The Washington times., 1938-02-11

Jon Wnen the keys were left IN
couldn't hear Van say, "You for
got your belts and your other
gun"
"one's enough" POGO answered
briefly.
Van held out one of his guns.
Ram it alongside the other. You
may need it,"
POGO accepted it without a word.
What do these rannies look
like?" Van inquired.
Ones a long, sleepy Texan.
His partner is shorter, smooth
talking, wears a black mustache
and tattered clothes. Nice to talk
to, but If man has any sense
he'll cover his ears"
II know" Van said. He remem.
bered the proSpector.
CARDOWAN CRINGES
POGO stood by the door, looking
over the crowded, Smoke-blued
room. He spotted Two-Way's
back at the bar and ignored it.
Then he saw Cardowan, back to
the Sidewall, scowling over a hand
of draw poker. Slowly he started
walking toward this table. The
, men at the bar saw him first,
and dead, watchful silence fell
on them.
POGO said softly, without looking
at Two-Way, IT see you, Two
Way" and in that muting hum
, of talk, Two-Way heard it and
stood utterly still.
Now POGO was 20 feet from
Cardowan's table. Men cleared a
way for him, some leaving their
chairs and backing toward the
: wall. others cleaving toward the
bar, so that there was clear path
to the table.
The man facing the door at
' Cardowan's table looked up, and
over his face washed an express
! sion of haste, only haste. He laid
his cards down and slid out of his
chair.
The other three saw him, looked
, around and did the same. Only
Cardowan, still scowling over his
hand, was oblivious to their de-
parture. Then he heard, senSed
the silence. He looked up quickly.
Hello, JOKER" POGO drawled.
He stood motionlesS, hands on
hips, his arrogant smile jeering
and faint.
The color washed out of Cardo-
vans face toward his neck. His
jaw Stacked imperceptibly and he
!, laid both hands on the table to
rise. Then he knew that he would
never make it, and he settled back
in his chair. his tongue moving be-
, tween his teeth.
TO THE JAIL HOUSE
. "This is blackjack, Joker" POGO
drawled. "Cut loose your dogs"
Cardowan sat without moving a
muscle, without speaking, with
held breath. He sat that way for
10 long seconds, then he swallowed
and shook his head in silent re-
fusal to meet the challenge.
Then a voice, Vans voice, spoke
from behind POGO, saying, "See.
You can't cut down on a man who
won't fight"
POGO said nothing. Van turned
to Two-Way and said, Come
here"
Two-Way walked over, his face
stiff with fear. Van took his guu,
then stepped around POGO. He
walked behind Cardowan's chair,
flipped out his Colts, then stepped
, back.
Come along" he said gently.
POGO half turned as Cardowan
passed and said quietly, Til
/ horn"
, Two-Way fell in beside Cardo-
: wan and both walked toward the
door, Van behind them, POGO be-
4 hind him. In that same silence
: they marched out.
"Cpstreet," Van said to Two
{, Way and Cardowan when they
| we're en- the sidewalk.
: The driver atop the stage across
| the street, in front of the hotel,
looked down and across at the
Maricopa. its quietness puzzling
him.
Then his gaze shuttled back to
S the girl standing on the walk, and
/ he resumed the conversation
!. where his own curiosity had in
e terrupted him second before.
They say he's in the Overland
j house here, miss. They told me
I down at the feed stable he got
j shot up in a gun fight here this
r afternoon"
D "Bad?"
Il guess not, miss. LeaStwayS
!. he's here and you won't have to
:. ride on to the ford and wait for
! some TIC puncher to pick you up"
"Thank you. Good night"
Good night"
l. Kate Shayne, dressed in a dark
blue travelling suit, walked up
. the steps to the Overland House,
: described her bag to the clerk, and
: then, without turning around.
= without noticing the four men who
y were walking upstreet in silence,
entered the hotel.