The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-08-18
LOVE ON THE RANGE
By NILSSON c. WYE

shook the slender form from his
polished boo TO his bell SOM
oreroed head as, beneath the inn
pact Of Ankrom's rnocking glance.
he went backward few uncer-
tain steps. Il swear ne cried. Il
q e e d not know Get vas you.
Sen0rr
Blur Ankrom.
Bandera's words scared into
Lees con scIousne ss with the
sc0rch Of q branding iron. They
left her Wea. and feeling very
feminine and helpless: they drove
the color from ner checks and
snapped constructing fingers of ice
about her heart Her mind was a
chaos Of emotion. Blur Ankronl-
those words explained q lot Of
things about the man she had
known as Streeterl
In a sullen silence she say Ban
dera lower his shaking hand-saW
the I0osencd grip release the pis-
10 to let it slither back in leather.
HelIleS men were like a row
Of hand-carved figures: not even
their eyes moved as they stared
with CLASSY fascination at Rafter
IS foreman. Such was the shock
ing power Of Ankr0m' S name.
Lee shuddercd. She wished she
had not com.
Still keeping the group covered
Ankrom said, Who bought your
gun, Bandera?'
Bat no one. senior" Bandera
shrugged and spread his hands.
My gun els no for sale, amigo.
have quce that business-se-
guro 81. .
He wiped cold beads Of moisture
from his face. backed a few more
steps away. aWkWardly, fearfully.
as though each step might be his
last
'Senor-eet ees truet" he cried
with breaking voice.
The guise Of reformed and re-
pentant bad man fits you well.
Bandera. | could almost find it in
my heart to believe you-if didn't
know what black bellied snake
you really are. Throw that gun in
the water"
LOnged-For Chance
I IKE one in a trance Bandera
mechanically lifted the heavy
pistol from his holster, drew back
his arm for the toss. Lee recog-
nized the danger even as Heffie
realized tha- here was his longed-
for c h n C e. AS the Mexican's
weapon struck the water with a
splash, Heffie's rife leaped to his
shoulder-his finger curled against
the trigger.
Yet fast as the sheepman was.
AnkrOm's move was SWlfter. His
eye must ave caught the tag-end
Of Hefiie's upward sweep with the
rifle. Even as the shot cracked out
the Rafter I foreman dropped
and Whirled. Red fame licked
from his hip. Heffle clutched at his
chest and wen. Keeling out of sight
within the cabin.
Come on, you back shootin'
poIecats! If it's fight you're honn'
for I'll give you a fracas to re-
member
Several of the men had gotten
their guns A rifle cracked and
hurled 4 Whistling streak above
him. Ankrom fired from the hip
and grinned maliciously as the RI
fleman staggered backward With
a side leap another of Heffie's gun
Sticks got himself a weapon and
whipped it up. 1t spat-and so did
Ankrom'si Lee saw sand lump at
Ankrom' feet. spill down across
his boots She saw Ankrom' lead
smash the luckless pist0l-bender
back and dOWn-SaW him drop TO
hands and knees and sway there
Lee was terribly shaken, vet
pride and citation had n app
& 0 W ng spots of color to her
cheeks and the blood was pound
ing through her arteries at headY
gait The thought came TO her that
she should fear this man. But she
didn't - she was glad and proud
this man was Rafter rs foreman
Smoke hung thick a b O ut his
crouching figure Abruptly the
fight was oVer-kjlled rs swift as
was its birth Heffle's men dropped
weapons as hough they burnt
their palms. thrust shaking hands
in hurry above their heads As he
Enlightened, Lee saw that there
was blood on Ankrom neck
where a close placed slug had torn
MS ear. He seemed unconscious Of
the wound.
'Ifyou skunks have got enough.
back away from them guns If
you're wantin' more, reach for one
Of them rifle an III give you all
you can handle
Angry, sullen, cursing, the men
moved away from their weapons.
stood clear Of the rifles placed
against the cabin wall
This he told them curly, is
Ratter T property From here on
out treSpasserS VIII be shot on
sight. Now make dust"
When the men were ready 10 60,
one man locking down from the
saddle SAID. We won't be forget
TIN thees, senor," Lee recognized
the Mexican. Bandera
Ankrom laughed. Save your
breath % blow your beans" he
advised. ard TIPPED his hat de
rls,Vc'v
te.e t.f ,s