The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-19
TULARE CALLAHAN was a small
(ooy0Sht By Alan Le AfHy

OtSNS AAuAACy, VIII 1OI IllISS Gays
had kept an eye on the state of af-
fairs at the county seat of Inspira-
ton, and he now came roaring into
the "a layout in Horse Dunn's heavy
old touring car. He was grinning
with the delight of an action hungry
man who smells smoke at last.
Il hear Billy Wheeler like to muir
dered guy" said he.
Billy Wheeler slapped Kid Ben
der with a horse" Dunn said. you
come all the way back here to tell
us that?"
Il thought maybe you might want
to hear the upshot," Tulare said.
''The sheriff's coming out to get
Wheeler, either tonight or first
t. ing in the morning He's going to
throw him in the Jug"
whats the charge aginst Billy"
Horse asked.
Assault with deadly weapon"
BILLY didn't assault him with
anything!"
aThe heck he didn't" Old Man
Coffee put in. Didn't he hurl the
Kids horse at him?"
1.-The town is full of small-time
cowmen and their professional calf
thieves" Tulare reported. Seems
like every guy in the country that
has it in for the "a is swarming into
Inspiration. l bet there's 20 guys
that's tried to get themselves made
deputies. If Walt Amos called for a
posse he could easy raise hundred
men,"
$50 they figure to arrest Billy
Wheeler" Dunn said.
'EThey can't hold him." Coffee
said. Il suppose Kid Bender will run
in Pinto Halliday as a witness, and
they'll all lie to beat the cards. But
what good will it do 'em? Marian
was there. Billy's got witness that
can make a fool of 'em in any court
in the world"
Marian Dunn said, almost under
her breath but very clearly, Il can't
testify"
Horse Dunn looked st TT e d
whats that?" he demanded.
81 didn't see anything" Marian
said. st don't know how the fight
started. Billy just suddenly jumped
his horse at the other horse, and it
went over backward. That's all l
saw"
Horse Dunn turned to her. He
seemed puzzled, but very quiet.
Marian" he said, didn't you hear
Billy tell what happened? How Kid
Bender went for his gum"
The girl said, eyes, heard him. -
eve known Billy Wheeler since
he had to shin up hore's leg to get
on. You think he'd lie to us here?''
mo; didn't say I thought he
lied"
"Then what's to stop you from
backing him up?"
In the girls eyes showed some
thing Billy Wheeler had never seen
there before. Her face was as gentle
and lucid as the face of child; but
though her eyes were troubled there
was sober strength behind them as
immutable in its way as the rocky
will of Horse Dunn.
''I can't swear to something
didn't see."
Horse Dunn looked at her, then
turned away and let his hands fall
in a gesture of utter futility. His
eyes turned to Billy Wheeler. "You
see?" he said. "You see?"
Old Man Coffee broke the awk-
ward pause. 'Look here" he said
There's something about this
don't get. Yesterday you shot Link
Bender through the arm, Horse
right before the sheriff's eyes. Moth
ing comes of that. How is it the
sheriff lets that pass, yet jumps in
with both feet the minute Billy
Wheeler raises his hand in self de-
fense?"
"You want to know the answer?'
Horse Dunn demanded. 'He didn't
take me because he hasn't got the
quits to take me. What, haul me in
on charge like that? He knows II
can't be done! What he fails to al
low for now is that the "a will back
Billy Wheeler just the same as il
he'd been here all his life When he
finds that out you'll see him DROP
back!''
'I'm not so sure" said Old Mar
Coffee again.
you're not sure? Look at it
mani"
'T am looking at it. Seems like tt
me, Horse, the game is a little diff
ferent from that. He may be laying
off of you because his crowd has
little different plan for you. I'll say
right here, this sure makes it lool
to me like they must have a case
against you on the murder OF Lor
MaCoon-a case we maybe can be