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

the Internal"
Keep quiet" said Shafer. The
"a men exchanged glances.
WELL" the sheriff went on, che
didn't hit anything, but the flash of
the gun was right under the nose of
the Kids horse, and she rared over
backwards on him. The Kid come
out of it with conclusion of the
brain, fracture of the leg and two
busted ribs. got his sworn state
ment here"
Nov, now! You can't put that
in," Wheeler objected. Either you
have to let me cross-examine him
or you can't put in his statement
at ALL
We'll, we'll see what it says, any
way" Shafer decided Justice is
what we're after here!"
Amos now produced and read
aloud Kid Bender's statement
repetition of his own.
''You got any questions, Wheel
err"
Wheeler was appalled,. It had not
occurred to them that Bender's peo-
pie would attempt so baldfaced a
lie. What had started out as sam
pie of irritable officiousness had
suddenly taken on unknown posi-
bilities. Angering, Wheeler prom
ised himself that once Horse Dunn
was extricated he would clean house
in this county if it took half of all
he had.
''The Kid isn't here to be ques-
toned" he snapped.
I'll call Pinto Halliday" Amos
said.
The lanky Halliday came out of a
corner reluctantly, looking lima
tured; and a swarthy cowboy who
had no official business there was
persuaded to give Halliday his seat
at the table
Under the questioning of Walt
Amos, Pinto Halliday now stated
that he had been in different part
of the Short Creek cuts. Being down
in the arroyo, he had not seen the
shot fired; but he was riding to join
Kid Bender and he had ridden up
out of the cut in time to see the Kid
down under his fallen horse, and
Billy Wheeler with a smoking gun
in his hand.
Pinto" Amos said, twas there
anybody else with Wheeler"
Miss Dunn, here, was with
Wheeler"
Look here" Wheeler broke in
again. whats the idea dragging
her into this?"
We'll leave her out if you will, -
AMOS said.
He's got right to drag in any
body he wants to-" Shafer gave his
opinion, $50 long as it's competent
and material. And constitutional. u
did Miss Dunn say anything?'
miss Dunn rides down and jumps
off her horse, and she wipes off
Kid Bender's face with her hand
kerchief. And she looks square al
this jigger and she says, There
wasn't no excuse for it, she says
Billy Wheeler looked at Marion
The girl sat with her cheek leaned
upon one hand; her face Was quiet
her eyes sober and watchful.
''That'S ALL" said Amos.
whats the idea," Shafer asked
Wheeler sternly, pulling gun or
an officer?"
Wheeler ignored him. Halliday,
he said, show far away were yol
when you heard the shot fired?"
I'D say about 800 yards"
''Yet right away you saw this
smoke from my gun three hun
dred yards away? That gun sure
must have sent up smudge!"
'By the time 1 came out of thu
cut I was closer-not over hun
dred yards"
'How long after the shot wa:
that?"
'I'd say about five seconds
"What'n you take for the horse?'
'Huh?"
eff that horse went 200 yards anc
climbed out of draw in five sec
onds, he sure must be streak O
light"
well, maybe it was ten or fifteel
seconds"
"And what did you say I hac
smoking in my hand, all this time?
ga gun, by God!"
Shafer looked doubtful. Well
what you got to say, Wheeler"
81 plead self defense, Judge,
said Wheeler. "Kid Bender made
surprise draw; I grabbed his bi
and raised his horse up to max
him miss. But it was his own gu
going off that made his horse g
over. I pulled my gun and stoo'
ready in case he took another Sho