The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-07-21
tin image of this jeff Gray"
0w N. u SERVICE

tin image of this jeff Gray"
Il wouldn't know about that an
swered the man who claimed to be
Doke. I'm describe Gray to you.
Red-headed-crooked nose-scar on
the back Of his hand - medium
size."
That's the fellow" Norris said
with a bitter oath. so he's a spy.
l knew he was wrong all the time.
but Sherm wouldn't listen to me.
That big tub always knows more
than anybody else"
Gray is dangerous. Don't make
any mistake about that"
The younger man admitted this.
But how come he to have that
poster?" he asked. still suspicious.
whats the idea in his claiming
to be you-if you are Doke?"
The hairy man scratched his tou.
sled head to help him to think
Search me. Unless he figured you
all would have heard of me account
: OF the Texas and Southern holduI
and he was using my name for :
Stand-in."
That's the way l figure it," Has
kins said. Easy enough for him
to get a poster printed with his
picture on it claiming to be Clint
here. Clint is a Wyoming man.
Leastways he has spent most of
the past fifteen years there. Not
likely he would be known up in this
neck of the woods"
Norris drew a bottle from his hip
pocket and passed it round. All
three of them took a pull at it.
my feet hurt like all get out,
Pete" the most recently arrived fu-
gitive said, embellishing his resent
ment Of the fact with an oath. Il
was afoot for twenty miles. How
about lookin' after my bronc for
me?"
Haskins departed to take care of
the animal.
Norris sank into a chair and drew
off his boots. He looked sourly at
his aching feet.
$50 you're scared of this son-of-a-
gun Gray" he jeered.
"Surest thing you know" admit
ted the train robber. Scared he'll
drag me back to Texas where Old
Man Trouble is sittin' waiting for
me-"
Hes nc bigger than you are
behind a gun. is he?"
MOT a mite. I'd as lief stand
up and swap bullets with him if it
came to a showdown. But there's
something about him. Maybe it's
just luck. Seems like he always
drags in the guy he starts after"
He went after me. but he didn't
get me-" Norris boosted.
STORY I've heard is that he set
you afoot without a gun." Doke told
aim maliciously.
The younger man ripped out an
other angry oath. Like you Just
said, he had luck. Came outa the
bushes at me and whanged away
before l had a chance. All I ask
with him is al even break. I'm
gonna get it too. Me. I'm tired of
being hunted. l aim to turn hunt
err. This Gray is poison to you. the
same as he is to me. What say we
throw in together and collect him
hang his hide up to dry?"
Doke slanted a side look at him
and grinned. They ought to call
you Sudden Morg. Five minutes ago
you hadn't made up yore mind
whether to cut loose at me with
yore hogleg or not. Now you're
talking up a partnership. May be
good medicine, but I'd have to sleep
on it first. We don't hardly know
each other"
Sudden Morgue is good" Norris
said. and broke into tangled laugh
ter. "T've sent a plenty guys who
got in my way to morgues here and
there. I'm in this part of the
country for only a short visit long
er. but before I leave I aim to meet
Mr.. jeff Gray and stop his clock"
We'll talk about this again." the
man from Texas said. doesn't
have to be settled tonight. With
yore feet the way they are you're
IN no shape to travel for three
FOUR days yet. If we can find out
where this fellow is roosting. and
Il he hasn't got too many friends
ground him, I might take chips in
yore game"
To the surprise Of Ruth, her IA
! her did not blame her &c: having
assisted Morgan Norris to escape.
Ne was SO happy at the fortunate
termination of her adventure that
there was no room in him for criti-
cism. Alphabetically he defended
what she had done. explaining the
reason for it to Gray.
Ruth was so and worked
up she didn't know what she was
doing. You saved her. That's the
main point. Someone else will kill
the miscreant even though you
didn't"