The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-26

poHlISO, Will Tree or TWO, many
simply implanted shacks.
To stranger the town would not
have seemed so full of people as
Tulare Galatians report perhaps
suggested. But Billy Wheeler at
once recognized a dozen or more
cars which would not ordinarily
have been there, and about an equal
number of doing cow ponies. And
as the "a car pulled up in front
of the little frame building that
housed the country office-Wheeler
noticed small inconspicious stir in
doorWays, too casual moving to-
gether of spur-heeled loungers at
two or three places along the street.
Billy Wheeler caught Horse
Dunn's signal as he slid his roadster
to a stop. He stepped down from
the wheel and walked forward to
Dunn's car.
eve want to all kind of keep to-
gether, here as we move into this"
Horse Dunn said casually. 81 don't
think there's going to be any trou-
BILE of any kind. Still wish Bob
Flagg had got here. There aren't
so many of us as there has been
some years."
The sheriff pulled up and stepped
to the sidewalk. Now that he was
on his own ground again there was
a perceptible hardening and stiffen-
ing of the man; he did not look like
the same peace officer who had so
politely suggested, at daybreak, that
Wheeler submit to trial in a peace
able way:
Court won't open yet for a little
Bit" he said "You, Wheeler, park
yourself around here close. You're
lucky not to be in the lookup, by
God! You, Dunn, I'll speak to you
inside. I've got couple of ques-
tions I figure to ask"
''All right" Horse Dunn said.
Come on, folks"
''The rest of you stay outside"
Sheriff Amos said. you're the one
I aim to talk to, Dunn"
Horse Dunn looked up and down
the street, noting how the groups of
booted loungers had grown. Hardly
a doorway in that street was empty
now. Wheeler saw Dunn run a
quick glance along the second story
windows across the street. Dunn
turned to his car relaxed, casual.
Marian, take this here car
around the corner, and park it; then
wait there, until someone brings
word"
Marian glanced once, questioning
ly, at her uncle, then once more, al
most despairingly, at Billy Wheeler.
Then the car numbered away in the
dust as she obeyed.
Horse Dunn turned with a curious
mildness to the sheriff. II don't fig
ure to give any answers, Amos, that
I wouldn't just as leave my outfit
would hear"
The Oh Man of the "a stood
square-planted- smiling a little, al
most bland; but the confidence of
lifelong dominance was in the easy
set of his enormous shoulders, so
that he seemed then bigger than the
town, bigger than the range.
The sheriff hesitated; he knew
what he was up against. Abruptly
he burst out, Il decide these things
here!"
- The mild mask fell away. "Then
give your orders to people you can
boss" Dunn snarled at him.
Walt Amos sized up the situation,
then stood for a moment with a
blank face. Then-the young sheriff
grinned, not sheepishly, and not irri-
tably, but with the interested hu-
NOR of man who plays his own
game against another's.
ooh, all right, Dunn" he said; IT
don't set any great store on that
point. I haven't got any of my fell
lers with mel don't need 'em; but
maybe you need some. Bring 'em
ont"
In effect, Horse Dunn had backed
Sheriff Walt Amos down; but Horse
admitted afterward that it was here,
in the backdown, that the, young
sheriff had first commanded his re-
spect. He granted an assent. BILLY
Wheeler, Coffee-come on"
The others moved forward, but
he waved them back; and Dunn,
with Wheeler and Coffee, followed
Amos into the little old adobe that
held the sheriff's office.
'Dunn," said Sheriff Amos, "you
were the first man found out ther'd
been killing at Short Crick. That
was Tuesday-three days ago. Right
off you sent Tulare Callahan here,
to wire Old Man Coffee, clear
around at McTarnahan. Dunn, why
did you send for Old Man Coffee?"
'I sent for Old Man Coffee" said