The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-19

Young was forever removed from
the Mad Woman! The breed had
collected his money, too - two
twenties and a ten.
Frank Bluejay had been so sure d;
had told Tod West of how Young
had gone down into the deep waters
of Townline lake; of how his dog
had swum round and round the
drifting canoe and finally struck
out for shore.
A shaking rage gripped him. The
Indian had lied, then!
WED ought to be gone, Tod !"
So, Bridger, breaking in on his
swift train of speculation and
doubt and suspicion. "He might
light out. :. :"
Ready soon," he said thickly.
Young was now out of Tod
Vests sight, but In full view of
Frank Bluejay, sitting in a chair
tilted against the store wall.
Kerry had been in full sight of
the man for, perhaps, ten seconds,
standing there in the doorway, sur
veying the dozen people in the es-
tablishment. This his gaze came
to rest on the breed.
Bluejays one foot had been
swinging idly. On Young's appear
ance the arc it made diminished.
More and more slowly it swung un-
tit it came to rest and during that
interval the mans jaw sagged.
He sat so, gaping, unmoving, and
then his chair came down to all
four legs with thud while the
heritage Of the Indian in him, all
the superstition and regard for leg
end, swirled upward to possess him
completely.
No one else had noticed this; did
not until Young spoke, easily
enough:
Are you surprised, Bluejay?"
He laughed, then, and the laugh
ter was hard, menacing laugher.
Slowly, Bluejay rose to his feet,
hands behind him, showing on the
chair back to aid his weakened leg
muscles. A luminous fear danced
in the black eyes.
Surprised, eh" Kerry began to
advance. THAT'S what l came for,
Bluejay, to see who'd be sur
| prised!"
The man was retreating, now,
hands spread against the wall, sid
ling along. making for the rear. He
did not speak, though his lips
worked.
Kerry moved faster and as the
breed turned, left off his touch on
the painted boards and, half stag
gering, lurched down the room, was
upon him.
Il didn't" Bluejay gasped as
Young's hand fastened on his shirt
at the shoulders, spinning him
around. II . . didn' :" he
moaned.
Didn't what?" Kerry's voice was
like the crack Of whip. "Dldn't
what?"-insistently when no reply
was Forthcoming.
He let so an arm and his hard fin
gers grasped the breeds throat.
Beseechingly, Bluejay let drop
something he had held in one hand
and grasped Young's wrists.
"Don'w he moaned. Don,
Young! :. dldn' :"
His knees were sagging, but
Kerry held the man half erect by
his throat.
You lie!" he growled. You lie,
Bluejay! You're guilty as hell. And
what you're going to do is this!
You're going out Of this coun-
try as fast as the good God will
let you! And If you ever show up
again." - shaking him slowly -'if
you show your face here so long as
I'm here I'll strangle you to death
as sure as water runs down hill b!
Now do you understand"
With a sideways fling, he let the
man go. Bluejay sprawled on the
floor, but before he came to rest
he was scrambling to his feet, cir
cling to be away from Young. To-
ward the door he scuttled and
down the steps he ran. ...
AS Kerry stopped to pick up that
which the breed had dropped, the
sputter and roar OF motor could
| be heard and when he smoothed
out the bill and searched its crisp
| surface for the serial number,
gears whined and a battered fiiv-
yer stirred the dust Of the street as
Bluejay started for somewhere else
with all the speed he could wiring
from the ancient contraption.
Mel Knight came from behind
the counter. Men who had been
outside were entering, curiosity
aroused by Bluejay's flight.
my gosh, Kerry, you sure put
a crimp in that Injun!' Knight said
with a queer grin. "Td like to bet
he won't be seen here again.
My gosh. what made him look so
scared afore you made a mover"
Dam right he won't come
back" said another.
did yuh see him grab him!" a
third asked at large. II thought