The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-09-15
tantly he dressed and Joined the

grove n report to Mile Hlgh.'
the bandit told him. See you show
up pronto. If you don't. I'll take
care Of you personal Understand"
Norris turned on his heel and
staggered away. fury still burning
within him.
He walked into the back door Of
the Golden Nugget. Day would
break in another hour or two. but
the place hummed with life.
No gambling was taking place.
but there was plenty of drinking.
Men stood around in groups. all OF
them armed. though in some cases
the weapons were concealed. For
by this time all Tail Holt knew that
a showdown was at hand. The bat.
tie lines were drawn between the
outlaws and the cattlemen. between
Gray and Chiswick on the one side
and Howard and Norris on the
other.
Morg Norris was a marked nan
as he walked to the bar. The talk
suspended. and all eyes rested on
him. He was the fighting spearhead
of the lawless forces. just as Sherm
Howard was the directing brain.
Men watched him. to get a clue to
future action. They meant to play
safe. If the outlaws were going to
win, they wanted to be with therl
at the finish. But if law was COM
ing into the mesquite. if the day of
the killer and the thief was at an
end, they wanted to make over
lures to Chiswick. or. in case they
had gone too far for that. to slap a
saddle on a bronc and leave swiftly
for parts unknown.
Norris ordered a drink and asked
curtly where Sherm Howard was.
The bartender Pete nodded a
head toward the Office.
How are cases. Morg?" some.
one asked with what Indifference he
could assume.
The killer showed his teeth in a
snarl. Fine. How would they
be going?"
II hear Chiswick is in town with
a bunch of his men," another said
casually.
Morg took the drink at a gulp.
'You hear correctly" He slanted
insolent eyes at the man. "You
pullin' on the bit to get a crack at
them. SLIM"
Without waiting for an answer he
turned his back or them and walked
into the office. closing the door be-
hind him. In the DOR were three
men. Sherman Howard. Curt Dubbs.
and a man named Yorky who usual
ly lowered close to the stout man.
It was generally understood he was
a guard.
The three men looked up. None
of them spoke for a moment. How
ard felt a premonition of disaster.
He said. ANY news. Morg?"
Norris moved a little closer. car
rying his body with a 1.-the. catlike
grace. His shallow eyes were mar.
rowed to shining Sits. A light
played on the surface as it does on
agate marbles. The face of the
man was venomouS.
PLENTY" he snarled.
The heart of the big man died.
He wanted to call out a warning to
Yorky. but he dared not. His
glance darted here and there, seek
ing help, then came back to the
dark agates fixed on him. The
muscles of his fat face twitched as
he fought to control himself. The
man had come to kill him. He did
not doubt that.
did you get Gray?" Yorky
asked, his chair tilted back against
the wall and his hands thrust into
trouser pockets. He knew Norris
was in a sullen rage. but he had no
guess that an explosion was i'm.
minent.
mo. we didn't get Gray" the
outlaw answered with a sheer. I'VE
weren't sent to get Gray. but for
him and his crowd to get US. You'll
be glad to know. Howard. you dou.
BILE . crossing coyote. hat yore
friends Gray and Chiswick have
rubbed out Clint Doke and maybe
others. Tracy they have wounded.
Menger too"
Howard raised a trembling, ham.
like hand in protest Don't talk
foolishness. Morg. Why would I
throw down on the boys and join
up with my enemies? You ought te
know me better than that. 1t doesn't
make sense"
RATS leave a sinking ship, don't
they?. Sure I know you-cleai
through. You tried to have mo
bumped off before. Now you've sen,
%: Chiswick's crowd. Trying to
play in with them and save yore.
SELF"
Listen, Morg. Don't get excited.
Listen to me-" Howard made a mo-
ton to raise himself from the seat.
He did not get halfway up.
Norris whipped out q forty-dve
and fred three times. Howard
caught at his stomach and SAM