The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-06-21
By ALAN LIE MAY
Copyright by Alan LeMay
WNU Service.

NOACCp AOJOp WAAb 4O JO0 AkASAA ~
THAR"
"Campo, know that John Mason
was your close friend. l know that
you and your brand are as bad hurt
as anybody, is, almost. And with my
experience, can reason that the thing
couldn't have happened If any Of you
had been here. But most people hate
condolences, Campo"
Ragland stood up, his face blank.
"Floyd, If you're saying you smothered
that inquest as a favor to me"
Maybe" said the sheriff, Il should
just have let you explain all that to the
rimrock in your own way"
Campo Ragland sat down, his COM
bativeness abruptly Debated. "Floyd,"
he said, you shouldn't have done It."
"Of course to hi I shouldn't have
done It ]" said the sheriff, his irrita-
bility coming to the surface again. "A
fine box I'm in, now that lack San
ders is found!"
swell, anyway, Floyd" Campo mum
bled, II appreciate what you tried
to do"
Gall right" the sheriff accepted,
"see that you do! Seems to me, Cam
Pc, that after this you'd be justified
If you'd stop holding information back"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Tonight over the phone asked
you If anything else peculiar had hap
pened. You told me NO But I hap
pen to know that you got home here
Tuesday to find that this house had
been searched"
Kentucky Jones had never seen
Sheriff Floyd Hopper show to as good
advantage as he did tonight. He was
the man in the saddle here. He sat
now sprawled behind his smoke, his
eyes surly and red, like the eyes of
q bear.
"What house?" said Campo Ragland
at last.
"This house." said the sheriff. "What
are you trying to do, Campo? 1t
doesn't get you anything to stall with
me. This house was searched and some
LQ1nS WAS TAKEN IrOm II.
eff you know that something was
taken from this house." Campo Rag
land said, "it's because you had 1t
taken yourself"
Hopper shook his head. "All
know is that something is gone from
here-and never mind how know that.
It'll have to satisfy you that l do
know it."
''It seems" said Campo Ragland,
shat you know a lot Of things that
nobody thought you knew. I'm think
ing that maybe you know a lot of
things more"
"What you'd better be finding out
is this, Campo" said Sheriff Hopper.
"Tm no fool, even If I am the duly
elected sheriff of Waterman county.
You could do a whole lot worse than
play a straight game with me-"
Campo's retort was mildly explosive.
straight game? OF course I'm play
ing straight game! I'm willing to
turn face up what cards hold
they're always face up. It's not my
fault when I hold very d-n few
cards."
"What I'm saying is"
The sheriff was interrupted by the
opening Of the outer door. In the
doorway appeared Joe st. Marie. For
a moment he hesitated, hand on the
latch, obviously startled by the pres
ence of the sheriff.
"Shut that door," said Campo; and
Joe st. Marie came in and closed the
door slowly behind him.
"What are you doing here?"
Joe st. Marie swung off his hat and
stood staring blankly from Ragland
to Hopper and back again. II famed
my horse" he said. II had to leave
the other boys to take the beef on to
Waterman. 1t would have spoiled the
cayuse to go on"
Now Campo Ragland seemed to no
tice what Kentucky Jones had per-
ceived at once; that Joe st. Marie's
face was the color of half-cured hay
and the bronco riders explanation of
his presence, If not altogether satisfac-
tory in itself, had served to draw at
tention to the quickness Of his breath.
Campo said sharply, "You hurt, JoeT'
mo sir. I'm all right. WE'LL don't
feel so good, at that"
"You never feel so good" Lee Bishop
grunted.
Campo Ragland hesitated, puzzled.
"You want to speak to me, Joe?" he
asked at last.
'Who? Me? No, sir"
swell, see what you can find your
self to eat. Wait a minute-what
have you given your horse?"
Nothing yet, Mr.. Ragland, sir,
T."
"How many times do I have to tell
you fellers-" Ragland began. "Well,
let 1t pass. Go feed your horse"
"Now?"
'sNoW!"
Joe st. Marie moved reluctantly at
Ragland's command, and at the door
he stopped, hesitating. Though he
seemed unable to speak, 1t was as plain
as If he had spoken that there was in
his mind a protest which he could not
-or did not dare-put into words.
Kauf11clyv Jnnna fhnuOhf hn had