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

and thereu be witnesses to prove 1t.
Sooner o. later, the sheriff will hear
Of that cut wire, and he may have
n enough to put two and two to-
gether. He'll decide, I hope, that 1t was
my. fight with Sam, my gun, my slug
that Killed him. and If 50. hen Let
over; But until then, I've ego got to Keep
them away from the posse.
You're talking too much" Doc said,
studying his face before turning to get
the whisky. Chris, listening closely,
already had the drink in q tin cup
and handed it to Doc, who gave it to
Westermark, who held it but did not
drink.
what about YOURSELF" Doc asked
I'll make OUT" wetermark said,
then added hoarsely. ITO hell with
that! Don't you see what I have to do?"
Doc turned away to close his bag,
but really to hide his face. He felt
a little sick when he remembered his
thoughts of only a few moments ago,
lated.
He rose and walked to the door.
He opened it and called out: Come
Doc paced around the room once
before they filed in and shut the door
behind them. They stood awkwardly,
dripping water, their faces suspicious
and wary.
you've got to get out of here" Doc
began speaking to the older man. II
think I can hide Westermark. I think
I can get you out of the basin safely"
They looked at each other fleetingly,
but said nothing.
Mrs. Preftake is going to have a
baby any time now. Gus Preftake and
hic cNn oro IN rr,orIirr thu Notch
over into Salt Flats. I car send word
for him to come home, that his wife
needs him. In place of him and his
boy, I can send two men who will let
you through" he said, wondering If
Dave Wolf, the blacksmith, would let
the Kelley boys off at the same time,
and If so, whether their gratitude to
him for pulling, them both through
pneumonia at the same time would
extend this far.
NO" the slickered guard said.
What about Clay?" the youngest
said.
I'll stick with him and send Chris
back for a blackboard. At night, I can
get him into my office. He'll be safe
there"
NO." the slickered guard repeated.
The other two shook their heads:
"We1l STICK" the slickered guard
~ " = "oAA044 U v ! OoU yoUS DONs
You'd get nkkered up and give it away
sure"
do it. Jes," westermark whispered
to the older puncher, who only shook
his head.
"Huh-uh. This is good enough"
You're FOOLS" Doc said bluntly.
But not so big we'd trust a drunken
said CURLY. Take off your coat and
relax. You're going to stay until Clay
Doc felt a hand on his sleeve and
he turned. It was Chris, who said:
Can he be moved, Doc? You said
you'd take him to your place. How?"
In a blackboard, at night, with a
tarp over him."
HE could stand it?"
Why?"
Chris swallowed and looked at Doc,
then smiled a little.
IT can get him free, Doc, and make
it Sc the boys can take care Of him
once he's out of the BASIN"
"How?" Doc asked. The others just
looked at Chris.
Chris face flushed a little. cit it
amt for nothin'. Doc. If I do it, will
you promise to take me in and let
me study with you? vii you show me
stuff and-well, show me how to be a
doctor? Will you, SOS if dad gets the
money to send me to St. Louis when
I get bigger, I can-well, you know
have the trainin' to be a steward like
m5 RGo; 5uS syss were searching. BLACK
81 reckon so," Chris said earnest
"And you want to be a doctor, boy?
After all I've told you, after all you've
seen-of me what I do, you still want
That's why I want TO-" Chris said
simply, almost shyly. It'd like to
Something balied up in Docs throat
and he coughed: All right then," he
What's your scheme?"
IT just happen to know that yester-
day, Fulgencia Monero finished with
his shearing," Chris went on, watching
Docs face. "Tomorrow-or when the
rain qqits-heu take the wool over to
he can get in the load, because Fulgen-
cia's kid, Silviano, is going to drive,
and he likes me and would do anything
for me. I'll go with him and we'll get
past the men there at Feedspar pass
and"
What if they search the wagon?'
Doc cut in.
"They won't. They're cattlemen,'
Chris grinned. II reckon they'll hold
their noses and let us through"
What then"
"We'l loaf down into Alameda until
the night freight comes through. Doc,
you write q note sayin' to hustle Clay
onto the Ell Paso train at Deming
Well give it to the men in the caboose
and they'll take Clay on"
What about us?" Jeff cut in.
"Well, you'll be down on Salt Flats
and with just a little ride you can
make it to the top Of the grade off
west. It goes so slow you can hook
on there without the train stoppin'