The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-09-22

Then I'll have to run after them.
Don't worry" He smiled at her
warmly. This job is almost DONE
The headquarters of the outlaws
we're at the Golden Nugget. the cow
boys concentrated in the cottonwood
grove across the street from Ma
Presnall's clearinghouse. Since the
break of day there had been no
firing. Both sides waited. A gen.
eral battle in the streets would
mean the death Of a dozen men.
Neither party wanted that.
Gray called Chiswick aside. I'm
going up with a white flag to the
Golden Nugget. Any minute some
thing is liable to start We can't
have that"
They'll shoot you down sure"
the cattleman protested at once.
II don't think So" the officer de-
INJURED. Howard doesn't want any
massacre. He knows that won't buy
him anything
What you going to tell them?"
I'm going to tell them the truth
that l want Howard, Norris, and
some of the others. The rest aren't
in it. When they know that. the
ones we don't want will melt away.
They aren't in a sweat to buck the
United States government"
I'm go with you"
I'D rather you didn't"
Some Of the boys will listen to
me who wouldn't pay any atten-
ton to you. Five or six of them
have worked for me-"
This is my be%ar-fight."
Its mine too" Chiswick insist
ed. Were busting up the gang
that have been rustling my stock"
jeff gave up with a shrug. He
knew Chiswick could not be talked
out Of a position he had taken. He
did not need to mention how great
the risk was. The cattleman knew
that.
After giving directions to Dan
Brand, who was left in command
Of the cowboy forces, the two men
walked up the street toward the en-
envy. jeff waved a white handker-
chief.
Yorky called from the door Of the
gambling-house to ask them what
they wanted.
Want to see Sherm Howard"
Gray said.
From doors and windows up and
down the street on both sides they
could see men peering at them. Mile
High came into the open.
You can't see Sherm. He's
dead"
Chiswick stared at the lank
puncher. "Dead?"
That's what l said"
This was stunning news. jeff had
depended upon Howard. Villain
though the man was. he was a
shrewd and willy schemer who used
his brains. Sherm knew that whole
sale killing in the open would be
fatal to his cause. 1t would be his
policy to avoid it and depend upon
trickery to escape later. If it was
true that he was dead. his influence
against explosive violence would be
lost. The marshal felt as does a
man who has walked into a den of
lions under a safeguard from the
trainer, to discover too late that the
man with the whip is not at hand to
defend him.
In the air there was an electric
tension such as that which just pre-
cedes a storm. Both the officer and
the cattleman knew that neither of
them would walk back down Main
street again unless they did so as
survivors Of the gun duel that was
imminent. Gray felt there might
be one chance, not to escape a
fight, but to avoid being the victims
of a massacre. That was to tell his
story. swiftly. convincingly.
Who's running yore show?" jeff
asked.
Out of the Golden Nugget walked
Morgan Norris. I'm running il.
fellow" he said. If you want to
know. l bumped off Howard be-
cause he was a embarrassing son.
of-a-gun."
Gray spoke, his voice strong and
clear, for all to hear. i've nothing
to say to you. Norris. except that
I'm going to drag you to prison
where you will be hanged for yore
crimes. But I'll talk to some Of the
men you're leading astray. I repre-
sent the United States government.
We're going to clean up this coun-
ty. Tail Holt isn't going to be the
home Of a nest Of %rustlers. killers.
and holdup men any longer. I'm
serving notice. The worst OF you
are going to be rubbed out. The
others had better get good right
damn now. I'm going to get my
men. BY noon Wen have fifty COW.
boys with US. Take my advice and
leave this murderer and his crowd.
II YOU don't. you'll get in as bad