The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-04-01

about Ruth. The fellow would keep
his mouth shut after this.
1t would be better to 60 back to
the rooming-house, Chiswick decid-
ed. To hang around Main street
now would be asking for trouble.
Someone very likely would take on
the quarrel for Lou. If so, it would
be with guns. BY morning a more
reasonable point of view would OBJ
tain.
He turned into Main street down
the alley beside the Golden Nugget.
AS he did so, he caught sight of a
man at the hitchrack in front Of the
gambling-house. The man vas jeff
Gray. Frank stopped in the shadow
and watched him.
Gray was examining the hoof of a
horse. He put down the foot of the
animal, glanced swiftly at the door
of the Golden Nugget, and moved to
a second horse tied to the rack. He
stopped and picked up the left hind
leg of the cow-pony. Long and care
fully he studied the hoof, not for
getting to look occasionally in the
direction of the door. Clearly, he
did not want to be caught at this
inspection.
He Strengthened, busted his hands,
and walked into the Golden Nugget.
On his way to the clearinghouse
Frank asked himself questions. The
horses at the hitchrack had been
the ones upon which Morg Norris
and Mile High had ridden into town
a little while ago. What was Gray
trying to find out? Why was he in
terested in these horses more than
any others? He seemed on friendly
terms with the outlaws. Yet Frank
had sensed a latent hostility be-
tween the stranger and Morgan Nor
ris. Oh, we'll, thieves fell out among
themselves. Frank went to his room
and forgot the incident. Very likely
it had no importance.
Five minutes later Lou Howard
pushed open the door of the Golden
Nugget and moved, feet dragging,
to the bar.
Gimme a drink-a stiff one," he
ordered.
The bartender stared at his
bruised and bleeding face. "Holy
mackerel! You been tangling with a
grizzly, Lou?" he asked.
"He jumped me-when I wasn't
looking" Howard said, almost
weeping with self-pity.
"Who jumped your" Morgan Nor
ris wanted to know.
Frank Chiswick. That's Who"
"a kid" Norris jeered.
mo such thing. An he lit on my
back while I was walking down the
road, then beat me up something
awful"
"You sure look like a tiger had
clawed you," Curly said cheerfully.
Frank certainly worked you over
considerable"
He was immensely pleased at the
retribution which had fallen on How
ard.
Thine someone cut the comb of
those Chiswicks," Norris growled.
"Ill 60 along with you any time
you say to fix this fellows clock,
Lou"
How much help do you reckon
Lou will need, Morg?" Curly in
quired, with intent to insult young
Howard.
"You THROWN in with the CHS
wicks, Curly?" murmured Norris
derisively.
would I have to ask yore per-
mission, Morg?" the black-haired
man demanded coolly. "Or am I
free, white, and tw~enty-one?"
The eyes of Morgan Norris flick
cred I'VE Curly. The killer leaned
negligently against the bar, his body
slumped, his eyes sleepy. But in
him was the suggestion of violent
eruption one sees in a crouched IT,
ger.
II like to know who my friends
are, Curly" he said softly.
Don't get you, Morg. When a kid
whops a loose-mouthed scalawag
bigger and older than he is, do we
all have to get on the prod about
it,"
(TO BE CONTINUED)