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

10r you, like you wa Just three pun
chers hittin' for new country. Dad used
20 Jump h train there and give the
W Trak, ever a d saia and a drink and nothin'
est How about gettin' OFF," the young
We'll, you got to wait in Deming
for the FL Paso train, and them train
men can't watch Clay all that time,
man out. They'll give you the job, and
when they leave, you'll be free"
The three guards were looking at
each other, undecided.
ITS q chance, boys" Doc said, "about
The slickered guard studied Doc with
we could trust you not to get lickered
1--WE had two drinks since morning."
Doc said gently. I'll have one more
before I go to bed. He'll or high water
Won't keep me from taking that one
SELF"
'"Cut it, Ray" Westermark said. He
means it. So does the kid"
Wal A11 f t4a the slickered guard said.
Doc turned to Chris. Can you get
Chris nodded. THAT old loggin' road
isn't more than a mile from here. I'll
have the wagon and wool sacks and
Silviano and me there by daylight"
Good" He turned to the men. If
you are careful, you can get him into
it. Pad it well underneath him and
wrap him in all your blankets. Give
him a drink of whisky before you start
and after you get there. Make his bed
almost flat. The grade up to the pass
will make the right tilt for him." To
Chris he said: when you get on the
dow Tas1s you can turn him around,
Chris nodded. Doc walked over to his
Sllcker. I'm going to town to see Dave
Wolf about letting the Kelley boys
off," he said firmly. Nobody offered to
stop him. although he knew the three
guards were hating all this, hating to
have to depend on him: He took a last
help. You'll make, it."
Westermark put out his hand.
Thanks, Doc. You didn't need to do all
"oh, he'll" Doc said gruffly and
turned away. To the three men watch
ing him, he said: when Clay's in the
wagon, you make tracks for that Salt
right"
About the only lights in town were
at the Indian Head. Doc valiantly rode
past it to the far edge of town, turned
right, and counted the dark blotches
Of cabins till he came to Dave VOLTS.
He rode up to the doorstep and, too
tired to dismount, kicked the door.
It took Dave a minute to rightly
on over his underwear. He opened the
door, his face squinted still against
the light of the lamp in his hand.
oh. It's you, Doc. Well?"
IT want the two Kelley boys for a
job tomorrow, Dave. Think you can
spare them?"
Dave only stared at him, and Doc
shifted uneasily in his saddle.
Charlie Preftake and his kid are out
with the sheriff's outfit. I just got word
tonight, Mrs. Preftake is in labor. They
ought to be in with her. I figured"
"Hord, drun h. D sTswe1 Dave snc cut in.
Damned if you ain't," Dave said
chuckling. "This is Saturday. I amt
never worked my men a Sunday in
my life and I don't aim to start at my
Doc laughed with him and rode off.
Head Heas t to look k for a!t the s'f Kelley Ss i Boys t7 They
and he went straight to them. They
were a pair of wild-eyed Irish boys,
tall, honey, with ~perpetually grimed
hands and SallOw faces that were
equally ugly and good-humored. Off
in a corner, Doc put the proposition to
them.
II want a favor of you boys" Doc
began.
"Shoot," one of them said.
Doc explained briefly that he wanted
them to take the place of Charlie
Preftake and his son at the Salt Flat
notch. Moreover, there would be three
men that he wanted let through the
Salt Flats.
"Westermark's hands?"
Doc nodded. If you'd rather not,
say So"
"Hell, I'd do that for Clay" the