The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-06-30
handkerchief covered nose and
0W n. UsERVTce

Sherm Howard had time for a
moment Of fervent regret. How had
he happened to forget to bolt the
door. with his forty-four lying in the
cupboard a long five yards away
from him?
The door opened farther and a
1.-the body slid through the widened
crack into the room. The eyes of
the s~elf-invited guest did not lift
from his host while a brown hand
closed the door and pushed home the
bolt.
Howard's stomach sagged as if
from a weight of ice-cold lead. His
mouth went dry. The man standing
with his back to the door was Nor.
gan Norris.
Norris grinned evilly. Didn't ex
pect me, did you. Sherm? Figured
some of yore boys had dry-gulched
me up in the hills. But III bet you
are real pleased to see yore old
friend"
The fat man pulled himself to-
gether. What you doing here.
Morg?" he asked. Don't you
know this whole county is out look.
in for your"
Including all Sherm Towards
willing lads. Sure l know it." The
desperate limped forward. But I
dropped in because I knew you'd
hate for me to pass through with.
out thanking you for sticking the
boys on me-"
The man was in bad physical con.
dition. A blood-stained handkerchief
was tied around his head. Another
served as a bandage for his arm. He
looked travel-worn and haggard.
But he was undaunted. Never in
his wicked. ribald lifetime had he
seemed more master Of the situa.
ton. Howard expected that the fel.
low had come to kill him. Morg
must have met one of the boys and
learned that Howard had thrown in
with his hunters.
whats all this crazy tak about
me sticking the boys on your" How.
ard asked. "You ought to know bet
ter than that. Fact is. you've played
the devil. Morg. I thought you had
more sense than to pull the dumb
thing you did. This country won't
stand for doing harm to women.
You ought to know that too"
Don't preach at me-" Norris
snarled out of the corner Of his
mouth. Get me food. and water
to wash my wounds. But first off.
I want a drink"
The heart of the big mar lifted
Sure" he said. "Surest thing you
know"
He heaved himself out of the chair
and waddled r to the cupboard
Beside the bottle lay the forty-foul
he had unwarily separated himself
from when he reached the house
This he pushed down between his
trouser-belt and shirt The bottle
and a glass he brought back to the
man at the table.
Norris poured a large drink int
a tumbler. He held it in his hand
and slid a menacing look at his
host.
Il saw you get that gun," he
said, lifting his upper lip in a jeer.
"Fixin' to gun me If you get a
chance. you damned double-crosser.
Well, you don't get it." Norris raised
the glass. Here's to a short life
and a smoky end for traitors,
Sher1n."
He poured the liquor down at a
gulp.
Colby Howard defended himself.
"Your information is not straight.
Morg. Where did you hear l had
turned against your"
Il heard it from a ledge back Of
Coal Creek" Norris told him harsh.
ly. "Yore boys were camped just
below. I heard 'em talk. Didn't
know who they were at first I
found out you'd sent them out to
get me. by crikes."
why don't you use your bean
to think with. Morg? OF course I
sent them after you. After you had
gone crazy, I had to make a bluff.
didn't I? I had to make out we were
all hunting you to save our own
bacon. Talk about me throwing
down on you. What have you done
but throw down on every last one Of
Ss?"
Howard spoke impatiently. irrita-
bly,. He wanted to talk the young
killer into a frame Of mind less
deadly. and the best way to do this
was to put him in the wrong.
What you mean, throw down on
the fugitive asked suIkily.
"You know what I mean. Morg.
When you took that girl with you
to the hills you set this whole dis
trict ablaze against US as well as
you because we ne your friends"
Lou ran off with her first" Nor.
ris said.
with her own consent That's
different Where is the girl, Morg?
What did you do with herr"
Il didn't do a thing" Norris