The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-09-09

SrlnneQ, WITHOUT uuIuOI. I1OW
lucky. With a man dead at Ace
Springs, naturally Douglas was as
far away as he could get! Where
were you, Wheeler"
One by one they each gave their
answers, tersely, without concilia-
ton, as the same question was put
to each.
II want you boys" the sheriff said
to his deputies" to remember what
these boys have said"
"You figure to keep us here all
night?" Horse Dunn demanded.
I'm going to turn you out of here
in ten minutes" Amos said.
Rufe Deane, swinging up the
wooden steps, was in time to catch
the sheriff's answer. He now thrust
in, his green eyes ugly under his
shaggy sorrel brows. you're going
to what?" he said.
II have no intention" the sheriff
said, ''of holding these men on what
we got against 'em so far
Rufe Deane angered with an OBJ
vious, unexpected violence.
"These menll never leave this
town." he said.
II decide that here" said the She
riff.
Rufe Deane stared at him mo-
ment longer, green fury in his eyes.
Suddenly he tore off his deputy's
badge and threw it on the floor.
Maybe you do" he said. He turn
ed and went out into the street, the
high heels of his boots dumping
slowly, restrained; but as he dis
appeared from view they heard his
step quicken on the board walk.
Walt Amos said, "You want that
badge, SAM"
Sam Caldwell hesitated a mo-
ment. "All right" he said.
The sheriff turned on his remain
ing deputies. eff either of you want
to string with Rufe Deane, now's
the time to say so! Because the next
job of this office is to guarantee
these men safe conduct out of a
town."
walt" said Link Bender, "Tm
for you and always have been; and
there's mighty few jobs I'd back
off from as a peace officer. But I
don't know as I can bring myself to
turn my hand to that"
Horse Dunn spoke up, his voice
rumbling in his chest. "Who the
hell wants safe conduct" he said
contemptuously. when you're tired
OF iawing, we'll move on out"
Walt Amos turned his back on
them, and stood staring out into the
sun-blasted street. That street was
curiously empty - unWholesomely
empty, so that nobody who had seen
the crowd there could look at that
street now without knowing that
something wrong.
''Move out, then," the sheriff said.
Drag your freight and drag it
quick Keep going. Five minutes
from now I don't want you in this
town."
Horse Dunn chuckled in his short
beard and hitched his belt up. Slow
ly he sauntered past the deputies,
staring at each of them with an
open insolent amusement as he
passed; then he shouldered out, a
huge hulk that filled the whole
frame of the door.
Unhurrying, the "a men made
their way along the main street of
Inspiration, around the corner to
their car.
But as the dust of Inspiration
kicked out from under their tires
they knew that they had put behind
them a violence that was not avoid
ed, but only delayed.
By the time they reached the
ranch it was already late afternoon,
and the tall Tuscaroras were send
ing vast, vague fingers of shadow
about the layout of the "a, while the
high eastern horizon was still bright
ly brassy in the sun. Marian did not
come out to meet them. Hunting
around, Horse Dunn presently sight
ed her sitting on he fence of little
empty corral, hidden from the house
by the barns. He walked out to
climb the fence beside her; and
Billy Wheeler, tired of people
around him, went to his room, and
got his razorS out.
Here Horse presently came look
ing for him. The old cow boss
walked in slowly, and closed the
door after him. He sat down on
the edge of the bunk with the move
ments of a man a hundred years
old; and he covered his face with
| his hands.