The Coolidge examiner., 1935-08-30
cnAPTER xII-csnsLngss

- tH.H NfN $50
You've got the case worse scattered
cut now than"
Then sell try 20 tie Il together
again. Here's where we tackle Eill
McCordl It's the turn. It's the
hrcak. you hear met I've got 20
run a bluT. Are you backing me o.
uotF-'
I'm backing you"
Give me the gun that killed San.
ders"
Floyd Hopper obeyej. and Ken
tucky Jones stuck 9, Ia bis waist
band. Come on e.
Three pairs % eyes turned upon
Kentucky Jones and Floyd Hopper
a. they came into the kitchen. IN
the room from which they had
cone. an four men had been armed
and 80 accustomed had they be.
come 90 The saeglnE gun belts as
standard equipment Ia the last few
days that here u was Ted Baylor
and Bll McCord. who were un-
armed. who looked unusual and
FusplcIouS uow. Floyd Hopper was
flushed and sharpeyed. bat though
it was 60 Hopper the eyes % the
three waiting men turned. u was
Kentucky Jones who spoke. his
face as unpleasanily cold and ugly
as Ice on broken rock.
lie showed ban McCord the gun
that had killed Sanders-the gun
that bad been ln sanders hand as
I.se Bishop found him dead.
4 don't suppose" be said 10 Mc-
Cord. you ever saw this gun be.
foreT
BlH McCord seemed 20 consider
FOR a long moment. Maybe have"
be said at last: "and maybe /
haven't"
would you care 70 say where 1,
was when you saw {, lastY'
humorous grin twisted one side
Of McCord's face. You 80 to h--l.
be answered
Kentucky Jones eyed him sorrow
fully. is that finally be said.
You bet your life ms nnal."
I'm sorry for this" Kentucky
said I swear 10 heaven. believe
there's going 20 - an Injustice
done. was afraid o. ,hisi Bu,
this MeCord Is a man who means
what be SAYS. Floyd: II be won't
talk he won't talk. I guess there's
nothing 10 do but follow up whai
Elliot says-don't Il look that way
20 youy'
Floyd Hopper had no more idea
% what Jones was talking about
than did McCord. But he was
poker player. and good one; and
he had been ln Office Tor a long
time. 1T sure looks that way be
said.
Kentucky Jones said. You're un.
der arrest. McCord"
For moment no one spoke. 4
hard CLEAN came into Bin McCord's
eyes. who says soJ" he demanded.
once more the sheriff. complete
Is in the dark as De was. backed
Kentncky's play gamely. Il say so.
he told McCord
Personally" said Kentucky. Il
don't think you're guilty. Bill I'll
admit / was kind o. hoping that
we had closed In on bigger game
Still. I suppose We. ought TO be
clad that ne can hang this on any
body at all guess we better tell
you that anything you say win be
used against you. McCord."
BIN McCord spat Into the wood
box. what am I charged WITH"
he demanded.
The murder OF Lee Bishop said
Kentucky.
McCord's face hardened. but he
went hack 70 the making of his
cigarette. "In the first place" he
said. Il wasn't anywhere near a..
And In the second place It wasn't no
murder. Lee Bishop was killed In a
fair stand-up fight"
THAT lie ia plumb useless.
said Kentucky contemptuously. be
cause / was with Lee Bishop when
he was killed. Bishop was knocked
out OF the saddle with a rifle shot
by a man hidden In the rocks three
hundred yards away: and the slug
that killed him was poured into him
after he was down and HELPLESS.
And l was carrying him TO cover
And my story is proved By the ma.
ture OF Bishops wounds. Fair hght.
III, That's murder-you hear meTn
AeCord stared at Jones. his face
immObile. Al last he shook his
head. puzzled. Il take all that to
De free-hand lying. II you was with
Bishop. you'd know that / wasn't
there"
~He was shot from cover. I tell
you." Kentucky said. Il didn't see
his killer. l could never have named
you as the man-lf Bob Elliot hadn't
lost his CUTS"
~Elliot? Him lose his gutsfr
McCord responded incredulously.
That's a hot one!"
Kentucky Jones shrugged. aT
heard differently" he said signif.
cantly. -McCord, II you've got any
thing 10 say for yourself you sure