The Washington times., 1938-01-25

still out, still pointing ct him.
Maybe I better settle this
now" Cardowan said. eff that's
the turn, I can call 1t first"
POGO said with mock and jeerine
innocence, Partners don't kill
each other, old pardner Shelton"
IT could kill you now and tell
shayne you're POGO st. Vrain. He's
heard of you. Everybody has," =
POGO said patiently, THE tims
for that is past, Joker. You
should have done that the second
you saw me-"
Cardowan did not put up his
gun. He spoke now in a flat voice,
a voice that went beyond earnest
passion. You're crowding your
luck, POGO. You can't turn 70
Shayne. You can't kill me for the
same reason I can't kill you. IT
holds both ways. Well get that
gold and we'll go down the noun.
tain and you'll walk into thirty
guns down there. You can't crowd
me into making a play before
Shayne. You couldn't kill me on
a fair play even If you did. Z
won't waste time talking about it,
POGO said with superb indiffers
ence, "That's right. You've wasted
enough already" ="
Cardowan lounged off the table
and confronted him. Some day.
he began in a thick voice-"sonae
day soon, I'm going to tear your
heart out!"
POGO said, "Tsk, tSk," and re-
provingly began to roll down his
sleeves.
i AROUND THE TABLE
A knock came on the door and
POGO said, "Yes?" and someone
outside said, "Come and get IT,"
The sound Of footsteps died. i"
POGO grinned broadly now.
Think you can eat, Joker?"
Cardowan had never ceased
looking at POGO. Now he said.
TT I thought you had a pack Of
hardcaSes down there waiting, too,
I'd kill you now" =
POGO laughed and opened the
door. "I'll tell you a little story
about that tonight" =.
Together they walked over to
the mess shack. Inside Shayne
and Kate were waiting, and POGO
was introduced to the dozen men
who had worked under Shayne
the long winter through. Then
they seated themselves, Shayne
at the head Of the table, Kate
next to Cardowan on one side Of
Shayne. POGO on the other. II
was festive occasion, celebrating
the successful termination Of q
years work, and tonight when
POGO and Cardowan signed the
insurance papers, the task Of
guarding and preserving the vast
fortune in yellow dust would be
transferred to their shoulders.
POGO didn't wonder that the men
felt as If burden had been lifted
from them.
He glanced over at Cardowan
and saw only a wicked and
Smouldering hate in those gray
eyes when they met his.
Shayne. naturally enough, could
not wait to hear the details Of
the shipment which the tnsur.
ance company had worked out,
but POGO. wary and cool. parted
his every attempt.
you'll meet more Of your men
down below somewhere, Of course"
Shayne asked.
POGO shook his head. "I couldn't
tell you If we were, Shayne. That's
company business"
PLAYING THE PART
shayne nodded. Naturally, but
I'm interested. So will McCand-
less be, my owner"
POGO looked over at the Sullen
Cardowan. and some sardonic i'm
pulse rose up in him. He said
politely. "You tell him, Herb"
Cardowan shot a glance of quiet
fury at POGO, but his face was
as polite. as impossible as ever.
Jake does all the talking for
the company, Shayne."
POGO nodded in mock gravity.
He explained to Shayne, It can't
tell you, and here's why. We
underwrite this shipment. When
1t leaves here it's our business to
guard 1t till it gets to its destina-
tion. All right, what If you took
three or four men down the trail
tonight, hid them, and waited till
we came along with the gold.
What If McCandleSs told you to.
You'd stick us UP, maybe kill US,
and take the gold. The company
would have to pay McCandleSS
the amount that was stolen, and
still McCandlesS would have the
gold" He shrugged. 'Tt's been
tried. We're careful"
Shayne laughed easily and ad-
mitted the possibility.
Kate said, you say it's been
done? I would think the insur-
ance company would hunt those