The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-04
CHAPTER XIII

sarto resumed his seat on tht bench. Steve thought: Maybe witr two of them coming in at once something will happen. Then he re- membered that they would have only one gun. Woody had lost his in the landslide just as he and Nikki had lost theirs.
 The two came into the clearing and Steve's hope fell when he saw Woody in the lead carrying the one rifle. He didn't know Fiske': part in the 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 to speak wher he saw the quartet sitting tensely by the tree. But Sarto cut the words short before they were uttered.
 Get lem up." The pistol made Q menacing arc.
 You, bandylegs, drop the rife Now go over by the tree.
 Don't move, Fiske." The words cut like a knife. Turn around and keep those hands up." He wrenched a blue revolver from a holster under Fiske's left arm.
 Now go over with the rest of them before give you the works just for the fun of it."
 Fiske's face was a quiet mask as he joined the others. Rance was tense. Like an animal ready to 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 a seething fury.
 Sarto stood of and surveyed them. Only Fiske spoke.
 Where's Bancroft?" he asked.
 "Ask Mallory" said Sarto con- temptuously. He'll tell you - if he doesn't get too jumpy and col- lect bullet too. And that goes for the rest of you. I'm gettin out of here, right now. But you're not going. You'll stay here. All but one of you. We'll take the horses. The rest of you can stay on this louy mountain and starve for all care.
 Hey, sheepherder. You, bandy- lega Get up. You're going back to the ranch with me. You're going to lead the way. But I got a job for you first. You can tie your friends up."
 Woody rose slowly to his feet. His arms hung loosely at his sides, Every move he made was deliberate. His face was cold rage.
 Careful" said Uncle Jim. Take 1t easy"
 Shut up," said Sarto. I'm doin' all the talking. Bandylegs, get those ropes of 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 coiled lariats.
 Hey, Sarto," cried Uncle Jim. Sarto turned his head. Woody sprang.
 He didn't try for the gun. He made a flying dive for Sartos feet. The pistol went down in a club ping arc. It struck glancing blow and Woody went limp.
 Rance was three fee 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 a fullback plunging into right tackle.
 His shoulder caught Sarto high and knocked him sprawling to the ground. He landed with a cursing grunt and that vicious pistol spat blue flame again, but Rance's mo- mentum 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 Nikki. For the briefest split second of time thoughts in half formed sentences ran through his mind. Then he remembered some thing once vaguely noted. Before the first sharp crack of the pistol he swung swift left to Nikki's chin. He remembered the shock of surprise on her face as she strengthened flatly.
 Sarto was struggling to his feet after the second shot when Steve hit him. The blow behind the ear spun him around and Steve grab- bed desperately for the gun. Sarto swung it above his head. Steve drove his fist into Sarto's stomach. The clubbing pistol grabzed Steve's ear. It struck his shoulder with sicken- Ing force and he butted upward vi- ciously. Sarto staggered back and Steve drove forward blindly, both lists hammering. They were on the ground and suddenly Sarto seemed to have only one arm. Then he went limp.
 Steve opened his eyes and looked up. Fiske was pinning down the arm that held the pistol. -