The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-29

Il forgot" Dave answered. The
last shot of the outlaw had scared
his arm. Dorsey bandaged it ex-
pertly.
Low did you get here?" he
asked. Il heard 'em talk about a
girl and l thought it was Mary"
Il went home a little after
dark. I put Pancho in the stable
and went into the house. In the
kitchen a man grabbed me and
told me not to make a noise.
There were two of them and one
asked the other if they'd left
the note. Then they put sack
over my head and tied me on
my horse and we rode all night,
it seemed. They treated me all
right" She looked at Dave, her
eyes puzzled. whats this all
about?"
Il dunno" Dave answered. II
was forced to sign over my half
of our ranch to Crowell."
"Crowell? The man you and
dad are looking for? The one
behirtd the dynsmiting?"
yeah" Dave nodded. Il thought
he was behind it but there's
some something else. Some one
they all call boss. He's payin'
Crowell fer gettin' the ranch an
mine: Sayres and his gang for
the dynamitin'-" A wave of
anger swept over Dave. I'm
goin' to get out of here an track
him down like"
Yes, that's your way, isn't it,"
Dave swung around to face
her. why, what else should I
do? What would any man" he
caught himself. Here's the hors-
es," he said quietly.
It was close to dusk when Dave
and Dorsey neared the pass.
Dave had been scanning the
rocky ridge ahead of them that
barred their way to the valley.
Its a prison" he pronounced.
what will we do" Dorsey
asked.
"a little more butcherin'."
"'Do you have to-"
We've got to get by the guard
at the pass" Dave said, land he'll
shoot"
They pulled in at small draw
and dismounted. Dave took the
scarbine from the saddle-boot.
Dorsey came close to him and
laid a hand on his sleeve, q
Isn't any there any other way
besides blood?" she asked quiet
ly.
He shook his head somberly.
Its us or them. It's gone too
far to settle with Words-or with
law.
Il didn't make this war. When
I got out of prison, I swore it
would take plenty to rawhide me
into goin' for my gum" His eyes
narrowed and he loked off to the
far horizon. But that's not the
way the world gives a man what
belongs to him, I reckon. It's
fight or die. 1 died for eight years.
I'm going to live now for a
while"
Dorsey caught her breath.
''Then it is true" she said slow
ly, f'you are hard. You're cruel
and ruthless. You're a-murder-
er!"
Dave flinched as if struck with
a whip.
Dorsey" his voice was plead
ing, cant you see?"
''Please CO." she said quietly.
Dawes lips were a grim line as
he turned on his heel and strobe
off into the gathering dusk.
Dave paused to remove his
boots. In the stiffness, they
seemed to make the noise of an
army on the march. Paused, he
suddenly jerked erect and list
ened. Behind him, father down
the ridge he could hear the
crunching of bootsoles on rock.
Some ranny saw me and is fol-
low1n'," he thought savagely. He
raised his head above the edge
o the rock and waited.
Slowly, the man was making
his way forward against the sky
line. Dave saw him raise up and
listen. Dave drew a bead on
him, then let his Colt slack. A
shot would alarm the guard for
sure and give him away. The
man was close now. He could
hear the quiet breathing of the
man as he paused by the rock,
apparently listening. Strangely,
then, the man seated himself on
the rock behind which Dave was
hidden.
With noiseless effort Dave
shoisted himself out of the crevice,
got a toe-hold on the rock and