The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-05-24

lis coming quicker than you think"
"When 1t does come, I'll make my
play, and I'll make 1t stick. In the
meantime-think twice, you. before
you buck mel You can make plenty
trouble If you want; I've got no doubt
of that. But it's you that'l burn II
you dol"
treasure yourself" Kentucky told
him. IF can't make finish play,
I'll make no play at ALL"
II don't know" said the sheriff, "but
what you'll go little farther than
that If you know what's good for you"
"You mean-W
The sherlff's voice was low, but his
words had more force than II he had
Numbered. II mean you'll sit out OF
this altogether"
II told you what I'm going to do"
Kentucky said shortly. He was In
hurry now to be on his way; he want
ed to hit the Bar Hook road before the
final closing Of the dark.
The sheriff shouted at him, "You In
fernal--"
The door came open, shuddering as
1t broke clear from the ice that had
formed at the sill.
The man who stamped the snow OH
his boots upon the threshold was
straight backed and lean-shouldered;
his age was indeterminate-he might
have been forty, or he might have been
much more. He had clean-cut, knife
carved face, set with blue eyes as clear
and penetrating as sharp bits of Ice.
And he radiated driving, thrusting
energy, so definite as to convey an al
most physical sense of impact
Floyd Hopper said without warmth,
"Hello, Elliott; and Kentucky Jones
said, "Howdy, Bob"
Kentucky Jones had always been on
good terms with Bob Elliot before; but
now Elliot looked over the other with
a coolly noncommittal eye. Il heard"
Bob Elliot said, you got yourself a
job today?''
"That's So"
'Bar Hook?"
"Yes."
The boss Of the SS looked Kentucky
over again slowly, with certain bleak
irony. Then abruptly he turned away,
breaking into the notwithstanding
cachinnations which passed with him
for laughter. It consisted Of shaking
of shoulders and series of coughing
sounds, accompanied by a general
panied, cracked-up look, but no ex-
,,roec;on ne opioypoant Whilo thiS
went on he always turned away from
his companions as If the unaccustomed
onslaught in truth seized him against
his will.
The paroxysm died away. sand with
a face like that" Bob Elliot was able
of course!"
"Ive found 1t useful face for
fighting WOLF" Kentucky agreed
equally. "Still, don't see"
"Just the brand" said Bob Elliot,
"that always goes loco over the near
est gimlet-headed girl"
There was quiet while man could
count fifteen. am going to finish
rolling this cigarette" said Kentucky
Jones, "and I'm going to roll 1t right.
| Then I'm going to see If still feel the
same way about that last remark. And
if do-I'm going to smash your teeth
down your throat"
maybe you are" said Bob Elliot,
without emotion. 'Floyd, hear some
body rustled the bullet that killed
John Mason"
"Uh, huh" said Hopper.
"Tm not sure that saw that done,
Floyd" said Elliot, disregarding Ken
lucky now, "but think maybe that
did; and l think SO more and MORE"
Sheriff Floyd Hopper came awake.
''Who was it?"
II don't want to name a name," said
Bob Elliot, unless we can make a
test to see If I'm right If I'm right,
the party that took the bullet passed
1t on to another; and don't think this
second one passed 1t on. I don't know
but what he's just dumb enough to
have 1t still"
"And where Is it?" said the sheriff.
81 think" Bob Elliot said. shat you'll
find the bullet that killed Mason In the
clothes of this man here: Kentucky
JONES'"
The three were motionless for a mo-
ment. The sheriff stared from one Of
them to the other. Look here"
'That settles it," said Kentucky. He
smashed Bob Elliot across the face with
his open hand.
The owner of the 88 staggered
against the wall, spun half around with
the weight of that open-handed slap.
Jones said, "Take care of yourself"
Elliot's hand made whipping snatch
at the gun at his right thigh as Ken
lucky struck again, this time with his
closed left hand. Elliot's head snapped
back; he seemed to teeter for mo-
ment, face upward. then buckled at
the knees and went to the floor like
a dropped saddle blanket.
"For G-d's sake get out Of here"
said the sheriff. Get out of this town |
He'll kill you when he comes up"
/T1 RE C0NTINTTEDJ