The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-08-30
CHAPTER XII-Continued
Id

Dl0OdleSS lace.
"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 q
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.n
A light flared 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.
''Ted, 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
or Elliot-would break under the one
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.
II guess you can remember when
saw this gun last, yourself, Bob" said
Ted Baylor at last.
you're crazy" said Elliot.
In a crap game, one night last fall"
Ted Baylor said "but 1 didn't have it
an hour before l sold it to you, Bob, for
two dollars and a half, and the band
for hat"
Bob Elliot said savagely, "You were
so 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?"
II never saw that gun before in my
llfe," said Elliot.
"It was a good idea Of yours" said
Kentucky, "to throw Bill McCord to
the wolves. And it worked good enough
SO that we'll hang McCord all right;
but"
Bill McCord took a step toward FL
lot, his face contorted. "You dirty
sneak! So that's your game, is itT"
He swung crafty upon Sheriff Hopper.
'He's lied to you," he almost shouted.
"He's lied to you like he lied to me
I knew he was crazy to get Bishop
killed, and l tried to pick 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 l knew!"
Bob Elliot's voice rose violently.
''You fool, will you shut your d-n
mouth before"
II suppose" said Kentucky to Bill
McCord, ''you didn't even know that
Bob Elliot killed Mason"
"No, I 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, 81 see it nowl
don't wonder you disown your d--n
gun! If I'd known when you killed
Lee Bishop that you lay off and plugged
him with rifle"
"It's a d-n lie!" said Bob Elliot
again.
as itT 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 it off on me, will you? McCord
be you killed Mason, when you told me
you knew he was killed with Campo's
rifle. Why, you dirty side-winder-"
Bob Elliot's voice broke into some
thing almost like a squeaL 'You
DID," Suddenly he turned, lurched
CIdzAly ut the uOOr DeHluu nlu, anu
was gone from the room.
Willie Helmar cried, "Shall 1 get
him? Shall l get himT
"McCord," roared Sheriff Hopper, sis
this true?"
"Sure It's true!" McCord frothed. Il
can see 1t now-and can prove It on
him every step Of the way! Hang me
In his place, will he? Why, that"
Suddenly Bill McCord's face changed
as If it had been struck with a whip.
He whlrled like cat, snatched at the
holstered gun of Willie Helmar; 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
con6ictingly, so that 1t Is difficult to
know the truth.
Kentucky Jones shouted, Jean, get