The Washington times., 1938-02-11


the lock by Hogan.
In the office again, Van strap
ped on his guns, turned down tht
light, raised the shade and un
locked the door. POGO walkec
through onto the sidewalk anc
stopped. He said idly over hi!
shoulder to Van, when they SCI
me, therell be a commotion here
You better slip out of town then.
And let them hang Hogan
beating on you? Huh-uh. I'll stick.
UNWANTED PARTNER
Again POGO looked at him curl
ously. This was strange loyalty
and he hardly deserved it. He said
When I get through what In
going to do, they'll have forgo
Hogan. Now hightail it," He wa
thinking of Two-Way and Car
dowan. They'd be in a saloon
drinking or gambling. Cardowar
would be the one to watch.
TWo-Way would be afraid. He'c
no more throw a gun on POGO thar
he would on a sheriff's posse, anc
POGO knew it.
I'll side you," Van said quietly
Poco's gaze shuttled to him.
II don't need help"
you'll get it, just the same,
Van said firmly. You'll have t.
make a getaway. I'll cover it,"
POGO laughed silently. Listen,
he said. do you know who I am p
POGO st. Vrain."
"All right. I don't know whit
you are. But"
Sam Van"
! "All right, Sam Van. You've GO
a life ahead of you and it won't bC
on the dodge. When I walk int
the Maricopa saloon, or the Occ
til-o, I'm going to kill two men
Nobody will make a move until
get out Of town. I can take car
of myself. I'm used to that. VIII
should I toll you in on it? It's NJ
business of yours. The killing
won't help you. The"
will they help you?" Van saic
quietly.
POGO paused, and looked at hi
companion a little more shrewdly
He said, You couldn't be {
preacher, could you?"
TRY THE LAWS WAY
II didn't mean that" Van saic
sturdily. II mean, will these two
killings help you? Have you got tx
do them?"'
"Well, now," POGO drawled
Somebody has. They're both rats
No, ones a rat and a back-shootel
and the others just a poison
blood-loving killer"
What did they do to you?"
POGO knew he should be angr,
at this man, but the quiet anC
sturdy way of him, the doglike de
termination to help and his wa!
of arriving so simply at his owl
kind of justice gave POGO pause
He found he wasn't angry, anc
that he wanted to justify what h
was about to do. He said. They've
got something I want, that doesn'
belong to them, that will bring s
lot of misery and grief to innocen
people if it isn't returned"
"Then take it. Let them go
Stealing isn't a thing for you tt
judge, nor me either. Take then
to Jail and then tell the law"
"I don't fight that way" Poe
said coldly.
TRY it once"
"I can't. If told the law
they'd have me too."
Write it then. Hogan's down
You've got the cell keys. Throw
them in. take the kays and write i
on a card and mail it. You'll b.
out of town."
When POGO said nothing, Val
went on, "Son, I'm maybe SLOW
and a little cautious, but I neve
killed a man yet without I had
good reason. And I never killed
man yet for stealing, becaus
stealing, is mighty human fault
They've got something you want
that you've got to return. al
right, you'll get it. Let me handl
this. I'll get whatever it is ant
I'll get it without killing them.
POGO said, "You stay here"
"No. I'm siding you"
CHAPTER, XIII
Poco's patience snapped. Hi
hand fell to the butt of the gu
lrammed in the waist of his levi!
IT said you stay, Van. Do hav
to fix you so you can't Gomez"
"If you wanted to do that. yo
could have let Hogan cut dow
on me, st. Vrain. Huh-uh. Yo
aren't a killer. Now go about you
bull.headed business. I'm goin
with you"
Vans lack of anger, of any d.
sire to use force, and his ute
reasonableneSs was what puzzle
POGO and melted his irritation.
He said, Come along, ther
Only don't get in my way"
They approached the Maricop
together. Far down the street tn
night stage swung into the ligh
in front Of the feed stable an
pulled up with a screech of brakes
The noise from the saloon was
little muted here on the stree
but not enough so that Poe