The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-08-25
Chapter 80
Ripping Lead

-D4l Iaces MS eyes began 10
GLOW. Wen, nowi" ne said with
heavy pleasantly. That's sure too
bac-pCCr fella." He shot a gloat-
ing look a. Ankrom; tensed. Slowly
MS grin took on a sickly look and
FADED The hand holding his pistol
dropped.
AnkrOm's gun was IN MS hand,
he'd rlgid al ms thigh How i. had
gotten there Ratchford could not
rave told but there i most GER
-allly was, It's nuZZle covering the
t1Id button Of the sheriff vest.
TIE slertness II his glance never
gtrsyed from the sheriff notified
features.
The responsibility for Tr0ne's
ceGtn IS yours. RatchfOrc It's the
fllIg you've been strIvIn' 10 BRING
ABOUT Tor months - perhaps tor
years. ! reckon It's time you paid.
Ratchford glared in silence.
Sheath your gun" Shadow like,
= @as-just blur Of motion. Vet
Arkrom's heavy pistol had been
l0lstered. AakrOm's hand hung
empty al his side.
There was a shake 10 Ratchford's
rand as he pOucaed his own. Or
mad Akron but imagined il?
Windy hereu count three" he
said You can yank your gun any
tine you've mind TO- I'll fire when
Windy hits the three
Ratchford's face appeared 70
pale. You cant - ] won't be no
party 70 IL" he muttercd. 81 -
wouldn't stand a chance against
y0ui7
What kind Of q chance" asked
Akron cOldly. do you think
Ir0ne had against you an all your
hlrelings?"
A trem0r shook Ratchford's mas
E-ve frame. You can't make me do
tl.s. / had nothing 10 do with his
oeatai Il was Claydell that got him
crlnkin's Claydell that's been sup
p.yln him with BOOZE / had
Iotnin' 10 do with it. I tell you. Il
wasn't me
j wasn't you What?'
IT wasn't me that's been tryin'
= smash him" He seemed to make
81 effort 10 pull himself together,
- though ms fears were partially
slayed al AnkTom's continued in
action. -ClaydelIs the man you
want"
~Yeah?" Ankrom's glance was
EcepticaI. What about that bed
tine story you was spinnin' me
about how you was goin' to marry
Ire Tronc2'
4 was only funnin'"
AnkrOm's lips grinned coldly.
Well. ttat may be so. Peel off that
badge an hand it over"
lie watched narrowly while the
sheriff did so. Then he pinned the
blt q metal to his OWL vest, using
lis left hand in the operation.
Now we'll stroll up front an
yist your Office, he SAID pleas
snily ANY time durin' these pro-
eeedln's you think you've got
break just make pass at your gun
a. find out for sure"
As they traveTSCd the narrow
corridor AnkrOm wondered what
lad become Of the frail old jailor
he had not seen the man since he
had left him al the entrance to the
cells And the fellow was not sit
ting there now.
Once the sheriff turned his head
20 cast 3 look behind him and An
kr0m saw the Smouldering fury in
his eyes II came 20 him that Ratch-
ford S momCntary show of fear
= ignt well have been sham de-
gned 10 catch him off his guard.
even as be himself had turned the
fables on the sheriff.
Re cast a heeting glance at
Windy as they gathered IN the Of
flce and RatchfOrd closed the door
The puncher's face was stamped
with al expression telling far more
plainly than words that events
Aere moving much too fast for his
apprehension
Ankrom faced the sheriff and his
Sass thrust forward grlmly "RatCh-
fard-sit down behind that desk
al get cut some paper an pen.
You're R0ln' 10 DO some wrItln'."
Your Resignation
YEAH What am I goin' to
HrIte2"
Your resignation from the Sher-
IFS Office. To take effect lmmedi-
EFt1F.-
are you crazy"
We won; argue that. Get busy
Hrtin'."
You're bitin' of considerable
mare'n you'll be able 10 chew
You watch my dust"
This thing amt over yet"
Stock phrase. Whyn't you think
up = new one?" Ankrom jeered.
His cold t'ue eyes bored steadily
into the long cmOky ones of
Raichf0rd who suddenly broke
forth in a food of lnveCtlve A
Eieam OF deriSIon entered An
kroms glance. Turn il off. You're
Wastin' steam. Get busy an add 20
at paper that you're recommend
SCI me 20 finish out your term"
You don't think thatU buy you
anything do you?'
You do IS | say an never mind
what ! think There's a number Of
polecats still s..nkln' up this cCun-
t-y. That paper ought 10 cover me
long enough 20 get EN- extern1i-
mated Far as that goes. this Office
Would make a fine
Ankrom broke of abruptly. a
knock had sounded upon the a.
Aces outer door - and AnkroT'S
back Was toward il lie dared not
turn as head tor he was IN line