The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-07-21
CIVILIAN NAeLEOo RAINE

did anything for nothing. the bandi,
reflected bitterly. Not when you
were down On your luck. with the
cards stacked against you. He
would have to pay Pete well for
protection.
Norris rode steadily till late al
night. He was in a vile humor. His
swollen feet tortured him. The clout
on the head. a souvenir from jeff
Gray. still panied at times. From
lack of sleep he was dead tired.
The cabin of the hester was dark
when he rode up to it, but a hound
dog filed the night with its bark.
ing. A man came to the door. He
opened it only an inch or two.
who is it?" a piping voice de
manded.
"Lemme in. Pete. It's Morg Nor
ris."
The hillman hesitated. Il AIM
exactly fixed for visitors, Morg
That's a fact sure enough" Hf
lowered his squeaky tones to a whis
per. Il amt alone. I done got some.
one here"
The hunted man was taken aback.
He had counted on Haskins being
alone. Few came up to this neck
Of the woods.
WHO you got here?" Norris
asked.
Why. I don't rightly know his
name" Haskins said. "A fellow
from Texas"
Morg swung from the aaddle and
walked close to the other.
I'm listenin'." Pete" he said,
and his voice dripped menace. rs
this some guy sent up to get me?"
Haskins was a big. unkempt, SLOW.
emily man. He was Of middle age.
large, with a deep barrel chest from
which one would have expected the
roar Of a bull.
"Jumpin' Jehoshaphat, mol" The
high falsetto registered excitement.
Don't start lookin' for trouble,
Morg. This is a bird sent up by
Sherm Howard. He's on the dodge"
Someone inside the cabin Joined
the talk. ''Who is it. Pete?"
"A friend. Clint. Wants to stay
with me a spell. He got into a kinda
jam. Name is Norris"
1.-The fellow they're after?"
Eyes"
whats all the powwow about?
Why don't you bring him in?"
go in and light a lamp, Pete"
ordered Norris in a low voice. PUT
it close to yore friend. Then III
come in"
Haskins lit a lamp and set it on
a table. The light shone on a man
sitting up in bed. His hair was
tousled, his face unshaven. The
chest of the man, seer through the
opened shirt, was matted like a
name tangled with cockleburs. He
held his right hand beneath the
blanket. The SCARED cheek, in con-
junction with the shifty, ratlike
eyes. gave him a sinister appear
ance.
Norris came into the room. NOV
ing with the padded, panther-like
stride that marked him. His gaze
locked with that of the stranger.
That there was a weapon in the hand
beneath the blanket he did not need
to be told.
"Who are you?" he demanded in
a snarL.
Hes visiting me, not you.
Morg." mentioned Haskins mildly.
keep outa this. Pete" advised
the Tail Holt bandit out Of the cor-
ner Of his mouth. I'm asking a
question. and l aim to get an an
sWer."
my turn to ask one now" the
man in the bed said. a hard rasp
in his voice. who do you think
you r to talk thataway to me?"
I'm Morgan Norris" The owner
of the name waved a hand in the
direction of Haskins, without lifting
his eyes from the other. He told
you who I am, but he didn't tell
me who you are. Come clean, fell
low. I'm in a tight and I don't aim
to throw in with anyone I don't
know. These hills are full Of guys
that r poison to me-"
"Morg is all right. Clint" Has
kins put in. might as well tell
him who you are"
my name is Doke-Clint Doke."
Norris stared at the man. "How
many Clint boxes are there?" he
asked. Another bird has been
claimin' that name around here"
$50 Howard tells me-" the hairy
man nodded. Hes a damn liar.
jeff Gray is his name. He's a
United States marshal"
Morg Norris stared at the man In
the bed. His mind was struggling
to adjust itself to the implications
Of this information.
HE showed US a poster with his
picture on it offering a reward for
his arrest" Norris said. Beneath
the picture was the name Clint
Doke. It was sure enough the spit