The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-07-11

| Aeu baaluI III Il crap game With
bunch of saddle bumsg That's a hot
one."
He was drunk, and he Just stopped
for one pass as he went through" Joe
st. Marie insisted "The lucky stiff
got my gun on that one pass"
IF that's So" Kentucky said, that
can be checked up later For the time
being I'm taking you back"
IF you aim to take me back, can
just as well kiss myself good-by right
| now. ANT got ChInaman's chance
| Of living to see trial-and well You
know IL thought you swung with
Campo Ragland. even thought you
were thick with Raglands girl. You
sure had me fooled"
what makes you think | don't swing
with Raglandg"
IF you swung with the Bar Hook.
the last thing you'd want to do would
be to drag me back Into this case"
Then come clean and come quick
I'm cold, and I'm stiif. and I'm ready
| to ride"
The bronze rider was beginning to
| crack under the strain. Il don't know
what your side Is" he said hoarsely.
nor who you think you're working for,
or why. But If you're fool enough to
think you're helping out Campo Rag
land, YOU'RE making one hi OF a
| blunder'
ANSWER me this" said Kentucky,
land II | figure you've answered me
with a lie, we're going tc start back
right now without any more talk. What
do you know about the@killng of San
ders?"
Il swear | never knew Zack San
ders was dead until Lee found him."
st. Marie said passionately.
Then tell me this" said Kentucky
again. You saw the killing of Ma
sony"
NO. said ST. Marie violently. mol!
wasn't anywhere near It,"
tits pretty fWell known" said Ken.
lucky, that you weren't where you
were supposed to be that day."
"What if wasn't? That Campo Is
a driving fool | figured I'd done
enough work for one week. and took
| me a layoff on my own hook"
And where were you when you
saw the shooting of Mason?'
Il never seen it. tell youl was
riding In. but | was anyway half
mile off and beyond the ridge when
heard the shots. | didn't even sus-
piclon anything then. ! went up to the
house for grub ALI | ever seen. when
went BY the Kitchen window was
Campo Ragland cleaning his gun, his
deer rifle. never even knew Mason
was dead until Lee Bishop found him
that night. And never knew that
deer rifle killed him until the sheriff
come out TO see about Jack Sanders
killing, and told us Mason was. killed
by a small caliber swear"
You recognized the caliber Of the
gun lie was cleaning as you walked
past the Window"
Il went on In the kitchen. He'd put
it away from him BY then. 1t was
clear over on the othern side Of the
room. Bur 1t was the only rifle Ia the
room, and | knew that that was the
one he'd had In his hands. L"
How come sou to take such close
notice Of what was the callber OF the
gum"
How can Teller help knowing the
different guns around a place BY sight?
I've used that gun myself"
Kentucky Jones said slowly, "Was
there anybody else at the ranch house
them"
'Campos girl was there. She was
In the kitchen talking to her father
They'd been having a fight about some
thing. But they cut 1t off quick when
| come In. The girl looked like she
wasn't feeling so good
kentucky leaned forward. and his
voice sounded as If 1t could saw chunks
out of the frozen rock. "St. Marie, Is
that all you know"
"All known His voice rose In In.
solent revolt. What the hi do you
think" lie checked. Kentucky Jones
had cooked his gun, and the small me-
talllc click tanned the bronze rider more
effectively than as If Kentucky had
downed him with rock Ill. Ken
tsas'k.' he cried Il can't tell yon any.
thing more! Sangre. It's enough to
get my head shot off as II Is =
You're giving me this as the whole
reason for stealing horse aud going
over the hill tonight?"
In G-d's name, why wouldn't 20