The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-02-18

IN AASASA " w AA44S46otS AAC
tility Of his chief.
A thin, satiric smile rested on the
face of Sherman Howard. He leaned
back in his chair, opaque eyes fast
ened on the older of the newcomers.
"Nice to have you drop in on us,
Lee. You don't often get around
Tail Holt way. We sure feel hon.
ored." He nodded at the younger
man.. "You, too, Brand. Both vel
come as the flowers in May. Pete,
take the orders. The house is drink
ing on me-"
II don't drink with you or any of
your crowd, Howard" said Lee
Chiswick harshly. "I'm here strict
ly for business"
Through the swing doors a man
dropped into the Golden Nugget. He
was the stranger who had given
his name as jeff Gray.
"Tail Holt will welcome yore bust
ness, Lee. You have always been
cash on the barrel-head," Howard
told the cattleman blandly. ignor-
ing the insult.
II came to serve notice that any,
one who steals my stock from now
on will do so at his own risk" CHS
wick answered bluntly. 1--WE given
my men orders to shoot rustlers at
sight"
A tense silence followed the words
of the cattleman, one pregnant with
peril. Gray's gaze swept the room.
Unless rumor lied, three-fourths of
these men present must be cattle
rustlers.
1nstinctively Gray knew that half
a dozen men were waiting for. their
cue. Howard gave it to them. For
the time at least his decision was
for peace.
"That's fine" he said with suave
mockery. "Sooner we get rid of
scalawags of that kind the better"
"You can pass the word that any
I catch will be hanged to the near
est live oak" Chiswick said fatty.
Morgan Norris asked a question,
his eyes narrowed, his voice low.
Having anyone particular in mind,
Mr.. Chiswick?"
Meaning anyone the shoe fits,"
Howard answered for the cattle
man. "And I don't reckon that is
anybody present, Morg. If there is
any way we can help Mr.. Chiswick,
we will all be glad to do &c. Am I
right, boys?"h z.
"Sure you're right, Sherm,"
agreed Curly Connor heartily. If
you can use me, Mr.. Chiswick, I'm
much at yore service"
Don't want your help" Chiswick
flung out bitterly. "I'll look out for
my own stuff and find out whether
an honest man has a chance against
a pack of thieves. What I'm here
to tell you is that from nov on I'll
be sheriff, judge, and hangman on
the L c range"
Dan Brand, foreman of the L c
outfit, poured oil on the rolled wa
tiers. Don't get US wrong, boys.
We're not here to start trouble but
to stop it. This steal is getting so
big the L c has got to bust it up
or 60 broke. We don't claim we
know who is doing this rustling. If
we did, our job would be easy"
1--WE don't know, but we can
guess" Chiswick cut in hardly.
"Out loud?" Norris asked, his
eyes Sits of menace.
The swing doors of the gambling
hall burst wide open. A wild yell
brought everybody in the room to
attention. Excitedly a horse did a
nervous dance on the floor. Its
flushed rider waved a rifle about
recklessly. Long black hair fell to
the mans shoulders. The chaps
were fringed, the fancy vest deco
rated.
"'Way for Wild Jim Pender!" the
drunken man shouted.
All eyes focused on him.
"Get out of here, you fool" Curly
ordered.
my night to how'll" Fender ex.
ulted. "Me, I'm a wild wolf from
the Chiricahuas."
To emphasize the point, or else bv