The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-04
CAST OF CHARACTERS

Nlkkl JEROME, sr o I n e
blond. popular, is engaged to six
foot, black-haired
STEVE MALLORY, hero; wis
is accompanying her on a trip t.
Nikki's aunt and uncle on Wyo
ming dude ranch. Nikki's father
PETER JEROME is wealthy
Ne~ York jewel merchant.
Yesterday: Sarto holds the party
at gunpoint and awaits the las
two searchers coming in. Rance
stirs uneasily.
CHAPTER XIII
Sarto resumed his seat on the
bench Steve thought: Maybe
with two of them coming in at
once something will happen. Then
ne remembered that they would
have only one gun. Woody had
lost his in the landslide just as
ne and Nikki had lost theirs.
The two came into the clearing
and Steve'S hope fell when ne saw
Woody in the lead carrying the
one rifle. He didn't know FlSke' :
part in this game. but he felt sure
the man was playing leading
role of some sort and any change
would be better than the present
situation. But with FiSke un-
armed he couldn't DO much.
Woody started 10 speak when
he saw the quartet sitting tenSely
by the tree. But SurtO cut the
words short before they were ut
tered.
Get 'em up" The pistol made
a menacing arc.
You, bandylegS. drop the rifle.
Now 90 over by the tree.
Don't move. FiSkc." The words
cut like 4 knife. Turn around
and keep those hands up" He
wrenched Il blue revolver from 4
holster under Fishes left arm.
"Now 20 over with the rest Of
them before | give YOU the works
Just for the fun Of il.
Fiskc'S face WAS = quiet mask
as he Joined the others. Rance
was tense. Like an animal ready
10 spring. Nikki thought. Her
uncle was quiet, too. She felt
Steve'S shoulder against her own.
saw his hand braced on the
ground. Woody was 4 Secthlng
fury.
Sarto stood off and surveyed
them. Only FiSkc spoke.
"Where's Bancroft" he asked.
ASK Mallory" said Sarto con
temptuOusly. Hell tell you--if
he doesn't get too jumpy and col
lect u bullet too. And that goes
for the rest Of you. I'm gettln
out of here. right now. But you're
not going. You'll stay here. All
but one of YOU. Well take the
horses. The rest Of you can stay
OH this lousy mountain and Starve
for all care.
Hey, Sheepherder. You. handy
legs. Get up. You're going back
to the ranch with me. You're
going TO lead the way. But | got
a job for YOU first. You can tic
vour friends up"
Woody rose slowly 10 mis- feet
His arms hung loosely at his
sides. Every move he made was
deliberate His face was cold
rage.
Careful" said Uncle Jim.
Take it easy"
shut up" said Sarto. Pm
doin' all the talking. BandylegS.
get those ropes off the wall" He
pointed to coiled riataS hanging
against the cabin. To get them
Woody had to pass directly in
front of Sarto. He walked slowly,
still deliberately. He didn't look
at Sarto. His eyes were on the
coils lariats.
Hey. Sarto," cried Uncle Jim.
Sarto turned mis- head. Woody
Sprang.
He didn't try for the gun. He
made a flying dive for Sarto's
feet. The pistol went down in Il
clubbing arc. 1t struck a glanc-
ing blow and Woody went limp.
Rance was three feet away
when Sarto raised the gun and
fired pOintblank Rance twisted
half SidewiSe as the bullet struck.
but he went on. He hit SartO
like Il fullback plunging into right
tcakle.
His shoulder caught Sarto high
and knocked him Sprawling TO the
ground. He landed with a ours
ing grunt and that vicious pistol
spat blue flame again. but
RANGES momentum carried him
too far. The bullet thudded duly
into the logs of the cabin.
Steve was on his feet with
Rance, but his first thought was
of sNikki. For the briefeSt split
second of time thoughts in half
formed sentences ran through his
mind. Then he remembered some