The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-06-02

SoAAtAASAiS tAol W tOAA Ills DdCh up
on the other man. He carried his
rifle with him.
AS soon as he was out of hearing,
Kansas spoke to the girl. Don't
look this way" he said hurriedly,
uncinching the horse she had been
riding. Act like l amt even talk
in to you Keep a-lookin' at Morg.
He aims to kill me, because he fig
ures I sent word to yore paw we
would camp here. I did, too, by
that girl I helped get away"
"You helped Nelly get away?"
Ruth said breathlessly. You sent
word to father we would be here?"
Yep. Lemme do the talkin." I
got my back to that devil and he
can't see my lips move. Keep him
here long as you can. I'm going
back to hurry up yore friends"
Ruth wanted to beg him not to
leave her alone with Norris. She
would be safer if another man was
with them. But his next words
stopped her.
"Morg must be headin' for Wild
Horse basin." the man vent on.
I'll have Lee comb that country
thorough. l got to light out now.
Morg is ixin' to kill me-" The man
was pallid with fear. His eyes dart
ed toward the spring. Now was the
time. I'll be sayin' adios. Miss"
Without touching the stirrup he
flung himself into the saddle and
lifted the horse to a gallop. Not
an expert rider. one Of his feet
failed to find its stirrup. He chung
to the horn to steady himself, his
fingers dragging on one Of the reins.
The pony swerved sharply and the
man lost his seat. A shoulder
plowed into the ground when he
struck. Almost instantly he was
on his feet.
The eyes in his chalk face were
glazed with fear. For a fraction Of a
second he hesitated. uncertain what
to do. He started for the horse Nor
ris had been riding.
Before he had taken two steps a
rifle cracked. the body Of the rum
ming man plunged forward as if it
had been flung from a catapult. He
lay face down. motionless.
Ruth caught at the s%addle-horn
of the horse beside her. She chung
to it, trying to steady herself in a
tip-tilted world. For a moment ev-
erything went hazy She saw
Norris moving forward. the rifle in
his hands. He padded toward the
prone figure. his supple body
crouched and wary as that of a cat
stalking it's prey. The face of the
man was demoniac. Upon it was
stamped the horrid sadistic lust that
comes to the habitual killer who
has made his kill.
"You you've killed him."
Ruth cried. covering her eyes.
He laughed. triumphantly. Sur
est thing you know. He was aiming
to u out on me, to sell me for a
peace offering to Chiswick."
Callously he pushed the body over
with his toe to make sure his VIC
tim was lifeless. Dead as a stuck
shote." he pronounced cheerfully.
when yore Uncle Morg cuts loose
they don't even squeal."
His Satanic good humor appalled,
Ruth. He was immensely pleased
with himself. The thing he had done
no more distressed him than if he
had shot a rattlesnake. The girl
looked down at the huddled body
which had been quick with life only
a moment since. and a sick tremor
ran through her. She felt panic
rising to her throat-had to shut
her mouth tight to keep from
screaming.
The killer began to laugh. Il told
him we might agree for him to stay
here and for us to go on 1t will
be that way. I'll saddle yore bronc
and We'll be off,"
AS Ruth watched him resaddle.
she pulled herself out Of the hope
less conviction that she was lost. It
would never do to give up. In what
way could she help herself? There
must be something she could do.
She held her quirt tight in both
hands twisting it. while her
thoughts darted here and there. If
she could leave a message
The mans back was toward ner
as he cinched her mount. She
slipped the quirt from her wrist and
wrote on the ground with the heavy
end of it.. making sure he did not
see. The leather dragged through
the dust.
"Wild Horse"
Abruptly she stopped, Ticking the
whip idly. He was bringing the
horse to her.
Hold this while I get Ginger"
He gave her a hooking word Of
warning. And see you don't try
to make a getaway like he did,"
The instant he turned to walk to
his own straying horse Ruth's quirt
was busy. She added the word
basin to the message and signed