Nogales international., 1936-07-11

mounted and gave an order to his
men, who numbered some axes
and other tools and went down to
the bridge.
Speed made mis- partner sit down
to rest in the shadow of rock near
the creek. Then he returned to
Fa1lon who stood sombrely quiet
under Brent's guard, and told the
old craftsman to lower his gun.
"You owe me thousand dollars,
Fallon," he said soberly, when the
deposed camp boss was uncovered.
Fallon drew out a wallet and
counted over the amount.
"Give him his six-shooters,
Brent" said Speed. This was done
"The trails fixed" Speed explained,
"and l resign all claims to the job
of trail boss. We're talkin' level.
l don't aim to tangle with the rang
ers' law after we cross the summit.
But where we stand there amt a
law between you and me and the
sky. We don't even know that it's
Alaskan ground. You've got bad
arm, so I'll discard my best gun,
and we'll settle the feud right here. "
"We'1l settle it when I've got
both hands limber," said Fallon,
grimly, as the train, now in move
ment again, wound slowly by
Brent back-trailed toward Liars
vile with two partners. Maitland
felt weak from reaction to the
scenes of blood which the other two
had accepted so lightly. He was
troubled in another way about Gar
nets hauling job.
This anxiety was relieved, how
ever in an unimagined way. Wher
they reached the cache, they found
that Garnet was gone. A note at
tached to one of the packs advised
them that he had left Alaska, defer
ring his trip to Dawson till the fol
lowing spring, when = he had
learned-steamers would be running
up the Yukon. The note, dated two
days before, assigned them his out
fit and the horses, free of all claims
1t was windy dusk when they
emerged from the river canyon and
looked down on an astonishing ap-
partition of canvas above the Skag-
way beach. A tent city had taker
shape in their brief absence
mushroom town of illuminated
mushrooms, glowing in the mist an
lit by kerosene flares that sputtere
garishly in the wind.
Through misted darkness, tn
camp lights defined a twisted mai
street whose course had been de
termined by the accidental cam
sites of the first corners.
Avoiding this, the two partner
detoured around to the quieter sec
ton where they had left the un
moved part of Garnet's outfit. TIL
spot was hard to locate in the maz
of tents, and when they did find il
there was no sign either of the each
or the horses.
"I'll skin the thievin' polecat wht
done this" Speed announced in
voice that carried over wide area
Though the neighboring tent
seemed empty, man appeared
noiselessly in answer to his chal
lenge, from one of the canvas lanes
He wore a dark suit of eccentric bu
studied fashion, with the collar o
the jacket upturned, soft-soled shin
ing shoes, and a black dicer hat.
"D-did you l-l-lose somethin'?" HI
inquired.
"A team of horses and a pack,
said Speed. Don't get nervous.
amt specially suspectin' you"
WELL" said the other, Il seen ;
p-pair of horses like th-like tina
yesterday. A guy was l-leadin' 'em.
know the man?"
| "I know where h-h-he hangs out
But I wouldn't want to be seer
st-st-st-to be seen steerin' ye."
This helped allay the remaining
doubts in Speeds mind. How care
less would you get for fifty dollars? ?
he asked.
"K-keep me in s-s-sight," sale
their informant. "B-b-b-b-" Leav.
ing the word suspended, he moved
silently away.
The recovery of the horses was
necessary, but Maitland wondered
whether it would be worth what
they might be walking into. 1t was
the sociable hour after dusk when
saloon door swung inwards, and
they followed their conductors
weaving course through the tent
lanes without being particularly OBJ
served. He. crossed the street at
the other end, near the beach, stop
ping before a structure that had no
sign.
The stranger entered the place
and came out minute later. "G-go
in and be having a d-a drink" he
said, as he paused for a moment
beside them, speaking in as rapid
an undertone as his tongue would
allow. "The party you're lookin'
for is liable to b-b-b-b-" And he
drifted silently into the dark.
Speed frowned after him; then
stepped up to the pool of light under
the swing doors and pushed them
brusque1y open. He nodded to
Maitland and they went in.
Speed bought drinks at the bar.
"This don't look like a horse
thiefs hangout." he said, absently