Carbon County news., 1937-10-08
CHAPTER II-cOntinued


1.-THE trail Of the killer turned
back from here" Dunn said. ''Ii
took to the crick. / tried to find
where it come out Of the crick.
There was too many horse tracks
from the range stock; never found
where it come out. While / was
trying to trail it, Link Bender come
by and ! hailed him. After / showed
him what found he took off after
the dead mans horse" :
There was a long pause. 'This
all you fellers got to show?" the
sheriff said at last.
"That's all" Dunn said.
Link Bender nodded. II lost the
trail Of the dead feller'S horse" he
said shortly. s''I swung wide and
found the horse further on, but
never seen the saddle"
The sheriff sat his horse for al
most a full minute, as il in thought.
He seemed about to speak, then ap-
parently thought better Of it. ST.
lently he led back the way they had
come. They were nearly back to
Chuck Box Wash before anyone
spoke. q, - :s2$5s Il.
'"This is. pretty bad thing,
Dunn, !" Amos said tentatively at
last. ''The big end of the Red Hills
cowmen are pretty well stirred up. !"
Funny" Dunn said dryly, ''how
quick the word got round" #
They had come to the forking of
their trails, where Dunn would turn
westward toward his home ranch.
They pulled up their horses. X. 4.
''Dunn," the sheriff said, ''you
wasn't figuring to 60 any place,
was you?" ...: 81
;'sArnos," said Horse Dunn. "what
you mean by that?"
The sheriff met his eye directly,
but without pleasure. "Tn have to
ask you not to leave the county,
DunIl.n ..."
Horse Dunn was visibly angering.
Suddenly Billy Wheeler remen-
bered that Dunn" was facing out
something greater than two or three
men on horses. Link Bender stood
for whole ring Of half-Whipped
brands-the wolf ring, waiting hope
fully on its launches; Sheriff Amos
represented q county. Behind these
men were numbers and strength
and against the many the Old Man
of the 81 stood opposed as a power
full thumb opposes the fingers Of a
hand. " ! ,"~<- - +"-....... :
'tAnd so," Horse Dunn numbered.
''you take It on yourself to tell me
where I'll go and comet"
There's plenty stuff has to be
cleared up, the sheriff said stub
bornly. ''One thing, why was those
two unknown fellers riding toward
the home ranch Of the 94?" -.
'''FIoW do I know that?" Dunn de-
manded. IF they're like the aver.
age run Of the Red Hills, they was
most likely looking for something to
steal! ''&zE = -. w ..*.,=
:"All the more reason we have to
know where you are" the sheriff
retorted. III it's a COW thief that's
dead, who would shoot him on your
range but you or one Of your boys?"
ii t'Not one Of my neighbors." Horse
Dunn let his eyes drift to Link
Bender's face. J, mo, not them!
They'd never make a rnove-unless
it was to hand the feller his brand
er." i. *<-' IL j. =
Instantly Link Bender aid;
what do you mean BY that?''
In the little moment before Horse
Dunn's reply, Billy Wheeler glanced
about him, noting the position Of the
men. OF them all, only Cayuse Caye-
tano appeared to be unarmed. Link
Bender sat alongside the sheriff, but
separated from him by the led
horse. Wheeler saw him exchange
a quick glance with his son, who
sat detached, q little to one side.
With one spur Wheeler woke his
pony, SO that it moved sideways,
nearer Kid Bender. No one noticed;
their eyes were expressionless but
intent upon Horse Dunn. !. = 4. : ',:~ j. !:
Dunn had swung slowly in his
saddle to face Link Bender. MY
calf crop is short, is what mean .
Watching Kid Bender. Wheeler
did not see Link make his play; but
as Kid Bender's hand dropped to
his holster. Wheeler knew that the
Kid had taken his cue from Link,
who in that instant must have gone
for his gun. In the shock Of action