The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-04-15
WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE-WNU SERVICE

accusingly. "Who saw them after
they got here? Does anyone know
who they were?"
II wouldn't know the answer to
any of those questions, Sherm," an
swered Norris, sulkily defiant. "Bet-
ter ask Lou. It was his party. May
be he knows"
The opaque eyes Of the older How
ard rested on his son, not without
contempt. It was plain that Lou
was sweating fear. Maybe he had
better get him clear out of this part
of the country before he broke down.
That could be arranged later. Just
now he would send him up into the
hills. The big man brought his mind
back to the immediate business of
the day.
mighty funny about these two
mysterious L c men," he said,
thinking aloud. "What did they
come here for? Where did they
leave their mounts?"
SEARCH me-" Kansas replied. 81
didn't e but one of EN-"
"How do you know there were
two? Who saw the other? Did you,
Morg?" challenged Howard.
"Sure I saw him. He was in the
barn. Up in the loft. Saw him
when we rushed the stairs" Norris
rubbed tenderly the side of his
head, where he had been pistol
whipped during that rush. To him
it seemed that the loft had been full
of defenders.
"But you don't know who he was?'
mo, I don't. It was black as a
manzanita gulch in the dark Of the
moon. No way Of telling who was
roosting up there"
limp! Something here I don't
get. Looks like Lee Chiswick has
a card up his sleeve"
A knock sounded on the door.
Sherm Howard barked, Come in!"
Jim Reynolds, owner of the Alamo
corral, walked into the room. He
was a short, thickset man with
slanted eyebrows that always
seemed to be asking a question. He
nodded a casual greeting.
"Just happened to be passing,
Sherm," he said. Don't know as
it's important, but I thought I'd let
you know young Chiswick has left
town."
After Reynolds had gone, the big
man turned IN the others with bit
ter sarcasm. Nov we don't know
where we are at. You're a fine
bunch of warriors. Arbuckle hands,
I would say. Why pack guns at
all? Better shuck them and 70 back
to Kansas and Iowa. All four OF
you plugging at this Chiswick and
he gets off scot free You'd better
find out soon as you can about the
other two fellows who were with
Frank. Maybe they're getting sore
sides laughing at you. Was there
a back door to this stable?"
"No, there wasn't" Norris said,
sullenly. II don't see"
He stopped, a sudden CLEAN OF
light in his smoky eyes.
"Well?" asked Sherm.
"They kept making a noise up
stairs in the loft - some kind OF
pounding" Morg Norris ripped out
a vicious oath. "In bet they
knocked a hole in the 'dobe wall
and got away"
Sounds reasonable" jeered their
leader. "You boys were having such
a good time at the fire you never
thought to watch the back of the
barn."
why should we, Sherm, when
there vas no door and no Window"
Kansas protested.
what did you figure the ham,
mering was about-that they were
making toys to play WITH"
1--WE didn't know. Looked like we
had them trapped and we were
watching the front door for the time
when they made their break" Kan
a added a heartfelt wish: Hope
you're right, Morg. I'm no Injun.
I'd hate to think I was anyways
responsible for those men being
burnt"