The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-06-06
Copyright by Alan LeMay
WNu Service.

luut
Campo, I know that John Mason
was your close friend. I know that
you and your brand are as bad hurt
as anybody, Is, almost. And with my
experience, | can reason that the thing
couldn't have happened II any of you
had been here. But most people hate
condolences. Campo"
Ragland stood up, his face blank.
"Floyd, II you're saying you smothered
that inquest as favor to me-
Maybe" said the sheriff, Il should
Just have let you explain all that to the
rImrock in your own way"
Campo Ragland sat down, his COM
'hatlveness abruptly Debated. Floyd
he said. you shouldn't have done 1T
"Of course to hi I shouldn't have
done 1t !" said the sheriff, his irrlra-
bility looming to the surface again. =
fine box I'm In, now that lack Sana
ders is found"
well. anyway, Floyd" Campo mum
bled, II appreciate what you tried
to do"
"All right" the sheriff accepted
'see that you do! Seems to me, Cam.
pc, that after this you'd be justified
II you'd stop holding information back.
What do you mean by that7'
Tonight over the phone l asked
you If anything else peculiar had hap
pened. You told me NO But ! hap
pen to know that you got home here
Tuesday to find that this house hae
been searched"
Kentucky Jones had never seer
Sheriff Floyd Hopper show to as goot
advantage as he did tonight He was
the man In the saddle here, He ga
now sprawled behind his smoke. bis
eyes surly and red, like the eyes o.
| bear.
what house7" said Campo Raglant
at last.
'1ThIs house," said the sheriff. "Wha
| are you trying to do, Camper |
doesn't get you anything to stall witt
me. This house was searched and some
thing was taken from It."
III you know that something wa
taken from this house, Campo Rag
land said. ITS because you had !
taken yourself"
Hopper shook his head. "All
know is that something Is gone fro1
here-and never mind how know thai
It'll have to satisfy you that d
know it"
ut seems" said Campo Raglant
that you know lot OF things tina
nobody thought you knew. I'm thinE
Ing that maybe you know lot
things more"
what you'd better BID finding on
Is this, Campo" said Sheriff Hopper
I'm no fool, even If am the dull
elected sheriff of Waterman count,
You could do q whole lot worse tina
play straight game with me-"
Campo's retort was mildly explosive
straight game? OF course I'm pla,
Ing a straight game! I'm willing
turn face up what cards | hold
they're always face up. It's not m
fault when hold very d-n fe
cards."
What I'm saying Is
The sheriff was interrupted by II
opening OF the outer door. In tt
doorway appeared Joe st. Marie. ~
| moment he hesitated, hand on Il
latch, obviously startled by the pre-
ence of the sheriff.
"Shut thar door," said Campo, al
Joe st. Marie came In and closed Il
] door slowly behind him.
, "What are you doing here7"
Joe st. Marie swung of his hat al
] stood staring blankly from Raglan
, to Hopper, and back again. Il LAM
my horse,' he said. Il had to lea
! the other boys to take the beef on
2 Waterman. II would have spoiled Il
I cayuse to go on"
7 Now Campo Ragland seemed to n
/ tice what Kentucky Jones had pr
ceived at once; that Joe St Marie
: face was the color OF halfseured ha
0 and the bronco riders explanation
his presence. II not altogether satisfs
; tory In Itself. had served to draw
8 tention to the quickness Of his brea
Campo said sharply, "You hurt, Joe
/. mo sir. I'm all right. Well do
h feel SO good, at that
t "You never feel so good" Lee Bish
). grunted.
n Campo Ragland hesitated, puzzl
S you want to speak to me, joel"
0 asked ar last.
who? Me7 No, SIR"
!" We'll, see what you can find yo
self to eat. Walt a, minute-Wl
Y have you given your horse?"
IS Nothing yet. Dir. Ragland. (
J. T."
st How many times do | have to
IT you fellers-" Ragland began. wv
Ie let 1t pass. Go feed your horse"
a. "Now?"
y. "Now !"
ss Joe st. Marie moved reluctantly
IS Ragland's command, and at the d.
~ he stopped, hesltating- Though
seemed unable to speak, 1t was as pl
20 as II he had spoken that there was
y. his mind a protest which he could
Is or did not dare-put into words.
~ EanttcIyy 1onpq thought hp