The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-06-30

he had become her dear friend dur
ing the day. Probably we butted in
where we weren't wanted. Pat"
Don't say that!" Ruth cried.
"'He's an awful man-inhuman. I
never saw anyone like him. His
face-when he killed the other mar
was like that Of a devil. If you
hadn't come"
Her big eyes met those of Gray
and shrank away.
You hated him so much you
couldn't bear to have him rubbed
out" Gray said with a curl of the
lip.
Il didn't want you or Father to
kill him in cold blood while he was
:unarmed," she explained in a low
voice. Il saw him do that today
shoot down a poor man trying to
escape from him. Would l want
my friends to be like him?"
$50 you were thinking Of u.s."
Gray said. his drawl derisively in
sulting. ION our account you turned
him loose to kill eight or ten more
men. Nice the way you manage
our business. l hope Lee Chiswick
Is as grateful to you as I am"
He turned his back on the girl and
spoke to Sorley. Reckon we'd bet
ter get back to our own camp. Pat,
,eat supper, and move down the
creek a ways. He might meet some
more wolves and come back to howl
at u.s."
mot likely. with him afoot and
.unarmed. Still. it's possible"
I'm walk to camp" Gray told
him. Better saddle those broncs
and ride down"
Without another word to Ruth, he
picked up the weapons Of Norris
and departed.
Pat had stopped supper prepara-
-dons when he heard the shots far.
Their up the creek. but presently he
had the coffee boiling and the ham
fried. Ruth sat near Pat, at a lit.
tie distance from Gray. whose face
still showed no friendliness. Her
shoulders sagged. She felt very
tired, was under a reaction from
great fear and excitement that left
her a rag.
While they ate their food and
drank their coffee the line-rider did
the talking for all three. He was
garrulously happy at the termina.
ton Of the adventure. Against all
likelihood their luck had stood up,
Eagerly he asked questions, and
got monosyllabic answers. After a
time he protested.
"Begorry. you'd think this was a
wake and not the luckiest hour Of
the year." he snorted. I'VE ought
to be thanking God you're safe
again."
Il am" Ruth answered YEARLY.
rye don't look Ike it," he retort-
ed.
"I'm-tired out" she said. in a
lifeless voice.
Looking at her Swallowed eyes and
white haggard face. Sorley felt re.
morse at his sharpness. You'll
have a good sleep tonight and be
rested tomorrow" he said gently.
They packed, saddled, and rode
down the creek for a few miles.
Sorley chose for a campground a
little mesa three or four hundred
yards from the stream. No fire was
lit, and the night was cold. as Ari-
iona nights in the high hills are
likely to be-. Pat made a bed of
pine boughs for Ruth and tucked
her up snugly in two blankets.
Zone Of US will be on guard all
night" he explained to her. Don't
worry about a thing. but let go of
yoresif and slip off to Shape like a
good girl"
She promised that she would. add
ing with a smile. you've been aw.
fly good to me. Pat"
Sherm Howard was alone in the
house. He had spent the evening at
the Golden Nugget and had come
home to sleep. but he knew that
was not going to be possible for
many hours yet. He sat at a table.
a small coal-oil lamp at one corner
of it. looking down savagely at the
solitaire layout in front OF him.
Ere was no pleasure for him in
6e game. While he dealt and
played automatically. the undercur-
rent Of his mind was absorbed by
the difficulties confronting him.
A heavy gloom lay on his spirits.
He Oas in a jam and knew it Fifty
times he had gone over the facts
a~nxiously looking for an out. and
he had not been able to find one. Un-
til the situation had resolved itself
one way or another he could be
sure Of nothing.
Howard came to an tmpasse tn
the game. gathered up the cards,
and shufled them. He started to
deal. but stopped with a card
poised. The outside door of the
house had opened a few inches.
Through the crack a pair Of eyes
cleaned. Very little more Of the