The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-06-11

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The camp was made up of q me-
room cabin Of unpeeled logs and sod
root squatting in the pines. Off to one
side was a pole corral and a shed with
open sides. Two men were standing
in the door as they dismounted,
They greeted Doc with business
like hostility and ignored Chris. One
might have been eighteen; the other
over thirty.
Doc entered and looked over at the
bunk against the far wall. Waterman
was propped up a little, so that he
was neither sitting or lying. He had
his eyes closed, his gray face pointed
to the ridgepole.
Get some water" Doc said.
There's some on the stove ready for
Westermark reused at the sound.
and turned his head slightly.
He. looked SO much like his mother
that Doc stared unblinking for q NOM
ent, feeling an uncomfortable bitter
ness seize him. It was like beholding
resurrection. And then he found he
was insanely angry, angry that a homi-
q girl he once loved. Chris, setting the
basin of water on the floor, saved him.
Breath coming hard?" Doc asked,
voice flat.
"A little" Westermark whispered.
His was a boyish face, Doc could see,
with the mouth a trifle sullen. The
black hair, dull yet with a sheen, was
hers, too. Doc threw back the blankets,
removed the clothes and looked at
the wound, then knelt and opened his
easy to take the needle and, face grave,
pump into to him enough morphine
to kill. Or that untidy heap of bottled
tabletS-any of a dozen-could do it,
and these OATS would be none the wiser.
He might even be doing the mother a
Amt you goin' in for the bullet,
DocY IT'S still there" the youngest
I'D kill him." Doc said. It gave
him pleasure to say it, to talk of killing
him as if that possibility we're as re-
mote as the stars. Which it was, now.
I'll leave that for the sheriff to do"
Doc added in a firm voice. Nov stand
off,"
ud It took sn only a : moment ssa to wash h., the
he was working, the third I pun mih
He did not even take off his siicker
or hat, but waited behind Doc until he
through and the covers were pulled
over Westermark's chest.
"Well?" he said to Doc.
He seems all right" Doc said calmly.
He'll either die or get well, according
TO nov Ss1n touch %im he is. I can't do anything
He can't ride, Of course9" the
puncher asked.
Not unless he wants to die"
\"All right" the puncher said grimly,
taking off his hat and shaking water
from it. Make yourself comfortable,
Doc. You're staying"
Pee PET n nod Eat AND %b, tRTne 1bt to Chris.
"Doc," Westermark whispered.
Doc went over. Get the boys out
Of the ROOM" he said, half smiling. II
want to talk to you alone"
Doc looked oyer at the three men.
"All right, Clay" the slickered punch
er said, looking at Doc: 1T won't be
healthy to make a break for it, Doc"
The three Of them filed out into the
rain, after the older man picked up a
carbine from the corner.
Doc looked questioningly at Wester-
mark.
I've got to get them out of here,
Doc" he said, frowning.
LUG SdlU uOGI1lllS.
They'll get killed sure"
Isn't that their risk?" Doc answered,
distaste in his voice.
mo. It's mine. They're loyal, but
it's going to get them hanged. I know"
"Well, tell them"
Westermark looked quickly at him.
But they won't 60. I've tried!" he
said vehemently. Then he turned his
face up and coughed.
Srya rNnl arl k~oi N1,t IF this
basin e IS guar Doc Boz; said. "T hey
wouldn't make it anyway"
They've got to-. Wetermark whis-
pered. IL can't take three men to
death because they stuck with me-"
"You should have thought of that
before you ganged Crossman."
Westermark looked swiftly at him.
That's a lie" he said calmly.
Doc said nothing.
I'm only repeating what the town
sYou mean what the town heard
from the sheriff, and the sheriff
heard from Sam Crossman's brother,
don't you?"
the town-or the sheriff. and least Of
ali from Crossman," Westermark said
fatty, but damned If somebody won't
hear it straight from me. My dad was
crooked, Doc. You know it and mother
knew it and everybody else. But be-
aus he swung a long rope and had
to leave the country, I'm not letting
every outfit in this basin revenge them
selves on mother by cutting our wire,
driving off our stuff and trying to
scare us out of the country"
He was studvinp Docs face. who still
said nothing.
Il told Sam and Ben Crossman that,
and Curt and Steve were there when
I did. I told the Crossmans if I ever
found one of the Bearpaw outfit on
our land, it would mean war. When
this rain came, I figured I'd ought to
move some of our stuff down off high
range, because I was afraid Of q late
snow. Well, Sam Crossman had the
same idea. I caught him driving our
stuff off-caught him with the cattle
and the wire down. He went for his