The Coolidge examiner., 1935-05-17

heard the last OF thisl Go
ahead and give EN- cause of death. ."
Kentucky Jones drew a deep
breath. lie bad come up into this
crowded room 20 attend n routine
hearing. calculated 20 confirm the
death ~ a man who. however I'm
porfant 10 these people. Ind only
died foollshly. accidentally. By his
own sun Bot now the inquest as
such had lost all meaning. turning
into a sham. an apparently uncon-
scious fraud.
A sudden lncumprehenslble an.
ger overshudowed reason as he won
dered II Campo Rngland knew that
the bullet which killed Mason was
no, what II Eeemed-and had
prompted his daughter 10 get II out
~ the sherlf-s possession. II her
theft of this scrap Of evidence was
not In behalf OF her father. then
who7 II Jean Rngland was being
used by her father or anyone else
as a cats paw In a dangerous stu
alton. he meant 10 End Il out Once
more he worked his way sideways
through the crowd along the side OF
the room. this time toward the exit.
Campo RaEland had taken his
daughter 10 Waierman's rambling
one story hotel. and had returned
10 the street again by the time Ken
lucky Jones. after a fifteen minute
search through Waterman. again To-
Gated the boss of the Bar Hook.
Kentucky strolled UP. greeting
Rasland with the slow singularly
infectious grin that served him as
n passport through hard times and
slack. wherever he went Campo
Raglaud. grim as vas bis mood. half
smiled tn return as they shook
hands.
Seems like people didn't hardly
realize how Important Mason was
around here. until now he's dead. -
Kentucky began. cor course. he
naturally had enemies"
"You can't run a bank right" said
Ragland lifelessly. without raising
up an enemy here and there" The
boss ~ the Bar Hook was not quite
as tail as Kentucky Jones. but his
lean. stopped shoulders were very
broad Ills eyes were blue. like
his daughters And though the gen.
eral aspect 81 his face was benign
Il was face which could set grim.
ly and stnbbornly, turning into n
hEhting face.
Curious said Kentucky Jones.
watching Raglaud closely. ~thai
everybody was so ready 20 accept
that be went TO work and shot him
self-aeclden'ally.
what elae could it have been but
accidentally z" Ragland said lmpa.
ucnliy.
Nothing. guess" said Ken
iuCky "but on pretty near any 9th.
or range somebody would most like
Is have tried to prove there was
shenanlEan."
For a moment Campo Ragiand's
eyes turned upon Kentucky. Watch
Ing him lutently. Kentucky Jones
could not. however. see that the
mans face changed Il suppose so.
said Ragland. without expression:
and be hair turned. a. II be would
walk on.
Kentucky Jones wavered an In
slant His cautious proddlng had
failed: bot It's failure was more
challenging than a revealing an
swer lie plunged.
"Mr Ragland." be said. "ean you
use a manT'
Rngland's eyes quickened. II
don't want no more OF these fiiv.
ser tourists we get for COW hands
today. But n you got In mind some
good steady"
Il wa. speaking FOR myself" said
Kentucky Jones.
"Come OF You're cattle trad
er."
Times are bad, Mr.. Ragland
the more 80 with Mason dead
was a brush pepper before was
trader. and I'm a good one yet.
And I'd cure like TO OH In at II for
a while. Plain COW walloplng Is ali
| want"
ITO BE CONTINUED