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

ana seemed TO SeethG, gathering IN
knots. The half-bred tacker had
been loved by none, respected by
none; but his trail genius was I'M
disputed, and it had been widely
rumored that he was very close to
important revelations Half a dozen
men tried to follow Sam Caldwell
into the already-crowded county Of
flee, forcing in through consider
able number of the crowd inside
who had Immediately started to
make their way out.
Though it was Judge Skaters
boast that he had never had to clear
court in his life, he was induced
to do so now.
IF you've got your court clear,
let's have ORDER" said Judge Sha-
fer. Il mean to get this over with.
Wheeler, is your defense finished?"
''You yourself called the only eye
witness here, and the only witness
worth whoop," Wheeler said.
THAT ought to be defense enough
for any man."
''You got anything more to say,
sheriff."
Get it over WITH" snapped the
sheriff. IF you're going to let in
testimony like that last, 1 can't stop
you. And I've got other work to
do"
''This is as unsatisfactory a case
as I've ever seen on this BENCH"
Judge Shafer said. Something's
wrong-something's very wrong. I'd
like to reserve decision and think it
over"
Reserve, hell! Let's have it, one
way or the other,' Amos demanded.
''All right! All right! Heve it your
own way! Case dismissed"
Sheriff Walt Amos angrily crashed
his open hand upon the table top
and stood up. There's a sweet deci-
sion!"
ANY other court would give you
a contempt for that said Shafer
waspishly. The court stands ad-
journed!"
He crammed his papers into his
brief case and stalked out, looking
angry, insulted, and anxious to get
away from there. Nobody spoke to
him or interfered with him as he
went down the steps and out of sight
in the street, moving at hurried
amb1e.
Sam Caldwell came back in bring
ing with him Pinto Halliday and
Link Bender, their deputies badges
half hidden, but evident.
''You want me?" said Link.
''Stick around here. Where's Rufe
Deane?"
Hell be here in a minute"
There's other work to do" said
Link Bender, "that can't be done
here. 1 better be getting at it!''
"Stay here" said Walt Amos
shortly.
Link Bender stared at him a mo-
ment, then leaned against the wall,
his dark hawk face hard and tight
Tipped.
IF you're through with us We'll
be leaving" said Horse Dunn.
I'm not through with you. I'll
tell you when I'm through"
You'll have to let my wagon boss
60, SOS he can drive my niece back
to the RANCH" Horse Dunn told him.
The sheriff looked at Dunn for a
moment, without seeming to see
him; he appeared to be listening,
or weighing other things. Cali right.
On condition that he Immediately
gets out of town. An hour from now
I don't want to find he's still here"
'I'll be out of here, all right" Val
Douglas said.
well, I'll see you start. You
ready, Miss DUNN"
Better take my roadster, Mari
an" Billy Wheeler said. He gave
her the key, and she accepted it
without meeting his eyes.
After Marian and Val left Sheriff
Walt Amos spoke.
DUNN" he said at once, where
was Val Douglas yesterday"
Gle was IN Nine-Mile Valley"
Dunn said.
"And that's not so far from Ace
Springs, is it?"
Not so far"
"But riding toward Santiam he'd
be going just the opposite way from
Ace Springs, wouldn't he?"
'What's that got to do with it?"
Toward Santiam," said the sher-
iff, "was where he said he was,
when I asked him a while ago.
What's your answer to that?"
The two men eyed each other. IF
he said he was up toward Santiam,
he was probably up toward Santi-
am" Dunn said.
The sheriff grunted and halt