The Coolidge examiner., 1935-05-24

.
hook him for r."
Hardly seems important" Ken.
,nrky sal' specnlHilvely. ~ there 8
no question ahau; how Mason died "
( 1T isn't that" said the sheriff
sIooml.y. There's some awful
T bad times ahead % Us here. Ken
,ucky: and we got 20 show ihn,
Z the lnw has teeth In Il while we
sdl can. Now n you don't mIni
taking the time. there's a thln.
700 could DO for me that would BE-
an almighty favor"
"Cofne 20 cases" said Kentucky
This man I'm telling you about
is out AZ the Ear Hook Now. |
realize you're n cattle trader. but
ofteniimes n feller Ike you viii
take a riding Job to hI In viih.
over the winter. or something -espe
clally IN times Ike this Now. n
you1l 20 20 Campo Raglaud and gci
n Sob. you can find out about this
TELLER for me IN way that !
couldn't myself. nor the deputies
neither
You want me 70 hire on ~ the
Tor Hook and root this Teller out
FOR you--ls that ltf"
That's the idea
Kentucky Jones was looking ont
tho window. down the snowy street
Half a block down. 10 from; ~ the
ho'el Jean Raelands pony stood
lie had seen the girl but half
dozen times In his Hfe: yet she
bad singled him ont today 20 ald
her IN q thing which he dli not
fully understand She had been
surrounded hy friends by men she
bad known al her life: even her
own father had been there Yet.
for some obscure reason che had
turned "a him
Jean BnEland sat her pony with
ihe easy lax grace ~ young muscles
raised IN the saddle. Now that she
was In her own element again she
no longer looked frall and small
rs she had IN the crush ~ the 30
quest. but competent and az home
on her horse. as be had known her
before As she passed she looked
straight ~ the window where he
vfood. and Kentucky believed that
she saw him there: but she gave
no sign. lie turned back 20 the
sheriff.
Floyd Hopper smoked moroseiy
In the shadows brought hy the
closing % the early dusk ~ you
want 10 so out % the Bar Hook
for me. can make Il worth your
while. what we 20, 20 DO Is--"
Il wouldnt touch g." said Ken.
tucky. with a ten-fooi pole
Floyd Hopper stared az him irri-
tnbly. "Just because you're gone
on Campo Rarland's giri doesn',
have anything TO do with the job
This IL for the protection of the
Bar Hook people. as much as any
thing else"
Protection or no protection. "
Kentucky Jones said shortly. y
won't touch IL. As far IS Campo
Ragland's girl Is concerned. I'll
tell you straIeh, and plain that n
Mason hadn't been killed within
hf,y yards of her door. | wouldn't
be here now"
Il guessed that" said the sheriff
drily.
You guessed II, and now you
know g.: and beyond that--to h-l
with you!-
Floyd Hopper made disgust.
ed gesture. IAN right | don't blame
you much. It's pretty near too much
10 ask a man TO step square into
the makings OF a range war that's
none OF your own. | guess you're
smart enough TO stay out OF II. all
right / wish I was"
I'm not out OF H." said Ken
tucky Jones.
The other looked AZ him star.
tied.
Hopper" said Kentucky Jones,
"how long have you known that
John Mason was murderedf"
II took a moment or two for the
sheriff TO convince himself that be
had correctly heard: but when II
had soaked In he came 10 his feet
with a jerk. His eyes fiared mar.
rowly. but his face was grim and
tight. "You accusing me OF lying
at the lnquestT'
Yes" Kentucky Jones said.
Floyd Hopper's leathery face
turned a deep maroon, and In the
shadows his eyes seemed Ike points
OF light Then" he said. Its be-
cause you know a whole HI OF q
lot that ! don't"
Kentucky Jones grlnned family,
relit his cigarette. and shook his
head.
The sherifi's voice was heavy and
intent Come out with II, Jones
What's your play here7"
I'm going to try to get me the
man that killed Mason"
They stared at each other.
Jones" said the sheriff. "let's get
this straight here Are you work
Ing with me or notT'
Not" Kentucky answered.
The dark color OF the sheriff S