The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-01
Chapter 40
Revenge Mistress
GLITCH 'em, damn you, and b.

DITCH 'em, damn you, and be
quick about It'll"
Torn rudely from his musing,
Ted whirled about to face Josh
Hastings, gazing exultantly at him
over the barrel of his gun.
Ted obeyed with a grim smile,
the ironic thought flashing through
his mind that here was the prob
able ending of his career too, be-
side Marion'S father.
Lifting his eyes a second as he
raised his hands, Ted saw a CLEAN
in the topmost branch of the
pine tree that spread over Josh
Hastings. Instantly, his fatalistic
acceptance of the inevitable, Of the
moment before, gave way to re-
neWed hope that reaWakened all
his natural instinct of self preser-
walton.
BY one of those extraordinary
freaks of forest fires, a spark had
been carried an incredible dis
lance, bringing destruction with
1t. If he could keep Josh Hastings
from firing the fatal shot until
Reckon you won't need that
second trial." Josh Hastings voice
brought Ted back from his desper-
ate speculations. Il can save the
state lot Of money, and nobody'll
be any the wiserI"
''Why didn't you do it in the first
place, up on the central divide?"
Tee grasped at anything to prolong
the moment.
Because I intended to have you
branded as a murderer in Kay
Crandon'S sight, and l expected
you to die anyway" Hastings ex-
planned with brutal insolence.
Out Of the corner of Ted'S eye
he could see the blazing branch
directly over Josh Hastings head.
AT all costs, he must hold his at
tentionl
'Kay Crandon will never be-
lieve I'm a murderer" he chal-
lenged.
Wont she, though? Hold it,"
Hastings barked as Ted shifted
from one foot to the other. ave
got thing or two to tell you be-
fore / give you a duplicate Of the
shot that killed Scrap Johnson. /"
He gave a harsh laugh at Ted's
involuntary start. TOO bad you
can't use that information, isn't
it?" he sneered, in evident enjoy
ment of his revenge, and loath to
terminate it too soon. well, you
know now it doesn't pay to try to
get the best of Josh Hastingsl You
got the worst of it before, and this
time"
A great rending sound cut him
short. CHANGING up, he saw the
burning branch crashing through
the lower branches of the pine.
With an oath he sprang back, his
gun exploding harmlessly as Ted
ducked.
But Josh Hastings was the frac-
ton of second too late. The burn
ing branch struck him a glancing
blow on the head, and he pitched
forward.
Saving The Murderer
TED sprang to his side, and
Il dragged his unconscious form
away from the FIRE that licked UP
the dry pine needles, creeping to-
ward him. With superhuman
strength, half dragging, half carry
ing him, Ted made his way back
to where he had tethered his
mount.
He seized his rope and tied Josh
Hastings wrists and ankles. Then
he slung him over the saddle and,
guiding his frightened horse, start
ed TO retrace his steps.
In the far distance he couid hear
shouts, as the fire fighters rallied
to this new area of danger. But
after a moments hesitation, Ted
pushed on, with an anxious eve on
his unconscious burden.
One thought was uppermoSt In
Ted's mind: He must save Josh
Hastings until he could repeat that
confession before witnesses. His
freedom and his whole future de-
pended on i'll II Josh Hastings died
now, even though Ted might es-
cape, his name would never be
cleared. Suspicion would always
cling to him and he would be ham
dicapped by this cloud on his repu.
ton, wherever he might 90.
He must get back to Marion,
with the news about her father.
and between them they must re-
vive Josh Hastings enough to force
the confession from him that he
had killed Scrap johnson and
framed Ted for the murder.
Riding when possible, and walk
ing over the steep places where his
mount could not carry double, Ted
pushed ahead over the intermin-
able backward trail TO Marion's
shack.