believed that one Of the two-McCord
vi Elllot--WUuiu DlS GUN uuuSl Liz WV
last straw that Baylor might perhaps
provide. But he had not talked to Ted
Baylor--had found no chance to talk
to him-and he did not know what
this man would say.
Il guess you can remember when |
saw this gun last, yourself, Bob" said
Ted Baylor at last.
You're crazy" said Elliot.
II won that gun from Joe St Marie
In a. crap game, one night last fall
Ted Baylor said; but / didn't have 1t
an hour before sold 1t to you, Bob. for
two dollars and half, and the band
for a hat"
Bob Elliot said savagely. you were
50 d-n drunk that night you don't re-
member what you did"
$50 that's what you relied on?' said
Kentucky Jones. You thought Baylor
was so drunk that the gun could never
be traced?"
Il never saw that gun before In my
life said Elliot.
ut was a good Idea of yours" said
Kentucky, ITO throw Bill McCord to
the wolves. And 1t worked good enough
so that Wen hang McCord all right !;
but"
Bill McCord took step toward Ell
Hot, his face centorted. You dirty
sneak So that's your game, is it?'
He swung crafty upon Sheriff Hopper
'He's lied to you," he almost shouted
Hes lied to you like he lied to me .
] knew he was crazy to get Bishop
killed, and | tried to pick a fight with
Bishop for that reason. But 1t never
went through. He told me, he killed
Bishop himself In fair fight If I'd
known he laid for him on the rim and
plugged him with rifle, without fight
I'd have walked out on him the min
ute that | knew!"
Bob Elllot's voice rose violently
'You fool, will you shut your d-n
mouth before
Il suppose" said Kentucky to Bill
McCord, you didn't even know that
Bob Elliot killed Mason"
"No / never"
what did you suppose he wanted
Bishop killed for? You didn't know he
hired you to kill Bishop because Bishop
saw him at the Bar Hook the day
Mason died?'
Bob Elliot began, "Bill, don't you
let these"
you d-n streak OF yellow" Bill
McCord snarled at him. 4 see 1t now
don't wonder you disown your On
gun If I'd known when you killed
Lee Bishop that you lay off and plugged
him with a rifle"
Its a d-n lie" said Bob Elliot
again.
is it?'' McCord snarled at him. II
suppose It's lie that you strapped on
that gun and rode after Mason, that
day when he laughed In your face"
by Cd. McCord-" Elliot shouted
Put 1t Off on me, Will you? McCord
shouted back at him. Il thought may
be you killed Mason, when you told me
you knew he was killed with Campo's
rifle Why, you dirty side-winder-"
Bob Elllot's voice broke into some
thing almost like squeal You
id" Suddenly he turned. lurched
crafty at the door behind him, and
was gone from the room.
Willie Helmar cried, "Shall I get
him? Shall | get hlm?"
"McCord," roared Sheriff Hopper, lis
this true?"
"Sure it's truer' McCord frothed. Il
can see it now--and | can prove 1t on
him every step Of the way! Hang me
In his place, will he? Why. that"
Suddenly BIZ McCord's face changed
as If Ii had been struck with q whip.
He whirled like a cat, snatched at the
holstered gun of Willie Hemar; and
though Helmar seized McCord's arm
as the gun came out. McCord wrenched
free In that instant Jean, In the next
room, screamed, Kentucky, look out -
And Bob Elliot's first shot spoke from
the door.
The next moment was one OF those
which witnesses afterward describe
contlctingly, so that it is difficult to
know the truth.
Kentucky Jones shouted, Jean, get
out of liner and though he fired In
the direction Of Bob Elliot, he seemed