The Coolidge examiner., 1935-06-14
CHAPTER lv-con,lngsa
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"well-he was cuxsins because
the bullet bad got away from him T:
aud be said that taking II wouldn't
help anybody. because even II they
needed IL they bad the-and there
hc stopped. so / asked him II be
meant they had another slug IL
Kind OF made him mad. and We bad
= little dispute. Bui finally be said
that they bad taken = cast 81 the
bullet. NoT- I took that last TO be
a lie
Jeans face vas troubled. why =
she asked sharply.
The sheriff offered me a job he
said. lie told her about what Hop
per bad wanted him TO do concern
INK the Bar Hook man who had no,
been where he had said be was
when Mason died.
1T doesn't amount 10 anything. :"
she said 1T was Just rider here
that quarter.blood Indian. Joe 81.
Marie. I'm certain he-doesn't
know anything about II"
Kentucky Jones' now knew 81.
Marie as one of the two cowsboys
Who had come In during the night.
a hlunf-faced. competent rider.
-St. Marie is the best brouc rider
we've ever bad here. Jean said
But he isn't always dependable II
he wasn't working where be was
sent the day Mason died. tina, isn't
the arst time he's gold.bricked his
Job"
"Yon e.sn't think his perjury
means anything thenT~
That's all Stiffness
Il thssJght II sounded that way.
or course told Hopper I wouldn't
touch his proposition with the end
Of my rope"
She said peculiarly. "Yet. after
you talked 10 the sheriff. you went
90 my father and got this job"
Absolutely mott | had this Job
before I talked 10 Hopper"
Then why" she asked him blunt
~. did you want this JobT'
He considered Maybe" he said
NJ last. 1T was partly because IL
looked TO me as II you needed some
help In something you were trying
20 do"
She said slowly. DO you mean
that. KentuekyT"
1T stands"
Then" she spoke with din.
culty-'you're free to 20. Ride out
of this. and try 10 forget everything
that has happened here. Some day
hope TO see you again: | swear
that truly appreciate what you've
done. But there's nothing more
that you can do here now"
"l'm not so sure Of that" he an
swered. Tell me this. Who
asked you TO try TO get that bullet
out Of the evidence. Miss RaglandT'
lie had failed 10 surprise her.
She looked directly at him. and the
blue Of her eyes appeared paler.
like the color OF clear ice. and as
little revealing. "No one" she an
swered fatty. Il wanted IL for a
souvenir. IL was a silly. loco thing
20 do: maybe the worst thing
could have done"
And yet" he said gently. you'd
do IL again"
She aver;ed her face abruptly.
1T seems ike she said. half to
him and half To herself. Il ask Ton
much Of people. way too much. nj
ways
You're never asked anything of
me"
4 made you carry the bullet
away FOR ipe"
THAT doesn't count"
She turned 10 face him. Then
III ask something OF you now"
"Bueno.~
Taking that bullet was a fool.
crazy thing to do. You say I'll do
IL again. That's as may be. But
now | want you TO forget that ii
ever was done. Do you under
standE"
That's all right" he agreed; "as
far as that is In my control
As far as-what do you meanT"
Il think" he said. that some
body saw you takss.
The man mat saw IL isn't sure
OF what he saw; but he's made a
sharp guess. He even suspects that
you gave the bullet to me-"