Carbon County news., 1937-11-05

4 - SSSS'
a contemptuous glance about the
walls, which were decorated with a
parcel post map, a calendar adver.
tising tick dip, and stains from leaks
In the roof; then planted himself
facing the door with his back
against the wall-an instructive pro-
vision. Shafer jumped up and hus-
tied around the table to place a
chair for Marian at the end opposite
himself, and when this was done
the remainder Of the room filed
rapidly with sornbreroed men.
Link Bender was there, looking
hard-bitten and taciturn, and so was
Rufe Deane, a green-eyed man with
heavy sorrel eyebrows and a storm
carved face; the lanky Pinto Halli-
day took up an uncomfortable posi-
tion in the corner by the door. And
there were other cattlemen, and
some of the cowboys and line riders
from the outfits Of these men, cram
ming what little space was left.
Horse Dunn growled into Wheel
er's ear, "Wish Bob Flagg could see
this. Anything like this always tick
led him."
IT take it this is the case against
William Wheeler" said Shafer un-
necessarily. who's prosecuting this
case?"
The sheriff said, II am, Judge.
The district attorneys gone upstate
to sit in on the Democratic COM
mittee, like you know
II see here" said Shafer, fussing
with papers, ''you got him charged
with resisting an officer; bearing
arms against authority; assault; as
sault with intent to kill"
"What about assault on horse
back?" said Billy Wheeler.
"Never heard Of it," said Shafer.
Sheriff Amos looked disgusted.
Lets get on with it."
william Wheeler, do you plead
guilty or not guilty?"
''Not guilty."
''What seems to have gone on
here?" Shafer asked Amos.
Judge" said Walt Amos, "since
this ruckus on Short Crick there's
been a lot Of people trampling
around there, cumming up the evil
dence. So we made deputies Of
Pinto Halliday and Kid Bender, and
we sent 'em to Short Crick to keep
fellers out of there. Now yesterday
this Wheeler come prowling around
there, and when the Kid told him to
beat it. he wouldn't co. The Kid
tried to argue with him, but this
feller got tough. and they had
words. The upshot was, Wheeler
drew his gun and fired. 4 He"
Wheeler broke in. We'll, of all
the infernal-'
Keep quiet" said Shafer. The
"a men exchanged glances.
We'll" the sheriff went on, ''he
didn't hit anything, but the flash of
the gun was right under the nose Of
the Kids horse, and she rared over
backwards on him. The Kid come
out Of it with concussion of the
brain, fracture of the leg and two
busted ribs: I got his sworn state
ment 'lere.''
Nov, now! You can't put that
in," Wheeler objected, Either you
have to let me cross-examine him,
or you can't put in his statement
at ALL" Il:
"'Well, Wen see what it says, any
way" Shafer decided. Justice is
what we're after here!"
Amos now produced and read
aloud Kid Bender's -statement-a
of his own.
"You got any questions. Wheel
err"
Wheeler was appalled,, It had not
occurred to them that Bender's peo-
pie would attempt so baldfaced
lie. What had started out ais SAM
pie of irritable oficiousness had
suddenly taken on unknown possi-
bilities. Angering Wheeler prom
ised himself that once Horse Dunn
was extricated he would clean house
in this county if it took half of all
he had.
''The Kid isn't here to be ques-
he snapped,
"Pn call Pinto Halliday" Amos
said.