The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-09-02

In the heavy quiet while SnaIer
still hesitated, Wheeler watched the
faces of Horse Dunn's enemies. The
young cowboys were unwillingly
friendly to the girl, swayed by an
inevitable attraction. But in the
| faces of the cow bosses Wheeler
saw a strange thing. These older,
embittered men were seeing Marian
not as a girl but as a part of the a.
He noticed the dark, hard gaze OF
Link Bender, and the unforgettable
green eyes of Rufe Deane, the man
who blamed Dunn for the death OF
his son.
'This court means to serve out
right and justice, not technicalities.
Shafer decided "And if Miss Dunn
wants to testify, I'll call her as a
witness for the court"
There was a moments pause. Il
was at Short Creek" Marian said.
\ GO ahead, Miss Dunn-just tell
the court what you saw, in your
own words"
Marian Dunn still sat with her
; cheek rested upon her hand; her
! eyes flicked to Horse Dunn, then to
Billy Wheeler, but conveyed moth
, ing. Il was only a little distance
away-I saw all of it. Kid Bender
: rode up out of the bed of the creek,
I running his horse so hard he had to
slide it to keep from knocking
Wheeler's horse over They sat
there talking; Kid Bender seemed
to be threatening Wheeler. Final
ly-"
''Now why do you say 'seemed'?"
Walt Amos broke in Either you
heard what was said or you didn't"
'Let her tell her story!"
FINALLY" Marian continued, kid
Bender motioned with his head to-
ward where was sitting and Billy
Wheeler turned, as if to see where
I was. While Billy Wheeler was
turned away Kid Bender jerked out
his gun. 1t was the most unfair, UNI
warrented thing you could possibly
imagine"
"You mean to say"
"Be still" said Shafer.
! Wheeler saw the gun just in
time. He half dropped out of the
saddle evidently trying to avoid
the shot; he seemed to try to get
the neck of Bender's horse between
himself and the gun. Just then Ben
der's gun went off. Both horses
jumped; but Bender's reared, and
fell over backwards"
'Well, when did Wheeler fire."
"He didn't fire at ALL"
"But what about this gunsmoke?"
81 didn't see any smoke. There
was lot of dust going up from the
ground, but that was all"
'This is remarkable" said Sha-
fer.
cts an almighty funny thing"
Amos said, ''that this wasn't put
in by the defendant in the first
! place!"
"You want to cross examine,
Amos?"
II certainly do" said the sheriff.
Look here, Miss Dunn! How long
have you known this man Wheel
err"
whats the point to that?" Wheel
err demanded.
Judge" said Amos, Il claim this
woman is"
watch YOURSELF" said Billy
Wheeler.
There was a general stir through
all that dense press of men. "Comt
to order!" said Shafer. CT"
II don't mean," Billy Wheeler be-
| gan, Ito let this
"WiIl you come to ordcr," sale
Shafer, cor take contempt o.
court?"
Outside there now rose disturb
ance as a dus1crusted car came
careening down the street; it hal
spun as it Skidded to a stop in tn
Iu1UU10 VI L1lc 1OdOWoy III AAOAAI "
Skaters office. Sam Caldwell
square-set, heavy-necked ally o
Link Bender, forged his wa!
through the crowd and came shout
dering up the steps. Inside and out
side the quiet broke into mumblinl
disorder.
"You want me to finish with cross
questioning this Witness" the sher
iff was demanding of the judge, 60
not? If you want me to clear thi
court"
give never had to clear cour
yet" said Shafer. "I-what's goinl
! on here?"
He sat back and stared scowlins
at the disturbance which set tn
whole room in motion as Sam Cald
well thrust his way through the dool
and up to the table. Reaching it
Caldwell jerked off his hat, and