The Washington times., 1938-01-26

bunk, looked at 1t careleSSIy. boLS
of times" He swiveled his head 10
Cardowan, who was staring at it
with eyes wide and shiny with
greed. Have you, Herb?"
WEIGH THE GOLD
Cardowan shook his head.
That's the most ever saw" ne
draWled.
There was an inordinate amount
of time spent in weighing the gold
and in signing papers. When
finally Shayne wrote his signature
to the last paper he sighed and
looked up at Kate, who was curled
up on the other bunk watching
procedure.
There. The biggest job of my
life is done" Shayne smiled at
POGO and Cardowan. You'll sleep
with this stuff tonight. I never
want to see it again. You'll have
to pack this stuff out" he con.
tinued. "Kate has made up some
canvas sacks you can pack it in so
it'll ride on the mules. Well help
you put it away if you give the
word"
"I reckon we can" POGO said.
We've nothing to do tonight but
get this stuff ready. Give us the
sacks and We'll take it over to our
shack"
He and Cardowan lifted the
chest between them and took 1t
over to their cabin.
Soon they were at work with the
gold dust, pouring it into the sacks
any tying them, working silently
and swiftly while a tension settled
and grew as time went by. When
the job was finally finished and
the sacks stored they faced each
other across the empty chest.
CardoWan blurted out: Let's
settle this now. We've got to go
down that trail single file. Who'll
go first?"
POGO said: "Why worry about
that?"
Cardowan dropped his cigerette,
cursing, and said: do you think
I'd let you behind me with a
gun?"
POGO lay back against the wall
and pulled his feet up on the
edge of the bunk. There won't
be any guns, Joker. Guns, knives,
ropes-theyll all be in those mule
packs"
Cardowan considered this a long
time. Presently he said: But
who'll go first?"
POGO LOW MAN
POGO shrugged. why not cut
cards?"
Cardowan nodded and goh up
to search for a pack of cards.
"Low man leads off on the trail.
If we tie, we discount the suit and
draw again. Suit you?" When
Cardowan nodded, POGO said: go
ahead"
Cardowan turned up a jack. He
sat back and watched POGO for
any mismove as POGO reached out
and turned up a seven.
Cardowan's face broke into a
relieved smile. THE traps shut,
POGO. How does it feel?"
POGO yawned and rose. Don't
hide any of that stuff in your
boots, Joker. Well watch each
other dress tomorrow morning."
He stepped out into the night,
and Immediately felt the cool,
steady wind pressing against him.
Poco's thoughts were beating
around in his skull like bird in
a cage. For he was trapped. He
didn't have any men waiting be-
low to meet him.
Thinking thus, he heard sound
behind him, and at the same time
Kate Shayne's voice said: Hello"
CHAPTER VIII
GETTING ACQUAINTED
POGO whirled, startled. and then
remembered himself. Hello" he
answered.
Ktae was beside him now and
he noticed for the first time that
she was shorter than he. Looking
out over the moonwaShed noun
tains, she said, "They aren't near
as grand in full moonlight"
POGO said, mo"
She looked at him now. Does
it make you not want to ever talk
again?"
POGO glanced at her obliquely
and said, mo. People can do that
to me-"
She caught his glance and re-
garded him calmly for a full mo-
ment. IN CO." she said. She
turned away, walked a few steps,
then wheeled and came back.
I'm hanged if I will" she said
in a low, angry voice. you can
be as rude as you want. You
won't drive me Off"
Surprised now, POGO observed
her, but there was not one jot Of
apology in his tone when he said,
Il didn't mean you"
tn Re COntInuedA